Harare – Veteran liberation war icon retired Lieutenant Colonel Harold Chirenda, who died on January 1 this year, has been declared a national hero and will be buried at the National Heroes Acre on Thursday. Rtd Lt Col Chirenda died at the United Bulawayo Hospital on Wednesday last week after a long illness.
He was 69.
Zanu-PF national spokesperson Rugare Gumbo told the media that the party had conferred Rtd Lt Col Chirenda national hero status because of his contribution to the liberation struggle.
“The party has declared him a national hero to be buried on Thursday 9 January, 2014. The party conveys its condolences to the Chirenda family,” said Gumbo.
Known in Zapu and Zipra circles as Elliot Masengo, Chirenda was born on August 1, 1944 in Mbare.
Rtd Col Chirenda was one of the first Zipra military trainers at Morogoro Camp which was opened in 1968 after undergoing military training in Algeria.
He was in the Zipra high command together with the late General Lookout Masuku and retired Brigadier General Ambrose Mutinhiri among other directors.
At independence, Rtd Col Chirenda joined the Zimbabwe National Army and served until he retired in 1995.
Rtd Col Chirenda is survived by his wife Florence, 10 children and 15 grandchildren.
New Ziana