The Sunday News
Munyaradzi Musiiwa, Sunday News Reporter
THE late national hero, Cde Moses Griffiths Mpofu, who will be laid to rest tomorrow at the National Heroes’ Acre, will be remembered for his strong virtues of courage, fortitude, patriotism, and integrity, President Mnangagwa has said.
Cde Mpofu died on Friday last week at the United Bulawayo Hospitals after a long illness.
He was 66.
In his condolence message, President Mnangagwa said Cde Mpofu served the nation and Government diligently in the post-independence Zimbabwe and his passing on has left a deep wound in the hearts of those who knew and worked with that would be difficult to heal.
“We shall remember him for his strong virtues of courage, fortitude, patriotism, and integrity which he amply demonstrated before and after Independence as a senior police officer of the Zimbabwe Republic Police. On behalf of Zanu PF, Government, my family, and indeed on my behalf, I wish to express my deepest condolences to the Mpofu family, especially to his wife, Sibonile, and the children who have lost a dear husband, father and counsellor.
“His passing on has left a deep wound in our hearts that will be difficult to heal,” he said.
Cde Mpofu’s body was flown to Harare this afternoon ahead of the burial.
The late national hero went to Nsezi Primary School in Tsholotsho and Tegwani High School.
Cde Mpofu joined the liberation struggle in 1975 when he went to Zambia to join ZIPRA where he underwent military training at Mwembeshi and later Mgagao and Morogoro in Tanzania.
After training, he was deployed in Zambia under the ZAPU Intelligence Wing, National Security Order, a counter-intelligence agency against Rhodesian forces.
Cde Mpofu underwent several police command-related courses between 1978 and 1979 at Novocherkassk Advanced
Police Academy under the then Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR).
After Independence, Cde Mpofu joined the police service in 1981 as a patrol officer and was posted to Mphoengs after training.
He served at various police stations countrywide including Mayobodo, Fort Rixon, Esigodini, Gwanda, Bulawayo Central and Harare Province.
