Source: Brig-Gen (Rtd) Tshuma declared national hero – herald
Raymond Jaravaza
Bulawayo Bureau
PRESIDENT MNANGAGWA has conferred national hero status on Brigadier-General (Retired) Donald Silundi Tshuma (71) who died at his home in Nkulumane, Bulawayo, last Friday, in recognition of his illustrious military career and contribution to the country’s liberation struggle.
Zanu PF secretary-general, Advocate Jacob Mudenda, announced the development yesterday in a letter addressed to the Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet, Dr Martin Rushwaya.
“His Excellency, the President and First Secretary of ZANU PF, Cde Dr E.D. Mnangagwa, has conferred a National Hero status to the late Brigadier General (Retd) Cde Donald Silundi Tshuma, who passed away on 15th May 2026. Mourners are gathered at House No. 14010 Nkulumane 12, Bulawayo,” said Adv Mudenda.
“The late Brigadier-General (Retd) Cde Donald Silundi Tshuma will be interred at the National Heroes Acre, Harare, at a date yet to be announced.”
He said the conferment of such honour opens the process to facilitate the usual arrangements for the hero’s burial and payment of benefits to his family.
The senior officer is survived by four children.
On Wednesday, Commander Zimbabwe National Army Lieutenant-General Asher Walter Tapfumaneyi led a funeral parade for Brig-Gen (Rtd) Tshuma at Imbizo Barracks in Bulawayo, where he urged Zimbabweans to emulate the ideals of loyalty and patriotism that remain embedded in the life of the senior military officer and struggle veteran.
The decorated army commander’s journey to join the liberation forces started with evading arrest by the Rhodesian Special Branch and crossing into Botswana to join thousands of others who sacrificed their lives to free the country from the clutches of minority colonial rule. He joined the Zimbabwe National Army after independence.
In his address, Lt Gen Tapfumaneyi said Brig-Gen Tshuma left a legacy of excellence in the ZNA and that his exceptional loyalty and patriotism to the country were ideals that Zimbabweans must cherish forever.
“He was a distinguished military officer who remained focused and steadfast in the face of neo-colonial machinations by our detractors,” he said.
“As we pay our last respects to the late gallant son of the soil, we must not forget the sacrifices that he and other heroes and heroines made for the freedom of our motherland, Zimbabwe.
“We must defend what they stood and fought for, we must defend Zimbabwe’s independence and sovereignty at all costs.
“We must uphold the principles and values that the late Brigadier General Tshuma has left us,” said Lt-Gen Tapfumaneyi.
He recalled how the senior army officer joined politics at a young age after he was deeply outraged by the racially inspired inequalities and institutionalised injustices that prevailed under the Rhodesian minority regime.
“He became involved in politics at a young age, participating in youth activities, and that is when the Rhodesian Special Branch started looking for him.
“His role in politics was in the structures of the ZAPU Youth League as the District Organising Secretary in Gwabalanda (Bulawayo),” said Lt Gen Tapfumaneyi.
“He also mobilised the youth to move out of the country to join the liberation forces in Zambia. In November 1976, the late senior officer crossed the border into Botswana, where he stayed for a month before crossing to Zambia to join the liberation struggle as a ZIPRA (Zimbabwe People’s Revolutionary Army) cadre.
“He briefly stayed at Nampundwe Transit Camp up to 1977 before being sent to Mwembeshi Camp for initial military training,” he said.
After completing training, Brig-Gen Tshuma was deployed along the Zambezi River in the Northern Front.
“In February 1978, the late Brig-Gen Tshuma was part of 300 cadres, who included the late national hero Lieutenant General (Lookout) Masuku to be selected to go for further military training in Libya.
“The training could not take place as the Libyan government gave a condition that they were to join the Muslim religion first before training, which they turned down.
“He stayed in Libya for one year and returned to Zambia. In November 1979, he and other colleagues were selected to go to the union of Soviet Socialist Republics (now Russia) for further military training. He trained as a platoon commander up to June 1980.”
He rose through the ranks and was promoted to the rank of captain in 1981, then major (1982), followed by another promotion to lieutenant colonel in 2012.
He was promoted to Brigadier-General in 2020 upon retirement.
Some of the awards bestowed on him for dedicated, selfless and exemplary service to the nation include the Liberation Medal for his contribution during the liberation struggle, the Independence Medal, Long and Exemplary Service Medal and the Commander of the Zimbabwe Order of Merit Award.
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