Two Heroes, One Nation: Zimbabwe Bids Farewell to Cde Rungani and Cde Basopo

By Ilyana Sithole

Zimbabwe shall say a tearful goodbye to two liberation war heroes, Cde Victor Tapiwa Chase Rungani and Cde Walter Basopo, whose remains will be interred at the National Heroes Acre in a joint burial on Wednesday, April 30, 2025. The two patriotic icons were conferred the dignity of national hero status by His Excellency, President Cde Dr. E.D. Mnangagwa, who shall preside over the burial ceremony.

Prior to the burial, the Ministry of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage has mapped the transit of the heroes’ remains so that individuals across the country can come out in numbers to pay their respects.

Cde Victor Tapiwa Chase Rungani’s Road Home:
The body of Cde Rungani was yesterday afternoon, at 2 PM, escorted from Charles Gumbo Barracks to his home in Goromonzi, where it rested overnight in state. This Tuesday, April 29, there will be a flight to Bikita at 9 AM carrying his remains with an expected time of arrival being 11 AM. This will provide an opportunity for the Masvingo leadership and people in Bikita to honour his memory. The body will then make its way back to Harare tomorrow at 2 PM and be taken for lying in state before burial.

Cde Walter Basopo Memorialized in Gutu and Chinhoyi
The late Cde Basopo’s body was brought back to his Gutu home yesterday where it was lying in state, offering his people a chance to pay their respects. His body was conveyed to Chinhoyi today, April 29, at 11 AM, where it will be lying in state at Number 6824 Muzari. On April 29th Tuesday, the remains will be back in Harare at 9 AM and be escorted to Charles Gumbo Barracks to lie in state together with the body of Cde Rungani, prior to embarking on both’s last journey to the National Heroes Acre.

The dignified burial rites of both the national heroes are to take place at the national shrine on Wednesday. The Ministry has directed that mourners will be ferried to the normal pick-up points.

The country is invited to come in large numbers to accord a dignified and worthy farewell to these two courageous sons of the nation, whose unwavering commitment and sacrifices have become an etched part of Zimbabwe’s history. Their patriotism and service legacy will inspire generations to come.