Harare — Veteran nationalist and Shamva-Bindura Senator Misheck "Makasha" Chando will be laid to rest at the National Heroes Acre today, with President Mugabe leading hundreds of Zimbabweans expected to throng the shrine to send off the national hero.

Cde Chando died in a car crash on Friday last week.

Cde Chando's body was flown to Harare from his Shamva farm yesterday afternoon.

The body lay in state at 1 Commando Barracks yesterday and will be taken to Stodart Hall in Mbare this morning.

President Mugabe will lead mourners in body viewing and later to the national shrine for burial.

Cde Chando's body accompanied by his two wives was received at 1Commando Barracks yesterday by Co-Home Affairs Minister Kembo Mohadi, Youth Development, Indigenisation and Empowerment Minister Saviour Kasukuwere, Commander of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces General Constantine Chiwenga, Air Vice Marshal Henry Muchena and Brigadier-General Douglas Nyikayaramba.

A brief church service was held for the late Cde Chando.

In a an interview after receiving the body, Minister Mohadi described Cde Chando as a principled, dedicated and fearless cadre who had respect for everyone.

"I got to know Cde Chando after independence but one thing that I got to know about him was that he was down to earth and respectful of everybody, young and old.

"Unfortunately, he has been robbed from us. We have lost another cadre again. We say he has done his part, he has run his race.

"The honour that the party and the people of Zimbabwe have conferred on him is clear testimony of his great work for the country," he said.

General Chiwenga said Cde Chando's history dates back to the years of the liberation struggle and in that time he had remained a selfless and dedicated cadre in the struggle for Zimbabwe's emancipation.

"I first met Cde Chando at Mgagao in Tanzania and he was among the first group of comrades that I trained after I had been appointed an instructor in 1974.

"He was part of the group that we called the B52 -- in reference to the famous B52 fighter planes used by the United States in the Vietnam War -- because the group had 52 cadres.

"The group also had the likes of late national hero Cde Mark Dube and Air Vice Marshal Muchena," he said.

Air Vice Marshal Muchena said Cde Chando was a courageous man who stood resolutely for the liberation of the people of Zimbabwe.

"He remained respectful despite his immense contribution to the liberation struggle," Air Vice Marshal Muchena said.

Addressing mourners at Bamboo Creek Farm in Shamva before the body was flown by helicopter to Harare, Mashonaland Central Governor and Resident Minister Advocate Martin Dinha appealed to the ruling party's provincial executive to ensure the families left by heroes were taken care of.

"I will set an example by donating to the Chando family 600 litres of diesel to use in land tillage.

"I urge my colleagues to come in with donations in the form of seed and fertilizer so that the families left by heroes are not a laughing stock," he said.

Adv Dinha said Cde Chando was a great and humble leader who worked well with everyone.

He said Cde Chando had been instrumental in quelling dissent during the liberation war.

Zanu-PF provincial chairman Cde Dickson Mafios said Cde Chando's death came at a time when the province was preparing for the December congress.

"We will go ahead with plans as we agreed with Cde Chando before his death," he said.

Cde Mafios warned those who were conniving with whites to frustrate land reforms that they were betraying the ideals that Cde Chando fought for.

He said Cde Chando had set high standards and it would be difficult to find his replacement.

Speaker after speaker cherished Cde Chando's illustrious history and contributions to the country before people were accorded an opportunity to view his body.

Cde Chando died last week in a car accident near the 64km peg along the Harare-Shamva road.

Senator Chando was born on February 12, 1941 at Jacob Village in Murewa.

His political history spans from 1962 when he joined Zapu and was based in Harare.

He helped mobilise war collaborators to operate in areas like Highlands and Mbare.

To evade Rhodesian agents, who hunted him and his colleagues, he went to his rural home where he continued organising groups of war collaborators.

In 1971, he joined Zanu before he moved to Muzarabani a year later.

In 1972, the late Cdes Josiah Tongogara and Robson Manyika took him along with 150 other comrades for special training to Mgagao Camp in Tanzania after he had already completed six-week "chimbi-chimbi" training in Zambia.

In 1975, he was appointed provincial field operational commander.

The following year, Cde Chando was deployed to Gaza Province in Mozambique and was critically injured in one of the battles.

He was admitted for eight months at Maputo Military Hospital where President Mugabe visited him weekly.

On his discharge, he was taken to Chimoio headquarters where he was appointed deputy camp commander.

In 1975, Senator Chando, whose section also comprised Vice President Joice Mujuru, went to Chimoio and received President Mugabe, Cde Edgar Tekere and the late Chief Rekayi Tangwena.

In 1979, during the ceasefire period, he was assigned to remain with 250 comrades in Tembwe Camp so that he and others would maintain the graves of comrades buried there.

He stayed there for one-and-a-half years.

After independence, he was elected deputy secretary for Mashonaland Central Province and became a member of the Zanu-PF National Consultative Assembly.

He was elected to the Senate in last year's general elections; a position he held until his untimely death last Friday.

Cde Chando is survived by two wives and 18 children.