ADDRESS
BY THE PRESIDENT OF ZIMBABWE
HIS EXCELLENCY, CDE. E. D. MNANGAGWA
AT THE BURIAL OF LATE NATIONAL HERO
CDE EDWARD RARADZA
NATIONAL HEROES’ ACRE, HARARE
10 SEPTEMBER 2026
The Bereaved Raradza Family;
The First Lady, Amai A. Mnangagwa;
Vice President and Second Secretary of ZANU PF,
Hon. Gen. (Rtd) Dr. C. G. D. N. Chiwenga;
Vice President and Second Secretary of ZANU PF,
Hon. Col. (Rtd) Dr. K. C. D. Mohadi;
National Chairman of ZANU PF and Minister of Defence,
Hon. O. C. Z. Muchinguri-Kashiri;
Minister of State for Harare Metropolitan Province,
Hon. C. Tawengwa;
Honourable Ministers;
Speaker of Parliament, Hon. Adv. J. F. Mudenda;
President of the Senate, Hon. Amai M. M. Chinomona;
The Chief Justice, Hon. E. Gwaunza;
President of the National Chiefs’ Council,
Hon. Sen. M. Khumalo;
Politburo and Central Committee Members;
Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet,
Dr. M. Rushwaya;
Chairman of the Public Service Commission,
Dr. V . Hungwe;
Senior Government Officials;
Commander Zimbabwe Defence Forces;
General E. Matatu;
Service Chiefs;
Your Excellencies, Members of the Diplomatic Corps;
Mayor of the City of Harare, His Worship,
Councillor. J. Mafume;
Veterans of the Liberation Struggle;
Fellow Mourners, Comrades and Friends.
We are gathered here, at this sacred shrine, the National Heroes Acre, to rest an illustrious son of the soil, the late National Hero, Cde Edward Raradza. This revered place continues to stand as an eternal monument where we immortalise the contributions and ultimate sacrifices made by the sons and daughters of our beloved motherland, Zimbabwe.
Today, we befittingly inter a deserving patriot, who distinguished himself as a nationalist, an agricultural visionary, miner, industrialist and devout spiritual leader.
The passing on of Cde Edward Raradza on 4 September 2026, here in Harare, was received with shock. We endure this loss, within our revolutionary Party, ZANU PF, as well as in those critical sectors where the late National Hero, left an indelible footprint.
On behalf of Government, the revolutionary mass Party, ZANU PF, the people of Zimbabwe and indeed on my own behalf, I once again extend, our deepest and heartfelt condolences to the Raradza family. Together, may we find comfort in his exceptional achievements and eminent life of service to the people and our country, Zimbabwe.
May his dear departed soul continue to rest in eternal peace.
Comrades and Friends,
Born on July 2, 1947, the late Cde Edward Raradza grew up under the brutal, oppressive minority white Rhodesian regime. At an early age, he witnessed the inhumane treatment, and the degradation of dignity of our people.
In 1965 while studying at St. Benedict School in Macheke, the late Cde Raradza, came face to face with restrictions of the colonial administration in the education sector. These sought to limit African pupils to basic education. However, the brave and courageous young Edward overcame the numerous obstacles deliberately placed in the way of Africans.
Upon completing his studies, he moved to the then colonial Capital, Salisbury, in 1966 joining the Youth League in Highfields. There, Cde Raradza was mentored by early nationalists such as the late, Cde Chinamano, and Cde Marere, who sharpened his politics and revolutionary consciousness.
Alongside other Zimbabweans, he participated in many political activities and protests in direct resistance to colonial oppression and subjugation.
In 1977, the late National Hero, Cde Raradza was arrested by the Rhodesian Special Branch, and detained at St. Mary’s Police Station, until 1978. The brutal Smith regime eventually released him, with severe conditions and restrictions.
Upon the attainment of Independence in 1980, Cde Raradza seamlessly availed himself for the task of post-colonial nation-building. He served the Party, with consistency and persistence, becoming the Branch Chairman for ZANU PF for Chitungwiza in 1980.
By 1985, he was the Political Commissar for Malbereign in Harare, and between 1990 and 1995, he took over as District Chairman for Hwata, in Centenary.
His unparalleled loyalty and service to our revolutionary Party, saw his election to the Central Committee in 2008, a position he served with distinction until his demise.
The late Cde Raradza recognized that political independence without economic independence is incomplete. When the Third Chimurenga was prosecuted towards returning the land to its rightful owners, the late Cde Raradza became one of the active leaders of that historic and defining agrarian revolution.
As the Vice President of the Zimbabwe Farmers Union (ZFU) and its Provincial Chairman for Mashonaland Central, he led a nationwide membership mobilisation drive for ZFU, establishing functional chapters across the country. This transformed the ZFU into a powerful vehicle that saw the broad-based empowerment of farmers.
He will be remembered as a cadre who did not just mobilise and teach farmers; but became one of the key players in the agriculture space, scaling to levels where he became part of the nationally recognised eminent tobacco and cotton farmers. His livestock production won him the coveted National Farmer Award of Excellence two years in a row, (in 2003 and 2004), at the Zimbabwe Agricultural Show.
When some countries in the West, imposed illegal sanctions on our nation, the late National Hero, Cde Raradza heeded the Look East Policy. He was instrumental in spearheading the importation of agricultural machinery and equipment from China. This in- turn facilitated the initial phases of the mechanization programme to boost agriculture production and productivity.
As the Group Executive Chairman of Farmers World Holdings, he revolutionized small-scale farming by importing critical inputs, including fertilizers. He expanded his vision across our borders by setting up a fertilizer blending plant in Malawi, showcasing Zimbabwean industrial capacity. His leadership as the Chairman of Implementation and Coordination of Agriculture Research and Training in the SADC Region in 2005, and his tenures at the boards of the Agricultural Finance Corporation, Grain Marketing Board and Dorowa Minerals, solidified his status as a key personality in our national agriculture and food security programmes.
Fellow Mourners;
The late National Hero, Cde Raradza also leaves behind a history of innovative, industrial legacy in the mining sector. For over a century, the mineral wealth of this country was an exclusive sector for foreign conglomerates and capital. Cde Raradza vehemently rejected this status quo.
By founding Zambezi Gas-Zimbabwe Private Limited, he shattered the glass ceiling, becoming the first black Zimbabwean to establish, own, and operate a large-scale coal mining company. Through Zambezi Gas, he demonstrated that sons and daughters of Zimbabwe possess the corporate acumen, technical capacity, and vision to manage mega-extractive industries. Zambezi Gas has become a primary supplier of coal to feed our national electricity generation plants, stabilizing our energy grid, while also exporting high-grade coal across the region and beyond. It is not just extracting wealth; but building communities by creating thousands of direct and indirect jobs for our citizens.
The late Cde Raradza’s enterprise stands as an embodiment of our national development philosophy: Nyika inovakwa, inotongwa, inonamatigwa nevene vayo/ Ilizwe lakhiwa, likhu-le-ke-lwe ngabananikazi balo.
Comrades and Friends;
As we honour the late National Hero Cde Raradza, his life must serve as a reminder of the urgent work that lies before us. The misnomer which saw Zimbabwe being a mere exporter of raw materials has been decisively addressed. Now we are value adding and beneficiating our resources at source.
My Administration, stands ready to facilitate the establishment of local industries, mutually beneficial partnerships to transform and move our economy up in the global value chains. In all sectors of the economy, we must continue to break new grounds and celebrate emerging corporates owned and operated by Zimbabweans. Let more industrialists in the mould of our late national hero, Cde Raradza emerge.
Between 2008 and 2013, the late National Hero, Cde Raradza was a Member of Parliament for Muzarabani South Constituency.
As a servant-leader, his tenure in Parliament was defined by tangible, grassroots development programmes and projects. He helped develop modern agriculture capacities that directly benefitted small-scale farmers, including women cooperatives across Muzarabani South.
Despite his success in political settings, and industry, the late Cde Edward Raradza never lost his ideological grounding and compass in the Party. He remained a humble, and spiritually anchored national leader. In 2022, he was ordained as a Bishop for the African Apostolic Church, under the late National Hero Archbishop Paul Mwazha. This was not an honorary title; but a sacred spiritual calling. He lived a balanced life; one of a patriot who wholeheartedly served the people; an industrialist who helped build his country and economy; and a Bishop who ministered to many souls.
The life of the late Bishop and National Hero, Cde Edward Raradza illustrates the unbreakable synergy that must exist between the Church and State. As we implement National Development Strategy 2, participation of the Church as both a moral force and dependable partner is critical.
Economic frameworks towards building a nation; must be complemented by a solid foundation of Godly patriotism, integrity, discipline, honesty, and love for one’s country.
I call upon the Church and all stakeholders, across the socio-political spectrum to continue fostering social cohesion, unity and peace, while promoting the dignity of hard work, as well as fighting drug and substance abuse, among other social ills.
Finally, to the Raradza family, I once again call upon you to find solace and take pride in the illustrious past which the late National Hero, Cde Edward Raradza has bequeathed to our beloved motherland, Zimbabwe.
He leaves behind a history worthy of emulation and a legacy of patriotism, loyalty, consistency, persistency, hard work and achievement.
Kunegamba redu, Cde Edward Raradza; ndinoti, famba zvakanaka mwana wevhu. You fought a good fight, you ran your race with distinction, and kept the faith.
You defended the land we fought for, and tilled it for a successful agricultural revolution and exploited minerals for industrialisation and the empowerment of communities.
Above all, you ministered to many souls about the Kingdom of Almighty God. I say; Go well Cde Edward Raradza; Go well Son of the Soil; Go well our pioneering Industrialist; Zorora murugare Gamba remaGamba. Lala ngokuthula Qhawe lama Qhawe. Rest in eternal peace our Bishop and National hero.
God bless you all.
God bless Zimbabwe.
I thank you.