The Herald (Harare)
6 July 2009
Harare — Liberation war hero retired army officer Taurai Matuka, who died at Parirenyatwa Hospital, was last week laid to rest at the provincial shrine.
The burial was attended by senior Government officials including the Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Development, Cde Nicholas Goche, Mashonaland Central Governor and Resident Minister, Advocate Martin Dinha, House of Assembly members and senior army officials.
In his graveside speech, Adv Dinha warned Zimbabweans against losing the gains of the liberation struggle, saying the country's enemies had not lost hope in effecting illegal regime change in the country.
Adv Dinha said Zimbabweans should be careful with the constitution-making process as the country's enemies might infiltrate and achieve regime change goals.
"The liberation struggle including fallen and contemporary heroes would have been betrayed by the people of Zimbabwe if we allow the constitution to betray the values of the liberation struggle -- that gives us inalienable rights," Adv Dinha said.
Speaking at the same occasion, Cde Goche said, Cde Katuka was one of the gallant fighters who -- despite holding a mechanical engineering diploma -- opted to join the liberation struggle.
Such dedication, Cde Goche said resulted in the spilling of blood, which could not be betrayed by reversing the land reform programme.
"We are not going to war again in Zimbabwe unless if we give land back to former oppressors. "We are not going to stop the land reform programme, but we will do this in accordance with the country's laws," he said. He said Cecil John Rhodes never followed any rules when he took away land from the rightful owners.
Cde Katuka joined the liberation struggle in 1977 after completing his Diploma in Sri Lanka.
Be the first to Write a Comment!
Copyright © 2009 The Herald. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com).
AllAfrica aggregates and indexes content from over 125 African news organizations, plus more than 200 other sources, who are responsible for their own reporting and views. Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica.
