Source: ‘Economic gains must not breed complacency’ – herald
Zvamaida Murwira-Senior Reporter
Zimbabweans must not become complacent over the country’s recent economic gains, but should instead use the progress recorded across key sectors as motivation to work harder towards building a modern and industrialised country, President Mnangagwa has said.
The President made the remarks yesterday while delivering a eulogy at the burial of national hero Brigadier General (Retired) Jonathan Willie Hungwe at the National Heroes Acre, in Harare.
President Mnangagwa said although the country had registered notable achievements in areas such as infrastructure development, agriculture, mining, tourism, manufacturing and education, more work still has to be done.
“As we mourn his passing, we also rekindle our resolve to develop, modernise and industrialise our motherland, Zimbabwe,” said the President.
“I call upon all our people, at every level, to close ranks and work with greater unity of purpose to realise the social, economic and political objectives we set for ourselves.
“The strides we continue to make under the Second Republic with regards to infrastructure development, agriculture, mining, tourism, as well as in manufacturing and education sectors should be a source of constant motivation.
“I commend you, my fellow citizens, for your resilience and our economy is on the rise.”
President Mnangagwa addresses thousands of mourners gathered at the National Heroes Acre for the burial of the late national hero Brigadier General (Retd) Jonathan Willie Hungwe in Harare yesterday. — Pictures: Believe Nyakudjara.
The President warned against what he described as a “we have arrived” mentality, saying the progress achieved so far should serve as a foundation for further growth.
“Let us resist the temptation of ‘we have arrived mentality’. While the results we have achieved to date are a testament that we are masters of our own destiny, much more work must be done.
“Let us keep marching forward and breaking new ground across all sectors and business endeavours.”
He said collective national efforts to improve service delivery, expand mineral value chains and empower youths and women were beginning to yield positive results.
“Our collective efforts to improve service delivery, domesticate critical mineral value chains and beneficiation, as well as to empower our youth and women, are yielding positive results.
“Takawirirana kuti, nyika inovakwa, inotongwa, inonamatigwa nevene vayo/Ilizwe lakhiwa, libuswe, likhulekelwe ngabanikazi balo. Under the Second Republic, we will never grow tired of building a modern and industrialised Zimbabwe,” said President Mnangagwa.
The President described Brig Gen Hungwe — whose Chimurenga name was Cde Vito Masango Ferreira — as a loyal cadre and dedicated servant of the nation.
“Our late national hero spent his life wholeheartedly serving Zimbabwe. A loyal cadre, he had an illustrious military career, which saw him serve within the Zimbabwe Defence Forces in operational combat, engineering and logistics support, as well as manpower and skills development,” he said.
Vice President Dr Kembo Mohadi (right) and Speaker of the National Assembly Advocate Jacob Mudenda follow proceedings at the burial of Brig-Gen (Retd) Jonathan Hungwe yesterday.
President Mnangagwa said Brig Gen Hungwe’s journey during the liberation struggle and after uhuru in 1980 demonstrated his unwavering commitment to Zimbabwe’s independence, sovereignty and prosperity.
Born on April 13, 1958, in Chief Nemavuzhe area of Masvingo Province, Brig Gen Hungwe grew up in a family that supported nationalist movements and the liberation struggle against colonial rule.
Inspired particularly by his father’s nationalist ideals, he crossed into Mozambique in January 1978 to join the armed liberation struggle.
“On completion of basic military training, his first operational role was in the logistics unit, with comrades responsible for transporting war materials from the rear to the front lines in support of combat operations,” said President Mnangagwa
He was later transferred to Chibawawa Camp, where he became a member of the renowned Red Army Battalion.
Due to his discipline, intellectual ability and physical endurance, Cde Vito Masango Ferreira was subsequently selected to train at the Inhamhinga Training Base as part of an elite unit known as the “Group of 300”.
There he specialised in anti-tank weaponry before being deployed from Samakweza Training Camp as a logistics operative.
“In that role, he specialised in anti-tank weapons. Upon completion of his training, he was deployed from Samakweza Training Camp as a logistics operative,” said the President.
At independence in 1980, Brig Gen Hungwe was among members of the reserve force that remained in Mozambique before returning to Zimbabwe in 1981.
Defence Minister Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri, Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet Dr Martin Rushwaya and Harare Provincial Affairs and Devolution Minister Charles Tavengwa attend the burial at the National Heroes Acre yesterday.
He initially stayed at the Chitungwiza Assembly Point before being attested into the Zimbabwe National Army.
President Mnangagwa said Brig Gen Hungwe went on to serve for three decades in various technical, engineering, command, training and strategic staff roles within the Zimbabwe Defence Forces Electrical Mechanical Engineering Department.
“He served for three decades in various capacities in the technical, engineering, command, training and strategic staff roles in the Zimbabwe Defence Forces Electrical Mechanical Department,” said the President.
Beyond commanding several military workshops, Brig Gen Hungwe rose through the ranks to become Commandant of the Engineering Training establishment.
From left: Zanu PF Committee member Mike Bimha, national Political Commissar Munyaradzi Machacha, Health Minister Douglas Mombeshora, Justice Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi, Chief Fortune Charumbira, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Dr Zhemu Soda and Local Government Minister Daniel Garwe sing the National Anthem at the burial yesterday. Behind them is Foreign Affairs and International Trade Minister Prof Amon Murwira.
During his military career, he also participated as a logistics officer in the Mozambique Campaign and Operation Sovereign Legitimacy in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
In those operations, he played a critical role in managing logistics, transport systems and supplies to ensure operational efficiency and sustainability.
From left: Commander Zimbabwe National Army Lieutenant General Asher Walter Tapfumaneyi, Commander Air Force of Zimbabwe Air Marshal John Jacob Nzvede, Police Commissioner General Stephen Mutamba and Commissioner Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services Dr Moses Chihobvu follow proceedings at the National Heroes Acre yesterday.
He added that Brig Gen Hungwe would be remembered as a disciplined and principled leader, who played a key role in strengthening Zimbabwe’s military institutions.
The late national hero received several decorations for his service, including the Liberation Medal, Independence Medal, 10 Years Long Service Medal, the 15 Years Exemplary Service Medal, the Mozambique Campaign Medal and the DRC Campaign Medal.
After retiring from the military, Brig Gen Hungwe was seconded to the Ministry of War Veterans Affairs, where he served as Director responsible for War Collaborators, Non-Combatant Cadres and Zimbabwe Political Prisoners, Detainees and Restrictees.
Part of the crowd that gathered at the National Heroes Acre for the burial of the late National Hero Brigadier General (Rtd) Jonathan Willie Hungwe in Harare yesterday.
In that role, he contributed to the implementation of programmes aimed at improving the welfare of liberation war veterans and played a key part in verification processes for those who participated in the liberation struggle.
The burial was attended by Vice President Kembo Mohadi, Speaker of Parliament Jacob Mudenda, Chief Justice Luke Malaba, Cabinet ministers, Members of Parliament, service chiefs and diplomats accredited to Zimbabwe.
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