Story by Tafara Chikumira
THE late Zimbabwe National Army officer Sergeant Elliot Gondo, who was declared a liberation war hero, has been buried at the Midlands Provincial Heroes Acre.
The late liberation war hero whose Chimurenga name was Cde Cobra died after a short illness at Gweru General Hospital on Wednesday last week.
Cde Gondo who died at the age of 62 has been described as a resilient cadre who worked hard for the liberation of the country.
“My uncle left the country to liberate it at a very young age. I remember when he left with his other brother who eventually died in the struggle. His vision was to see a free Zimbabwe and I am glad he died after achieving such a feat. He was a champion of the land reform programme where he played his part in seeing the economic emancipation of the country,” said a family member who spoke to ZBC News.
“Today we are laying to rest one of our fellow Cdes. We shared a lot in the liberation struggle. He wanted to see us enjoying the economic benefits of the country. I take this opportunity to appeal to the government to look at ways it can help us get empowered as war veterans as this was the wish of our fellow cde we are laying to rest today,” said one of the mourners.
Chief mourner, Midlands Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Senator Larry Mavima took the opportunity to call for unity ahead of the country’s general elections.
“I want to urge all of you to have a shared vision for us to attain vision 2030 which was the wish of the late cde Gondo. I want to urge all of you to observe the advice usually conveyed by our President which has to do with dignity, respect as well as observing peace all the time. Peace should be observed before, during and after the 2023 elections,” Senator Mavima noted.
Cde Gondo joined the liberation struggle in 1975 after he crossed into Mozambique where he received military training.
At independence, Cde Gondo joined the Zimbabwe National Army as a private and rose through the ranks to become a sergeant, a position he held until his death.
He is survived by his wife Elizabeth Kaputeni and daughter Queen Gondo
