The late Lieutenant-Colonel Herald Mtandwa Chirenda (Retired)
Farirai Machivenyika Senior Reporter
Lieutenant-Colonel Herald Mtandwa Chirenda (Retired), who died on New Year’s Day at United Bulawayo Hospitals, has been declared a national hero. Rtd Lt-Col Chirenda (70) died after a long illness and will be buried at the National Heroes Acre tomorrow. Zanu-PF national spokesperson Cde Rugare Rugare made the announcement of conferment of national hero status at a Press conference at the revolutionary party’s headquarters in Harare yesterday.
“The party regrets to announce the sad death of Rtd Lt-Col Herald Chirenda on the 1st of January 2014 at United Bulawayo Hospitals. The party has accepted the recommendations of Bulawayo Province and has declared Rtd Lt-Col Chirenda a national hero.
“Rtd Lt-Col Chirenda retired from the army in 1995. The party wishes to convey its heartfelt condolences to the Chirenda family, may his soul rest in peace.”
Cde Gumbo described Rtd Lt-Col Chirenda, whose Chimurenga name was Elliot Masendu, as a distinguished freedom fighter who played a pivotal role in the liberation of the country.
“He was a member of the zipra forces and was trained in Algeria and also led zipra in Zambia and Tanzania. He was highly rated in the zipra forces and after independence, he joined the Zimbabwe National Army where he retired in 1995,” he said.
Rtd Lt-Col Chirenda held positions such as deputy personnel chief during the armed struggle.
He was one of the first zipra military trainers at Morogoro Camp in Tanzania, which was opened in 1968.
The late freedom fighter was in the zipra High Command along with the late General Lookout Masuku and Rtd Brigadier-General Ambrose Mutinhiri among other leading lights of the Second Chimurenga.
At independence, Rtd Lt-Col Chirenda was attested into the Zimbabwe National Army and served until he retired in 1995.
Mourners are gathered at Number 22 Briton Road, Paddonhurst in Bulawayo and his body is expected in Harare today in preparation for burial.
Freedom fighter and journalist Saul Gwakuba Ndlovu said Rtd Lt-Col Chirenda’s death was a great loss to the country.
“The death of one of the senior officers of the Patriotic Front and Zapu’s Zipra High Command, Cde Elliot Masendu is a very sad loss to every patriotic Zimbabwean who regards the armed struggle as an important national stage in the history of Zimbabwe,” he said.
Cde Ndlovu said Rtd Lt-Col Chirenda was a true patriot who shunned regionalism and tribalism.
Rtd Col Tshinga Dube described him as a brave and dedicated cadre.
“We are saddened by the sudden death of Masendu, a man who dedicated his time to liberate the country.
“He was not one of those men who were scared to join the liberation struggle but he voluntarily joined the war,” said Rtd Col Dube.
“When he finished basic training, he became officer cadet where he trained and completed cadet courses which made him not just a guerilla soldier, but a complete military soldier.”
Rtd Col Chirenda is survived by his wife, 10 children and 15 grandchildren.