Staff Reporter

President Emmerson Mnangagwa has described the late national hero Cde Simon Khaya Moyo as a cadre who always exhibited unmatched loyalty, commitment and dedication to duty and said the nation was poorer without him.

Speaking at the burial of Cde Moyo, affectionately known as SK, at the National Heroes Acre yesterday, President Mnangagwa said the country will always cherish the sacrifices he made towards the independence of this country.

“Cde SK was a diplomat par excellence as well as a humble and dedicated cadre who committed his entire life to serving the country before and after independence. As a nation, we are indeed poorer following his loss. We, however, remain grateful for the legacy the late National Hero leaves behind and will cherish the sacrifices he made towards our country’s independence, freedom, unity, peace and development,” said President Mnangagwa.

President Mnangagwa said Cde SK will go down in history as a patriotic, consistent and persistent national and revolutionary leader who served his country wholeheartedly and did his part in understanding the adage that, ‘Nyika inovakwa nevene vayo’. He added that Cde Moyo was a rare breed of spokesperson and Pan African voice as he articulated with clarity, the mission of the Party and Government with regards to uniting the nation.

The President added that Cde Moyo was instrumental in using the power of the media to demystify the false and negative narratives by the country’s detractors. He challenged the media to emulate Cde Moyo and carry on with the good work of advancing the national interest as he always did.

President Mnangagwa further said that people who were privileged to work with Cde SK will attest to the fact that he did not delight in evil, but rejoiced in the truth.

“Those who had the privilege to know Cde SK will attest to the fact that he did not delight in evil but rejoiced in the truth. He always hoped and persevered.

“In his honour, let us as a nation, across all provinces, rise beyond misplaced perceptions of differences and divisions. We are diverse but one people. Let us unite as labourers and servants of our great country to build the Zimbabwe we all want, brick by brick, stone upon stone,” said President Mnangagwa.

Cde Moyo succumbed to cancer on 14 November 2021 at Mater Dei Hospital in Bulawayo. He was the ZANU PF’s National spokesperson at the time of his death.