To the MDC Family, It is with deep grief and sorrow that I have officially confirmed and now report the sudden death of our VAA Chairman, Victor Zunza.
He collapsed and died at Engen garage in Mbare at around 8pm on Tuesday the 20th of August. The MDC and Vaa family have been robbed of a very dedicated cadre of the democratic struggle. Victor Zunza was a philanthropist who worked tirelessly to support victims of political violence and their families. He was a founder member of the MDC as a shopsteward and workers Committee member at a tobacco company in Birmigham industrial area. Together with Tichaona Jefta Munyanyi they started MDC activities in 1999 in Mbare with the likes of Cotton, Kunaka Nhira, mudhara Mutambu, Shingadeya, George, Hon Matienga, Femai, Mambo Rusere, Washington Ali just to mention a few.
During the peak of Zanu PF violence in 2007 he fled to SA like many mdc activists where he teamed up with Sox Chikowero, Bekithemba Sibanda, Traner Ruzvidzo and others to form VAA whose mandate was to look after the welfare of victims of political violence both in SA and Zim. VAA was thus formed in June 2008. Sox was the inaugural VAA Chairman. Zunza then took over the Leadership of VAA.
Under his leadership VAA assisted families of victims of political violence through (1) memorialization whereby vaa erected over 20 memorial stones on graves of slain mdc activists across the country (2) construction of houses for families of fallen mdc cadres -under Zunza the first Vaa house was built at St Peters outside Bulawayo for Regina whose husband was brutally killed by Zanu PF.
The second vaa house was built in Madyangove village in Mashava for the late Mtombeni’s family. Mtombeni was killed at his house in Mashava in 2008. The third vaa house was built at Kasimhure village in Hurungwe east for our departed mdc cadre. Victor has departed before completing pending vaa housing projects in Gokwe and Bikita for sekuru Brada. These houses were built through the contribution of vaa members. (3) humanitarian support to victims of political violence eg food packs and groceries for people like Wedza who is now disabled after being shot at Morgan Tsvangirai House by an intelligence officer who was renting an office at Harvest House. Wedza is now paraplegic.
These are few examples of the good works done by Victor Zunza. He was a very practical and frank person who called a spade a spade but all done in good faith for the goodwill of mdc. He realized the value of giving hope to victims of political violence and preaching peace, transitional justice and truth.
In recognition VAA’s work the party, at its 2019 Gweru Congress, amended the MDC Constitution and put a clause that recognizes VAA as an Organ of the party -the mdc veterans council together with the war vets and Disability Council. Thanks to President Advocate Nelson Chamisa for his vision and wisdom.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the Zunza Family on this difficult moment of grief and loss.
Important Announcements1. The body will be taken by Mbare Police from Kuwadzana parlour in Willowvale for postmoterm
- Funeral vigil is at 5 Shawasha flats in Mbare. Directions will be given as well as place and date of burial
- Funeral Contributions can be sent to 0772601424
- With immediate effect Leader Dr Felix Magalela Mafa Sibanda has now assumed the leadership vaa as its Acting Chairman until further notice. The vaa SG is Charles Msimiki.
Yours in Sorrow and Grief
Dr Tapiwa Maji Marefu Mashakada
VAA Treasurer General and MDC Secretary for Policy and Research.
