By Rex Mphisa
Beitbridge Town Clerk Loud Ramakgapola has described the late Matebeleland South deputy commmanding officer for the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services (ZPCS) Assistant Commissioner Rever Mbedzi as a humble hardworking civil servant.
In an interview at the Mbedzi homestead at Malala Ramakgapola said the Municipality of Beitbridge (MoB) had interractions with Mbedzi when he was deployed to them on attachment.
“He was doing project management when he was attached to ourselves (MoB). He was very senior but conducted himself in a very humble manner. He allowed himself to be supervised by young and junior people to his rank. We did not even know by then he was already a superintendent,” he said.
He said Mbedzi supervised the modernisation of Engen Garage from the small Craft Centre that existed hen.
“He acquitted himself well, he did a good job,” said Ramakgapola.
Hundreds of people on Saturday broke the morning chill and wet weather to converge at Malala where Mbedzi was laid to rest.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa on Friday declared Mbedzi a Liberation War Hero Status in recognition of his service to his community and Zimbabwe as a country.
At Beitbridge Prison where he was officer in charge for some time Mbedzi initiated several self sustenance projects for the institution.
According to famous businessman Charles Terry Mulowa, Mbedzi was outgoing and had started the piggery and fish projects at the prison.
“He was outgoing in his administration and started the piggery and fish projects. He interacted with businesspeople to get anything that would better Beitbridge Prison. He made it a dignified institution,” said Mulowa.
Mulowa worked with Mbedzi to start the projects.
“Besides he assisted in having many children from the local area join his profession. This is a man who will be missed for his work,” said Mulowa.
Former Beitbridge Regional Immigration Officer now in the private sector Nqobile Ncube said Mbedzi was an interractive person who sought to involve community in correctional aspect of ZPCS.
“His approach was to involve the community in correctional aspects of inmates. I remember interacting with him when we bought a Jojo Tank and Television for inmates,” said Ncube.