Burial of national hero, Brigadier General (Retired) Elasto Madzingira set for Wednesday

THE late national hero, Brigadier General (Retired) Elasto Madzingira will be buried at the National Heroes Acre in Harare on Wednesday.

The people of Chivi in Masvingo will have an opportunity to bid farewell to Brigadier General (Rtd) Madzingira when his body will be flown to his rural home this Tuesday.

After the church service, the body will be flown back to Harare where it is expected to lie in state at his home in Greendale ahead of burial at the National Heroes Acre on Wednesday.

His brother, Wing Commander Retired Wilmore Madzingira said, “The body of the late national hero will be taken to Chivi, Masvingo tomorrow and back in Harare. The body is expected to lie in state here at Greendale ahead of burial at the national shrine on Wednesday. Yes, we have agreed as a family and the Presidium also confirmed.”

Relatives are grateful for the honour bestowed on Brigadier General (Rtd) Madzingira, saying he was a family unifier.

“He was my young brother and he was very intelligent. I remember staying with him and he was emulated by the community because of his behaviour.”

“We are grateful to the government for bestowing him a national hero status. He was so loyal and deserves the honour,” added a relative.

Brigadier General (Rtd) Madzingira abandoned his studies to join the liberation struggle in Mozambique in 1978.

He joined the ZANLA Forces in Bikita through the underground network of the late national hero, Dr Simon Mazorodze.

He served in the Air Force of Zimbabwe from 1985 to 1995 and on his retirement, he continued to serve the nation in the political sphere.