Source: President presides over Matemadanda burial today – herald

Pallbearers carry the casket bearing the body of national hero Ambassador Victor Matemadanda upon arrival at Charles Gumbo Barracks in Harare yesterday. – Picture: Charles Muchakagara

Joseph Madzimure and Remember Deketeke

NATIONAL hero Ambassador Victor Matemadanda, who died on Sunday, will be laid to rest at the National Heroes Acre today, with President Mnangagwa presiding over the burial.

The Government said it was expecting a massive send-off for the war veteran, former minister and ex-Zanu PF national political commissar.

Cde Matemadanda, who passed away at the age of 66 after a short illness, was Zimbabwe’s Ambassador to Mozambique and the Kingdom of Eswatini.

In an interview yesterday, Ministry of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Acting Permanent Secretary Mr Mike Masaka said all logistics were in place for Ambassador Matemadanda’s burial.

“As Government, I can confirm that we are ready to give a dignified send-off to our illustrious son of the soil, Ambassador Victor Matemadanda,” he said.

He said the national hero’s body last night lay in state at his Mount Pleasant Heights residence, where mourners continued to pay their last respects ahead of today’s burial.

Mr Masaka said at least 85 buses had been mobilised to ferry mourners from around the country to the national shrine.

“I can confirm that His Excellency, the President, will preside over the burial ceremony. Government has provided 85 buses to ferry mourners to the national shrine, with 50 buses allocated to Harare Province, 15 to Midlands Province and two buses for each of the remaining provinces.”

He added that transport arrangements have also been made for the bereaved family and friends of the gallant hero.

“Family members will be provided with four buses,” he said.

Mr Masaka said the arrangements are intended to ensure that Zimbabweans from all parts of the country are able to participate in honouring the life and legacy of Ambassador Matemadanda, who was declared a national hero in recognition of his distinguished service to the nation.

In a statement, the Ministry of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage confirmed the burial arrangements.

“Burial proceedings will commence on Friday, the 26th of June 2026 and mourners are expected to be seated by 0700hrs,” reads the statement.

In his condolence message, President Mnangagwa described Ambassador Matemadanda as a dedicated veteran of the struggle whose contribution to the country’s independence, governance and national heritage will be remembered for generations.

He said Ambassador Matemadanda’s political consciousness and involvement in the national liberation struggle dated back to his youthful days as part of the Zimbabwean migrant community that had settled in Zambia to escape persecution in then Rhodesia.

“He readily swapped the relatively quiet and comfortable life of the largely successful Zimbabwean migrant community in Zambia for a fraught one of struggle,” said President Mnangagwa.

He said the late diplomat initially worked alongside other nationalists, including the late Cde Patrick Kombayi, mobilising support for liberation fighters and refugees in camps in Zambia and Mozambique.

President Mnangagwa said Cde Matemadanda later became more directly involved in the liberation struggle, including assisting with the transportation of war material using heavy-duty Scania trucks to various operational areas.

Zanu PF secretary for Information and Publicity, Ambassador Christopher Mutsvangwa described Cde Matemadanda as a “stalwart of the Chimurenga-Umvukela National Liberation War from the expatriate community of Zimbabwean exiles based in Zambia”.

Amb Matemadanda is survived by two wives, 18 children and several grandchildren.

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