Paidamoyo Chipunza Herald Reporter
Internationally acclaimed author and ex-combatant Cde Alexander Gora Kanengoni (pictured right) who died on Tuesday has been declared a liberation war hero.
Zanu-PF secretary for Administration Cde Ignatius Chombo said Cde Kanengoni, who was also the deputy editor of The Patriot newspaper, was accorded the status because of his contribution in the liberation struggle and after Independence.
“We have received a request from Mashonaland Central Province and we have accorded him a liberation war hero status taking into consideration his contribution in the struggle and after Independence,” said Cde Chombo.
Cde Kanengoni will be buried today at his farm in Centenary.
Family spokesperson, Ms Leticia Kanengoni said the family welcomed the development and were now awaiting for more information from the party on how to proceed.
Born on September 17, 1951 Cde Kanengoni trained as a teacher and briefly taught at several schools before joining the liberation struggle in 1974. After the country attained independence in 1980, he went to the University of Zimbabwe and majored in English Literature.
In 1983 he joined the Ministry of Education and Culture as a project officer responsible for the education of ex-combatants and refugees. In 1988 he joined the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation and worked there until 2002 when he became a farmer and deputy editor of The Patriot weekly newspaper.
As a writer, Cde Kanengoni published, Vicious Circle (1983), When the Rainbird Cries (1988), Echoing Silences (1997), a collection of short stories – Effortless Tears (1993) and Writing Still (2003).
A former Zanla combatant leader, Cde Kanengoni remained steadfast in defence of Zimbabwe’s sovereignty and nationalistic ideals through his incisive writings that illuminated on the broader dynamics of the liberation struggle.