Condolence Message by His Excellency the President, D r E . D . Mangagwa, following the passing on of Ambassador Victor Matemadanda

I learnt with deep grief and sadness of the untimely demise on Saturday night of Cde Victor Matemadanda, Zimbabwe's Ambassador to the sister Republics of Mozambique and Eswatini. A war veteran who became part of the leadership of the association of our Liberation Ve t e r a n s after Independence, the late Cde Matemadanda's association with nationalist politics and the National Liberation Struggle for our Independence dated back to his youthful days as part of the Zimbabwean migrant community which had settled in Zambia to escape persecution and inhibitions in the then settler colonial Rhodesia. He readily swapped the relatively quiet and comfortable life of the largely successful Zimbabwean migrant community in Zambia for a fraught one of Struggle, initially joining the likes of late Cde Patrick Kombayi to mobilize support for fighters and refugees in several camps in both Zambia and Mozambique. Before long, his involvement would be more direct, including helping with the transportation of war material using large Scania trucks to various operational forward points, for the smooth prosecution of the war of liberation.

At Independence, Cde Matemadanda would join the Zimbabwe National Army in which role he served his country with loyalty and utmost distinction. After leaving the Army, he continued to advance the interests of the Party, and war veterans through the Veterans Association which he helped lead. His principled stance in defence of interests of our war veterans, including their welfare and substantive incorporation into Party structures, led to his repeated incarceration under the First Republic. His stint as the ruling Party's National Political Commissar brought exceptional vibrancy to the Party which at the time sought to put behind it the largely fossilised ethos and inertia which had developed over time under the First Republic. To broaden his vista as one of the promising cadres in the leadership of the Party, I took the decision to introduce and redeploy him into our diplomatic service as Zimbabwe's Ambassador to Mozambique and Eswatini.

He distinguished himself in that role, traversing all the Provinces in Mozambique which housed our wartime bases, and in which remains of countless Zimbabwean freedom fighters lie buried in mass graves. He pushed very hard to have all such burial sites and shrines properly rehabilitated as a show of our respect and dignity to our fallen heroes and heroines.

It is sad that he has been snatched away from us before completing this vast project which summoned all his attention and energies. Under my direction, the Second Republic will ensure these revered sites and shrines are rehabilitated and properly curated. This is the least we can do to honour our fallen heroes, and to pay lasting tribute to the late Cde Matemadanda.

On behalf of the Party, ZANU PF, Government, my Family and my behalf, I wish to express my deepest, heartfelt condolences to the bereaved Matemadanda Family, especially to Amai Matemadanda and the children in this their hour of profound grief. May they derive solace from the exceptional contribution which A m b a s s a d o r M a t e m a d a n d a m a d e towards the freedom and development of his people whom he so deeply loved. Our Nation joins them and shares in their grief.

May his dear soul rest in eternal peace.

E.D Mnangagwa

PRESIDENT