His Excellency President Dr Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa has laid to rest the late National Hero, Cde Donald Silundi Tshuma also known as Cde Henry Silundi.
Speaking from the National Heroes Acre in Harare this Wednesday, President Mnangagwa called on the mourners to learn from the example from the National Hero.
“We gather at this sacred shrine, the National Heroes’ Acre, to inter a loyal, patriotic, gallant Son of the Soil and veteran of the Liberation Struggle, Brigadier General (Rtd) Donald Silundi Tshuma, ‘Cde Henry Silundi’, as he was known during the liberation struggle. He passed on, on 15 May 2026 at the age of 71. The late National Hero, served our beloved motherland, Zimbabwe, with honour and distinction prior to independence, and thereafter, in the Defence Forces, until his retirement. He was a disciplined, and distinguished military officer who provided exemplary leadership within our armed forces,” he said.
“On behalf of our revolutionary mass Party, ZANU PF, the nation, Government, and on my behalf, I once again express my deepest and heartfelt condolences to the Tshuma Family. As we mourn with you the loss of a beloved son, father and relative, we collectively honour his heroic contribution to Zimbabwe. He endured the weighty responsibility of our liberation struggle and national assignments with bravery and steadfast commitment. It is, therefore, befitting that we inter our National Hero alongside luminaries of our country, at this sacred national shrine.”
President Mnangagwa highlighted the ills of colonialism which he and other gallant sons and daughters of Zimbabwe fought against.
“Colonialism tried to belittle our languages and peddle narratives that claimed our history begun in 1890, as the white supremacist disregarded that we were a proud and self-reliant and sophisticated civilization prior to their invasion and theft of our land. The late Cde Tshuma and his generation deconstructed such falsehoods. Their fight restored our history, dignity, identity and destiny,” President Mnangagwa said.
“Under the Second Republic, we continue to honour our rich liberation war heritage by recognizing our heroes, teaching our customs and promoting our languages, as well as protecting the sacred sites of this country. Nyika inovakwa, inotongwa, inonamatigwa nevene vayo/ Ilizwe, lakhiwa, libuswe, likhu-le-ke-lwe ngabanikazi balo.
“Nation-building entails daily patriotic acts, by all of us. Province by province, community by community, let us always remember that a nation without an identity and culture, is like a tree without roots.”