“Your good works will always follow you,”

Mnangagwa described the commander of the Gukurahundi killer soldiers.

Paul Nyathi|resident Emmerson Mnangagwa Mnangagwa has described the late Brigadier-General Emilio Munemo notorious for leading the Gukurahundi atrocities that killed over 20 000 people in Matabeleland and Midlands North as a great teacher who educated people on politics, revolution, and the Zanu-PF ideology.

Brig-Gen Munemo passed away on Sunday at the age of 64 and was rewarded with a national hero status for the work he did. He will be buried tomorrow at the National Heroes Acre.

Deliberately avoiding talking about his role in the Gukurahundi massacres, Mnangagwa told mourners at the Munemo family home in Harare yesterday, that the nation had lost a fountain of knowledge whose educational legacy was traceable to the liberation struggle.

“Cde Munemo left behind a legacy of education. He was a talented teacher who taught politics, history of the country and the ideology of the ruling party.

“He was a great teacher, very humble, but rich in mind. He appeared simple, but the moment he stood up to give a lecture, the audience would then realise his talent. He was a fountain of knowledge and his teaching prowess will always be remembered,” said Mnangagwa.

Mnangagwa said hard work and loyalty which obviously included his role in leading the Gukurahundi took him up the ladder in the military ranks.

“Cde Munemo was a dedicated and hardworking cadre. He was so respectful and loyal to the leadership. That is why he rose through the ranks, after joining the army as a lieutenant-colonel,” he said.

Brig-Gen Munemo was one of the founders of Zanu-PF’s Chitepo School of Ideology which is slowly being generated into a weapon of indoctrination as the ruling party intends to force civil servants heads of departments to go through its trainings.

Mnangagwa said when the party leadership resolved to form the Chitepo School, Munemo’s name was quickly suggested as a great teacher who had the capacity to impart knowledge on the party members.

“When I, and the former president mooted the idea of establishing Chitepo School, we identified the names of those who had deep knowledge of the party ideology and history.

“Cde Munemo’s name was among the first names to be suggested. We felt being a mere card-carrying member without knowledge of the party ideology was not sufficient.

“We identified great teachers who imparted the relevant knowledge on to others,” he said.

Mnangagwa further said the Politburo unanimously declared him a national hero within a few minutes of the discussion.

“When the Politburo sat to deliberate on Cde Munemo’s hero status, a unanimous decision was made within two minutes. We all agreed to confer him with the hero status.

“Your good works will always follow you,” he said.

Vice President Constantino Chiwenga, on behalf of those who worked with Munemo in the army, friends and relatives, thanked the President for according the selfless liberator, national hero status.

“We want to thank our President for honouring us by declaring our colleague a national hero. He will now be laid to rest together with the rest of other fallen heroes.

“We feel honoured,” said VP Chiwenga.

Source: State Media