The late national hero and liberation war stalwart, Brigadier-General Epmarcus Walter Kanhanga (Retired), was a brave soldier who never wavered despite difficulties faced by guerrilla fighters at the front, Vice President Dr Constantino Chiwenga has said.
Speaking at the Kanhanga family home in Mandara, Harare, yesterday, where he was delivering a condolence message on behalf of President Mnangagwa, VP Chiwenga said Brig-Gen Kanhanga remained faithful to the national cause.
“Here you call him Walter but we know him as Charles Munyoro, a very humble person as this name suggests. He joined the war in the 70s as part of the third group of liberation fighters which started the war. From the time he went to war in 1972 till the end, he never wavered from the ZANU PF party ideology or the revolution,” he said.
Despite the strife and conflict that characterised the détente period in 1975, the late national hero remained in the trenches.
“The situation was bad and a lot of Cdes died and many others were injured badly,” he said.
“Charles and others remained in the country until they ran out of ammunition before retreating to the rear in Mozambique, which had just gained Independence. A number of leaders such as former President Mugabe were in prison, while others were abroad training, so there was no one to supply those who were at the front.”
Despite the disturbances, Brig-Gen Kanhanga volunteered to be deployed when the war resumed in 1976.
“He was deployed again to Gaza Province and he never complained about the situation he had faced during détente,” added VP Chiwenga.
“Gaza was a difficult area to operate because the South African army had also entered the war in support of the settler regime.”
VP Chiwenga said he shared a personal relationship with Brig-Gen Kanhanga.
Family representative Mr Allan Kanhanga thanked President Mnangagwa and ZANU PF for honouring the decorated war veteran.
VP Chiwenga was accompanied by Defence and War Veterans Affairs Minister Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri, Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Minister Kazembe Kazembe, as well as senior Government and ZANU PF officials. – Sunday Mail
