Mugoba buried

Harare(New Ziana) – The late Major General Trust Mugoba had a distinguished service record before and after independence and his recognition as a national hero was in honour of that record, President Emmerson Mnangagwa said on Wednesday.

The late Mugoba, who died at the age of 60 last Friday, joined the Liberation struggle in 1977 as an 18 year old, rising through the ranks to become a detachment commander.

After independence, he held several posts in the army including Commanding officer 1 parachute battalion, deputy director, directorate of army training, director general policy, public relations and protocol rising through the ranks to become chief of staff general staff at Army headquarters in 2015.

He was then seconded to Ethiopia in 2017 where he was serving as the Chief of Staff for the African Union Standby Force at the time of his death.

In his eulogy at the burial of the national hero, President Mnangagwa said Mugoba had served his people, country and the African continent with exceptional distinction.

“I also pay tribute and celebrate the selfless and meritorious deeds of the late departed hero, whose record both in the struggle for national liberation and in the defense of the African cause is beyond question,” he said.

“It is that record which has earned him a place in our hearts, indeed which has inspired our decision to lay him to rest at this shrine of honour, the National Heroes Acre.”

President Mnangagwa said Mugoba had performed well even in continental assignments.

“In seconding him to the African Union Headquarters as chief of staff of the African standby force, we had immense confidence in his ability to represent our country at the helm of our continent’s peace and security institution for the prevention, management and resolution of conflicts,” he said.

“Our late national hero was aware of the onerous responsibility the continent placed on his shoulders and we are proud to say that he acquitted himself very well, during his tour of duty.”

He added: “Without peace on the continent, our quest for regional and continental integration will not be achievable. This was well understood by our late national hero who appreciated that the colonial boundaries should never limit our determination towards a peaceful and stable Africa.”
New Ziana