Former Kadoma Councillor, Ald Phiri Laid To Rest
By Lloyd Mwale in Kadoma
Former City of Kadoma Councillor, Alderman Luke Phiri who died in the city on Sunday and was declared a provincial liberation hero, was laid to rest at Kadoma District Heroes Acre.
He was 72 years old.
Addressing mourners at Kadoma District Heroes Acre MashWest Minister of State For Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Hon Marion Chombo said the conferment of the late Alderman Phiri as a provincial liberation hero was a befit status for him as he had done remarkable achievements for the nation.
“The late MashWest provincial liberation hero was a hard worker for the party and the nation, particularly in Kadoma where he oversaw the establishment of Ingezi Housing Schemes, like Ingezi Phase 1 which has 900 houses and Ingezi Phase 2 with 500 houses and also the establishment of Ingezi Primary school,” said Chombo.
From 1969 to 1979, the late Ald Phiri left school and joined the war of liberation. In 1979 he joined the People’s Movement Party which was being led by the late Rev Canaan Banana. Ald Phiri was a brave man who fought the white racist rule with the likes of former Chakari legislator Hon Zechariah Ziyambi.
“Between 1978 and 1981 he led Ingezi Township Branch in the then Gatooma and in 1991 he was elected Zanu PF Ward 1 Councillor and was at one time a deputy mayor of City of Kadoma,” said Hon Chombo in her address.
Residents of Kadoma -particularly Ingezi – descrbed the late Alderman Phiri as a towering father figure who will be missed by many.
“We have lost a father figure who grew up in Ingezi and later did some remarkable achievements for the area from as early as in the ’90’s when he became Ward 1 councillor. In terms of development he is the backbone of Ingezi development, remember we had communal toilets in Old Ingezi, and Ald Phiri worked hard to develop and modernise our area,” said former Ward 14 councillor Simba Gamira.
Another Ingezi resident Bonus Mapuranga said Ingezi is now poorer with the passing on of Alderman Phiri.
“The late Ald Phiri’s death has left a deep void in Ingezi. He stood by us when we were in our youth, counselling us against drugs and encouraged us to take up sport, especially football where he helped Ingezi Hurricanes as a father. We really have lost a very good man,” said Bonus Mapuranga.
The late former City of Kadoma deputy mayor was born at Chiwere Farm in Kadoma and is survived by his wife, Magret Phiri, seven children and 25 grandchildren.
