National hero Brigadier-General (Retired) Mpandasekwa Mzheri will be laid to rest at the National Heroes Acre on Monday, with President Mnangagwa presiding over the ceremony, Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Minister Kazembe Kazembe confirmed. The body will be airlifted from Manyame Air Base to Mberengwa today for farewell rites before returning to Harare on Sunday.
Brig-Gen Mzheri, whose Chimurenga name was Khetani Khanye, died Tuesday in Harare at age 75 after a long illness. Declared a national hero Thursday evening, he was honored earlier that day with a military parade at Charles Gumbo Barracks.
Zimbabwe National Army Commander Lt. Gen. Emmanuel Matatu hailed him as part of the founding generation that built the modern army from the liberation struggle’s ranks. He said Brig-Gen Mzheri helped shape ZNA operations, commanded missions in Mozambique, and strengthened Zimbabwe’s defense doctrine.
Born March 7, 1950, in Mberengwa, he took part in the 1979 Lancaster House peace talks and became one of the first 18 ex-combatants to join the national army in 1981. His posts included Commander 3 Infantry Brigade, Commander Special Task Force Mozambique, and Director General for Defence Policy and Public Relations.
Decorated with multiple honors, including the Liberation and Independence Medals, he retired in 1999. Brig-Gen Mzheri is survived by his wife and four children: Anesu, Ropafadzai, Tinashe, and Khanye.
