Joshua Malinga burial set for National Heroes Acre...

Joshua Malinga burial set for National Heroes Acre on Saturday

**The late national hero, Joshua Malinga**

Zim Now Writer

National hero Joshua Malinga will be buried on Saturday at the National Heroes Acre in Harare, his family said yesterday.

Malinga, 79, succumbed to prostate cancer last Friday.

He was declared a national hero by President Emmerson Mnangagwa on Sunday, recognising his work in promoting the rights of minorities.

At the time of his death, Malinga was a Special Advisor to President Mnangagwa on disability-related issues, a role the President said he served with distinction.

Yesterday, Zanu PF Bulawayo province delivered the national hero status conferment at his home in Richmond suburb where mourners are gathered.

Zanu PF politburo member, Molly Mpofu read the Presidential message before handing the letter to Malinga’s widow.

Malinga’s brother, Shadreck Malinga expressed gratitude for the national hero conferment, saying they were now working with Government on burial arrangements.

“We don’t have the final date yet but what we arranged as a family is that the burial be held on Saturday. We would want his body to lie in state here on Thursday before it is flown to Harare on Friday for burial on Saturday,” said Malinga.

“However, this may change in the coming days, but tentatively this is what we have done.”

Zanu PF Bulawayo provincial chairman Jabulani Sibanda said Cde Malinga’s national hero status is befitting and his track record speaks for itself.

“He brought development to Bulawayo. During his time as the city’s mayor, new clinics were built in the city. We will remember him for the roads such as Siyephambili Drive. Why do we have heroism in this country? It’s because history will never be kind and our history is our story,” said Sibanda.

Zanu PF Council of Elders member Angelina Masuku commended President Mnangagwa for declaring him a national hero.

“I really want to thank the party and, particularly His Excellency the President for listening to the wishes of the people and honouring Cde Malinga with the national hero status, he truly deserves that honour.

“Bulawayo and this region as a whole shall forever miss this courageous personality. He has left a proud legacy, Cde Malinga was a selfless leader who was never self-centred and proved with distinction. For him, being disabled was never an inability, a very humble person who was not even shy to ask for advice,” she said.

During its special council meeting to elect a mayor and deputy mayor yesterday, Bulawayo City Council observed a minute of silence in honour of Malinga.

Newly-elected Bulawayo mayor, Councillor David Coltart said it was a befitting honour for Malinga to be declared a national hero.

“The moment of silence was not window dressing nor superficial. I enjoyed a very productive relationship with the late mayor of Bulawayo, the late Joshua Malinga.

“It was a friendship that crossed over the political divide and we shared ideas of how best to serve our country,” he said.

Malinga was elected into office as a Councillor for Ward 2 in 1987. He served as councillor for the (1987-1991); (1991-1993): (1993-1995) municipal years.

He was elected as deputy mayor for the 1992/1993 municipal year and installed on August 19, 1992.

He served as the mayor of the City of Bulawayo in the 1993/1994 and 1994/1995 municipal years.

During his term of office, he served in numerous council committees which included the health, housing, amenities and liquor committee, the general purposes committee, the town lands and planning committee and the finance committee among others.

Malinga also represented the City of Bulawayo in various outside bodies and committees, including the Local Authorities Pension Fund Management Committee (1991/1992), Urban Councils Association of Zimbabwe Executive Committee (1992/1993, 1994/1995) and Matabeleland North Provincial Council (1992/1993, 1994/1995) among others.