By Paul Nyathi|ZANU PF diplomat John Chimbandi, who died last Saturday in Harare, has been declared a national hero and will be buried at the National Heroes Acre on Sunday.

Zanu-pf secretary for Administration Obert Mpofu made the announcement on Friday night.

“He has been conferred national hero status. He will be buried on Sunday at the National Heroes Acre.

“Politburo was unanimous in according him the national hero status. We acceded to a request by Mashonaland East Province that he be declared a national hero.

“He had a long history in the liberation struggle and worked consistently after independence,” said Mpofu.

In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade said Chimbandi was the ministry’s institutional liberation expert.

“The Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Honourable Lieutenant-General (Retired) Dr S. B. Moyo, the Permanent Secretary Ambassador J. M Bimha and the entire staff in the ministry learnt with profound grief and sadness, the sudden passing on of Cde John Chimbandi, on the 2nd of June, 2018 at Arundel Hospital, in Harare,” said the ministry.

“The ministry expresses deep and heartfelt condolences to Mrs Chimbandi, the children and the entire family at this very sad and untimely loss.”

Chimbandi had an illustrious career in the ministry that saw him serving as Deputy Director at Head Office and Minister Counsellor in West Germany (1990-1996), China (1998-2002) and Iran (2004-2011).

In March 2015, Chimbandi was appointed Zimbabwe’s Consul-General to Mozambique, based in Beira.

He served in that position until his time of retirement at the end of September 2017.

Chimbandi is survived by his wife and three children.