Comrades and Friends. 

We gather here, at these sacred grounds, the National Heroes Acre, following yet another national loss, as we bid farewell to a gallant Son of the Soil, Veteran of the liberation struggle, Commissar and Diplomat, the late National Hero, Ambassador Victor Matemadanda. 

In April 2026 I was in Eswatini to commemorate the 40th Anniversary of the coronation of King Mswati 111. Ambassador, Cde Matematanda received me and accompanied me throughout the event. As per tradition,  we shared a meal, laughed and reminisced about the days of the struggle, departed comrades, as well as views on how we can grow relations with the countries where he was accredited ambassador. He later saw me off as l returned home. Unbeknown to me that was the last, meal we would share, the last handshake and the last wave goodbye, as I bid him farewell. 

It was therefore with immense shock and sadness that I received the news of his passing on, last Saturday the 20th of June, 2026, at Parirenyatwa Hospital. His demise is a blow to our nation, and we grieve this loss. 

On behalf of our revolutionary mass Party, ZANU PF, the people and Government of Zimbabwe, that of my family and indeed on my behalf, I once again extend heartfelt condolences to the Matemadanda family. 

Our late National Hero, Cde Victor Matemadanda was unwavering in his ideological clarity, patriotism and loyalty to the values of the liberation struggle. He answered the call of our national armed struggle and remained fiercely dedicated to the complete economic liberation of Zimbabwe. We have lost a leader, whose indelible legacy will serve as a guidance to future generations. 

In honour of his gallantry, patriotism and dedicated service to our beloved motherland, Zimbabwe as well as our Party ZANU PF, we inter him here, at this National Shrine alongside other heroes and heroines who consistently defended the sacred flame of the liberation struggle and independence. 

Fellow Mourners, Comrades and Friends; 

The late National Hero, Cde Matemadanda was born on 3 March 1960, in Gokwe. He received primary education at Nambala Primary School in Mumbwa, Zambia, and later attended Mumbwa Secondary School. 

In appreciation of our rich liberation history and heritage, we must immortalise the role played by Zimbabwean families who relocated to neighbouring countries, particularly their indelible contribution to the early phases of the armed liberation struggle. Many of these families left the then Southern Rhodesia following forced displacements by the oppressive colonial authorities, in the aftermath of the 1930 Land Apportionment Act and related persecutions. 

Displaced and migrant families became the nucleus of our early stages of the revolution, always ready to aid the military wings of ZANU and ZAPU who used Zambia and Mozambique as the rear. I recall that many families released their sons and daughters, including students and professionals to participate in the cause of national freedom and independence. 

It is within this context that we contextualise and cherish the role of our dear departed National Hero, Ambassador Matemadanda. As part of the Zimbabwean migrant community that had settled in Zambia, the late Cde Matemadanda abandoned the relative stable migrant life to join the struggle. He helped in the mobilization of vital support for freedom fighters and refugees in camps across Zambia and Mozambique, collaborating closely with prominent personalities such as the late Cde Patrick Kombayi, among others. 

Due to his evident courage and bravery, our late National Hero was directly involved in frontline operations tasked with managing transportation of war materiel for ZANLA, in the northern and north-eastern entry points. 

In 1979, he was deployed to Takawira Sector. During a fierce enemy attack on his detachment, Cde Matemadanda was wounded and evacuated back to Mozambique for medical treatment. Undeterred by injuries, he was re-deployed to the battlefront and operated in Mudzi. 

During our country’s historic transition to black majority rule, he served within the ZANLA Commissariat 

Department, where his duties included the mobilization of grassroot support, to vote during the 1980 General 

Elections. 

Fellow Mourners, Comrades and Friends; 

The life of the late National Hero, Cde Matemadanda reminds us of the important role the Diaspora has always played towards the independence, development and growth of our motherland, Zimbabwe. During the liberation struggle, Zimbabweans residing in areas such as Mumbwa, in Zambia, selflessly gave their savings towards the liberation effort. 

They also volunteered in diverse ways to execute intricate missions of the Struggle, including facilitating and moving cadres from Zambia to Mozambique and Tanzania. Many were always ready and willing to avail requisite resources needed by fighters in different camps and at the war front. Some lost their assets and businesses as part of their contribution to the struggle.  

They served as frontline health workers, attending to the wounded and injured, until full recovery. Sadly, they also helped lay to rest, thousands who perished in the rear. Despite being in foreign lands, many of our people never dodged national obligations. We should never forget their contributions. 

It is pleasing and commendable that this spirit lives on in the present generation of Zimbabweans in the Diaspora.         

I, therefore, pay tribute to all our citizens working and living in foreign lands, for playing their part in the ongoing national development, industrialisation and modernisation agenda. 

Zimbabwe is our home together. We all belong here in the sacred lands of our fore fathers, and those who have remained at home, shall always welcome those returning, with wide-open arms.  

Comrades; 

At Independence, Cde Matemadanda was integrated into the Zimbabwe National Army. In the military, he mastered discipline, command and an unyielding sense of duty and patriotism to our country. Driven by a quest of self-improvement, he attained academic qualifications in Personnel Management and Marketing, Automotive Engineering, Development Studies and International Relations. 

On retirement from the military, the late National Hero was instrumental in mobilising grassroots support for our revolutionary mass Party, ZANU PF. He helped in building Party structures not only in Gokwe, Midlands Province but across the country as a whole. He was a fluid cadre who would execute responsibilities assigned to him with zeal, focus and unflinching commitment. The late National Hero, Cde Matemadanda remained principled, consistent and persistent, advancing core national interests and the values of ZANU PF. He was a champion of the welfare and integration of war veterans into main Party structures. 

As Secretary-General for the War Veterans Association, he did not believe in the ‘begging bowl syndrome’. He promoted hard honest work, tilling the land, as well as production and productivity, as sustainable avenues to total economic emancipation, and an improved quality of life for all our people. 

As Deputy Minister of Defence and War Veterans Affairs, he transitioned from the advocacy role to that of policy maker. Our late National Hero worked to ensure the welfare of veterans of the liberation struggle remain a national obligation. 

To him, his revolutionary conscience entailed emphasis on the prioritisation of the people, first. In 2018, the communities of Gokwe Central elected him, their Member of Parliament, under the banner of our colossal revolutionary Party, ZANU PF. 

At the Party level, he was elected into the Central Committee, where he displayed commitment to the Party, its founding values, ideology, principles and policies. He later served as National Political Commissar within the Politburo. He executed his duties with distinction.       

The discipline, loyalty and work ethic, which our late National Hero promoted, drawing from the National Commissars before him, should continue to guide the rank and file of the Party across all provinces, districts, wards and cells.  

On the diplomatic front, our late Ambassador to the Republic of Mozambique and the Kingdom of Eswatini, raised Zimbabwe’s flag high. While serving in Mozambique, he took on the sacred duty that went far beyond trade, commerce and regional integration. He collaborated with the Government of Mozambique to protect, preserve and develop our historic national liberation shrines at Chimoio, Tembwe, and Nyadzonya, among others. 

The late Cde Matemadanda understood that, a nation that forgets its past cannot build its future. Our sacred shrines here in Zimbabwe and beyond, remain open-air lectures and classrooms, teaching the values of sacrifice, patriotism, loyalty, independence and sovereignty. We shall never, ever forget our rich liberation heritage and the supreme sacrifice paid by blood, for us to enjoy this current peace, unity, freedom and independence. 

Fellow Mourners; 

Across all the deployments and in every theater of life, the late Ambassador, Cde Matemadanda served with an enduring love for his country. He never wavered. Vakaramba vakatsunga, vachishandira musangano wedu we ZANU PF uye nenyika yavo. 

His life in the struggle, military, Party and Government, must remind us, to serve our country with honour guided by the correct line of our revolution. The earthly chapter of his service to our beloved motherland has ended, the task now lies with us to carry forward the work of building the Zimbabwe he helped to liberate. Brick by brick and stone upon stone, the work continues; Every Zimbabwean must do their part.  

Nyika inovakwa, inotongwa, inonamatigwa nevene vayo/ Ilizwe, lakhiwa, libuswe, likhu-le-ke-lwe ngabanikazi balo. 

To the veterans of the liberation struggle, you remain the guiding beacons to our country’s rich liberation war heritage and inspiration for the future we must build. You are the living epitaph of the resilience, bravery and warrior spirit that forms the bedrock of our great nation. 

Now, through production and productivity as well as an enduring sense of duty, we must all help to develop, modernise and industrialise our beloved motherland, Zimbabwe; the young and old alike, veterans and       non- veterans, we are one united people, with one common vision and one destiny. This is the final salute which our dear departed National Hero and many other fallen heroes and heroines, deserve. 

To the youth and women, your vibrance, skills, innovation, and entrepreneurship, must see you as leaders of tomorrow; as well as architects and active builders of our nation.    To the stakeholders across the socio-economic and political spectrum of our country, I commend you for the unity, peace and harmony prevailing in our country. 

It is this unity of purpose that shall continue to inspire our 

people as well as friends and neighbours.       National cohesion, peace, unity and development remain vital ingredients for the realization of our national Vision 2030 as well as the SADC Vision 2050 and wider aspirations of the African continent. 

Zimbabwe’s election for a non-permanent seat at the United Nations Security Council for the period 2027-2028, is a show of trust and confidence by many across the world in our country.  

We shall, therefore, continue to demonstrate that Zimbabwe has the strength and stamina to safeguard and advance global peace and security for shared, sustainable and inclusive prosperity for all peoples. 

Comrades and Fellow Countrymen; 

As we bid farewell to our late National Hero, Ambassador Victor Matemadanda, I call upon us to renew and recommit ourselves to the sacred national pledge. Together, from Plumtree to Mutare, Beitbridge to Chirundu, we are one people and shall continue to live and work in harmony towards building and developing our motherland, Zimbabwe. 

To our late National Hero, Ambassador Victor Matemadanda, I say; you walked your life’s journey and fought a good fight, until the very end, in service to Zimbabwe. 

Your personal history will be recorded to tell a story of a veteran of our protracted armed liberation struggle, a fearless patriot, an administrator, nation builder, Commissar and Diplomat. 

Go well Son of the Soil. Go well our National Hero. 

Fambai zvakanaka Gamba remaGamba. 

Lala ngokuthula Qhawe lama Qhawe. 

May your soul rest in eternal peace. 

God bless you all. 

God bless Zimbabwe. 

I thank you.