Local

  By Online Desk Colleagues of the late national hero Jaison Chirinda, who was buried at the National Shrine yesterday in a ceremony led by President Emmerson Mnangagwa, say the country has lost a unifier and an exceptional advisor. In an interview with Zimpapers Radio News on the sidelines of the burial, Veterans of the Liberation Struggle Affairs Minister Monica Mavhunga, Zanu PF Politburo member Kenneth Musanhi, and Mashonaland Central Provincial Affairs and Devolution Minister Christopher Magomo said the late national hero consistently preached peace. The late national hero, who joined the liberation struggle in 1965 and received training in countries including China and Tanzania, passed away last Sunday due to complications related to diabetes. He was 82 years old.

By Lastword Musekiwa President Emmerson Mnangagwa, Chancellor of Great Zimbabwe University, has today presided over the university’s 18th graduation ceremony, where 4,465 students received their degrees. At least 56% of the graduates were female. The ceremony saw Masvingo Minister of State and Provincial Affairs, Ezra Chadzamira, graduating with a master’s degree. Among the graduates was also musician Jonah Moyo, who received an honorary Doctorate degree in Philosophy in Creative and Performing Arts. Moyo’s music career spans over four decades, beginning in 1975. Meanwhile, Vice Chancellor Professor Rungano Zvobgo highlighted the university’s commitment to social responsibility through its Law School’s law clinic, which provides free legal advice to the less privileged. Great Zimbabwe University continues to expand its offerings, with plans to introduce a School of Mining inline with the university’s focus on Heritage-Based Education 5.0, which encourages innovation and entrepreneurship. Some students are already engaged in income-generating projects as part of this initiative.

  By Online Desk The Zanu PF Politburo has conferred national hero status on Jaison William Chezhira Chakaipa Chirinda, who was one of the early cadres to receive military training before waging the liberation struggle. An Extraordinary Zanu PF Politburo meeting chaired by President Emmerson Mnangagwa, who is also the ruling party’s First Secretary, was convened in Harare yesterday to deliberate on the hero status of Chirinda. Chirinda(82) died on October 27, 2024 owing to diabetic-related complications and Zanu PF Mashonaland Central Province submitted a request that he be conferred with the highest honour owing to his illustrious exploits during the liberation struggle. He was one of the decorated military cadres who were involved in the first military operation against the Rhodesian forces in the Sinoia area, now Chinhoyi, where he led one of the two groups deployed for an offensive against the Rhodesians. He was later arrested and served time in prison together with President Mnangagwa, who was serving a life term for his role in fighting the Ian Smith regime. During yesterday’s Extraordinary Politburo meeting, President Mnangagwa said the indaba was convened to consider Chirinda’s hero status. He directed Zanu PF Acting Secretary-General, Advocate Jacob Mudenda, to read out a letter from the party’s Mashonaland Central Province recommending the conferment of national hero status on Chirinda. Briefing journalists after the Politburo meeting, Zanu PF Secretary for Information and Publicity Christopher Mutsvangwa, said there was unanimity among Politburo members on the need to confer the highest honour on Chirinda. He said Zanu PF national chairman, Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri, was tasked with conveying the message to the family of Chirinda in Madziva, Mashonaland Central Province, last night. The burial date has been set for Monday next week.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa is at Cresta Lodge in Harare where he is set to officially open the inaugural Climate and Health Africa Conference (CHAC 2024) which kicked off yesterday with different presentations by researchers on the impact of climate change on the health and wellbeing of people. #CHAC2024 aims to tackle the detrimental impacts of climate change on health and wellbeing of African. The conference is hosted by the Centre for Sexual Health,HIV and AIDS Research (CeSHHAR) Zimbabwe in collaboration with the Zimbabwean Ministry of Environment, Climate and Wildlife and the Ministry of Health and Childcare. CHAC 2024 will incorporate cutting-edge research evidence into understanding climate-health mechanisms, the health impacts, effective adaptation and mitigation intervention strategies, equitable climate research, and discuss how to effectively translate research into policy. ag