Staff Reporter

President Emmerson Mnangagwa, has conferred a National Hero status to Major General Godfrey Chanakira, following party consultations, in Harare, yesterday.

At the same occasion, three other fallen heroes were also conferred with the Provincial Heroes statuses.

Speaking through a press statement, the Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet Dr Misheck Sibanda, confirmed the conferment by the President.

“His Excellency the President Dr. ED Manangagwa, has conferred National Hero and Provincial Hero status to the following deceased; the late Major General (Rtd) Godfrey Chanakira and Cde Francis Komboni Gondo, Charles Savanhu and Christopher Kuruneri respectively; while Chief Denis Ndlovu Nhlamba was given a State assisted funeral,” said Dr Sibanda.

National Hero, (Rtd) Major General Chanakira whose Chimurenga name was Garikai Musavengana joined the armed liberation struggle for the freedom and independence in 1975, followed by a professional career in the army where he rose through the ranks from Private in 1980, to Major General in 2017, and in the Civil Service where he ended up as Permanent Secretary to the Vice President Constantino Chiwenga.

Funeral arrangements for Rtd Major General Chanakira are yet to be announced in due course.

Meanwhile, Vice President Chiwenga is set to represent the President at the State Assisted funeral of Chief Nhlamba of Garanyemba area in Gwanda.