By Takudziridzwa Nyama
Bulawayo- ZANU PF strongman, Politburo member,and former soldier Rtd. Colonel Tshinga Judge Dube has passed away.He was 83.
Cde Tshinga Judge Dube passed away yesterday evening at a Bulawayo hospital, friends, Comrades and relatives have confirmed. He has been unwell for sometime and was in hospital for the past two weeks.
The late Cde Tshinga Dube was a leader of Zapu’s military wing ZIPRA during Zimbabwe’s war for independence.
At independence Cde Dube joined the Zimbabwe National Army as Director of Signals before retiring.
He also worked in the Ministry of Defence as a deputy secretary and director of research and development before being appointed Managing Director of Zimbabwe Defence Industries. He was a Zimbabwe Mining Development Corporation (ZMDC) board member for eight years and deputy board chairman of TelOne for seven years. In 2012 he was named the chairperson of Marange Resources. He was once an advisory board member to the secretary-general of the United Nations on Disarmament.
In Government the late served as Deputy Minister for Welfare Services of War Veterans, War Collaborators and Political prisoners and detainees before being elevated to serve as Minister of the same Ministry.
Rtd Col Dube was born on 3 July 1941 at Fort Usher in Matobo District, Matabeleland South.
The late Cde Tshinga Judge Dube did his primary education for the first two years at the local school at his rural home in Matobo. He then moved to Mzilikazi Primary School in Bulawayo and later on to Solusi Mission for his secondary education.
Of late, Cde Dube had been vocal against corruption and a section of the ruling agitating for the amendment of the constitution to allow President Mnangagwa to extend his rule beyond his constitutionally mandated two terms.