THE late Cde Mutoyiwana Andres Nguluvhe, a liberation war hero and village head, was laid to rest on Saturday at his homestead in Tshapongwe under Chief Matibe in Beitbridge East.
Cde Nguluvhe died at the age of 91 and leaves behind a legacy of sacrifice, hard work, and dedication to both his family and the nation.
Born into a family of 12 as the second-born child, he was a father of 15 children and grandfather to 35 grandchildren.
Speaking at the funeral, the Minister of State for Matabeleland South Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Albert Nguluvhe, who is also the younger brother to the late, described Cde Nguluvhe as both a national hero and a hero of his generation.
He paid tribute to his elder brother’s sacrifices during their upbringing, saying the late dedicated himself to herding their father’s cattle to allow his younger siblings, including the minister, to attend school.
“He sacrificed his education for the benefit of the family. For me to be where I am today is because of the sacrifices he made,” said Nguluvhe.
He said Cde Nguluvhe worked at Panda Mine, where he developed expertise in mining techniques, skills that later earned him acceptance at Mangula Mine.
However, dissatisfaction with the treatment he received under the colonial regime motivated him to join the liberation struggle in 1978.
He said Cde Nguluvhe underwent military training in weaponry and adopted the pseudo name “Mujamba” during the war.
Following his training, he operated in the Gaza area, with his assembly point being Zezani the same location where the 2026 Independence Flame Lighting Ceremony was held in April.
After Zimbabwe attained independence in 1980, Cde Nguluvhe was demobilised and returned home, where he remained active in safeguarding the country’s independence through service to the ruling party, becoming a cell leader in his community.
In recognition of his contribution to the liberation struggle and nation-building, President and First Secretary of ZANU PF, Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa, conferred liberation war hero status on Cde Nguluvhe.
“On behalf of the province and myself, I would like to appreciate the recognition made by the President and the ruling party. It shows that Cde Nguluvhe’s contribution to nation-building and development was immense,” said Nguluvhe.
One of his children, Emma Nguluvhe, described her father as a hardworking provider who ensured his family never lacked while growing up.
“Our father was a provider and a hardworking man. We never lacked anything growing up because he always made sure the family was taken care of,” she said.
Cde Nguluvhe will be remembered for his role in Zimbabwe’s liberation struggle, his service as a village head, and the sacrifices he made for both his family and country.