The ManicaPost
Tendai Gukutikwa
Post Reporter
MUTARE’s long serving executive Mayor, Alderman Lawrence Dambudzo Mudehwe who died last week and was declared a provincial hero was buried at the Manicaland Provincial Heroes’ Acre on Sunday.
The late Alderman Mudehwe died last week on Wednesday after battling a stomach illness since 2019. Thousands of mourners bade farewell to the humble city father who served as Mayor from 1995 to 2003.
Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister, Senator Monica Mutsvangwa delivered the news of the conferment of the provincial hero status to the Mudehwe family at their Sakubva home last week on Saturday.
“The moment President Mnangagwa heard that Alderman Mudehwe had passed on, he declared him a hero even before the requests from provincial party members had been brought forward.
This is because the President knew about his work in Mutare and how much he contributed before and after independence.
“Alderman Mudehwe was declared a provincial hero in recognition of his service to Mutare and the country at large. He was a dedicated son of the soil who had the people and the country at heart, judging by how he left his paying job at the height of the liberation war and started assisting liberation war heroes with supplies.
“The void that he left is hard to fill, but I hope the Mudehwe family will keep his legacy on. He dedicated his life to the City of Mutare because he wanted to see the black child enjoying the developments of his nation,” said Minister Mutsvangwa.
Speaking at Alderman Mudehwe’s burial last Sunday, Minister of State for Manicaland Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Honourable Nokuthula Matsikenyere described the late alderman as a cadre who contributed immensely towards the development of the city and the country during and after the liberation struggle.
“We pray that as a family you will keep supporting our revolution because it was fought for by our heroes who include Alderman Mudehwe.
“His loyalty and unquestionable dedication to the country was excellent such that the President and Cabinet of Zimbabwe found it befitting that he be accorded the provincial hero status,” she said.
The late alderman served as a Mayor and Councillor for Ward Five from the 1990s until 2003 when he retired as the longest serving Mayor of Mutare.
He was a member of the ruling Zanu PF’s National Consultative Assembly (NCA).
Alderman Mudehwe is survived by his wife, Mrs Emma Mudehwe, seven children, 20 grandchildren and 23 great grandchildren.
