Story by Peter Chivhima
THE late National Hero Cde Abraham Kabasa has been described as a champion of development and a hard worker and his death has left a huge void in his family with the loss being felt more by those who closely interacted with him.
The Kabasa family has expressed gratitude to President Emmerson Mnangagwa and the government for conferring national hero status on the late national hero who passed on on the 29th of April.
“As the Kabasa family we want to thank Presidential Cde Emmerson Mnangagwa for bestowing a national hero status to our father, brother and son Cde Abraham Kabasa,” said the family representative Mr Christopher Kabasa.
“Cde Kabasa worked so hard and assisted several Cdes and recruits when he was in charge at Mutoko Hospital. He assisted by nursing those who were wounded during the liberation struggle.”
A colleague who worked closely with Cde Kabasa before independence Cde Ordo Nyakudanga described the late national hero as a father figure, who was dedicated to serving his country.
“I knew Cde Kabasa since 1974, I was later formally introduced to him when he was a nurse at Makosa Hospital in Mutoko so that he could assist us with medication for our recruits. He was a father figure who was dedicated to working for Zimbabwe,” he said.
Mutoko district has been robbed of a champion for development.
Born in Mutoko in 1932, Cde Kabasa died on Saturday at his home in Waterfalls after battling cancer for a long time.
A medical practitioner by profession, Cde Kabasa assisted freedom fighters by supplying medical drugs, shoes and clothes between 1976 and 1979.
He would treat wounded freedom fighters in undercover operations.
Upon the attainment of independence, Cde Kabasa became one of the ten Members of parliament for Mashonaland East province in 1980.
He also served as the Deputy Speaker of Parliament and in 1990, he was appointed Mashonaland East Governor.
Cde Kabasa is survived by his wife Mirriam Kabasa, 11 children and 19 grandchildren.
Mourners are gathered at House Number 440 Wickham Road, Uplands, Waterfalls in Harare.
Meanwhile, Cde Kabasa’s body will this Thursday lie in state at Charles Gumbo Barracks before being flown to his farm in Mutoko this Friday where a church service will be held at United Methodist Church.
On Saturday, the body of the late national hero will be taken to Chikondoma Stadium in Mutoko to give Mashonaland East Province a chance to bid farewell to one of their own, before the body is flown back to Harare where it will lie in state at Charles Gumbo Barracks.
The burial date will be advised in due course.
