LIFE will never be the same again for the people from Guruve District, without one of their
own.
For many years they will always cherish his good works. For years, they will always see what
he did for them but, for many more years to come, they will be in pain.
Those who spoke during his funeral wake at his farm, Stockwell Farm, in Mvurwi on
Monday, described him mainly in three words – peaceful, humble and caring.
Even his farm manager described him as “his father”.
He might be gone, but he will never be forgotten. His works will always be remembered and
seen by both those who knew or did not know him.
He left a real legacy.
Nairesi Taruvinga, speaking about her uncle, the late Rtd Brigadier General Epmarcus
Kanhanga, she said Kanhanga was the family unifier.
“He helped many youths here to join the Zimbabwe National Army.
Just last week when he was here he instructed all youths with five “O” levels to write down
their names so that he could facilitate their vetting into the Zimbabwe National Army.
“He has been helping many of us to pay our children’s school fees. We are really saddened
by his demise. Who will then help us now that he is gone?
“He was just the unifier, family helper, father and everything. Very humble and a very good
listener,” she said.
Her sentiments were supported by Headman Kazingizi of Guruve, who said he grew up with
the late.
Headman Kazingizi said the late national hero had helped him very much in his village and
had been left speechless and powerless at the news of his death.
“He helped us to construct our local primary school, Museka Primary School. He was also in
the process of sponsoring the construction of our local water weir, Madungwe Weir.
“The weir is still under construction and we do not know who is going to come in to cover his
place and help us complete the construction. We have lost a very humble and nice person
who, besides achieving a lot financially, never forgot his roots.”
ZANU PF Mashonaland Central Vice-Chairperson, Magomo, said ZANU PF Mashonaland
Central had lost its best advisor.
He said Rtd Brig Gen Kanhanga was a respected cadre in the party who would provide
guidance whenever he could.
“He was a very humbled leader who humbled himself and never had time to brag about his
military credentials, he would listen to any one first, before correcting them, typical of a good
leader,” he said.
According to Minister Monica Mavhunga, Brigadier General Kanhanga was a force to reckon
with within the ruling party.
“He was very loyal to the party, hence he occupied a number of positions in its ranks. Despite
having those positions in the party, he was never showy. He was very humble but very
helpful to the party as a senior and veteran member of it,” said Dr. Mavhunga.
She went further to thank the President Dr. Emmerson Mnangagwa for according him a
national hero status and burial at the National Heroes’ Acre.
The former politburo member, deputy minister of Environment and Tourism as well as
Zimpapers and Zimparks board member was laid to rest at the National Heroes Acre on
Friday.
At the time of his death, he was the board chair at the National Museums and Monuments of
Zimbabwe as well as a ZANU PF Central Committee member.
Between 2013 and 2018, he was Guruve North Member of Parliament on a ZANU PF ticket.
Before his burial, his body was flown to his Mvurwi farm on Monday so that his colleagues,
friends and relatives could pay their last respects.
Thousands of people converged on the farm to bid their cadre farewell.
He was 73 years, having been born on January 6, 1950 in Guruve.
Brigadier-General Kanhanga joined the liberation struggle in the early 70s after abandoning
his job as a shop assistant at Dande Store in Mbire according to family members.
He died last Friday (02 February), at his farm and was buried at the National Heroes Acre on
Friday.
