US embassy cable - 05HARARE1208

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Identifier:	05HARARE1208
Wikileaks:	View 05HARARE1208 at Wikileaks.org
Origin:	Embassy Harare
Created:	2005-08-29 15:10:00
Classification:	CONFIDENTIAL
Tags:	PGOV PHUM PREL ZI
Redacted:	This cable was not redacted by Wikileaks.

C O N F I D E N T I A L HARARE 001208 
 
SIPDIS 
 
AF/S FOR B. NEULING 
SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR C. COURVILLE 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/29/2015 
TAGS: PGOV, PHUM, PREL, ZI 
SUBJECT: GOZ BURIES ANOTHER HERO 
 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Christopher Dell for reasons 1.5 b/d 
 
1.  (U) Minister of Indigenization and Empowerment and 
ZANU-PF Politburo member Josiah Tungamirai died on August 25 
in a South African clinic reportedly of kidney failure.  The 
GOZ quickly named him a national hero and buried him on 
August 28 at Hero,s Acre.  According to local media 
accounts, Tungamirai had been plagued by kidney problems for 
at least the past five years ) he received a transplant from 
his brother in 2000.  Retired General Solomon Mujuru, 
effective head of the dominant Zezuru ethnic sub-group 
clique, played an uncharacteristically public role in 
Tungamirai's funeral. 
 
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COMMENT 
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2.  (C) The death of Zimbabwe's respected first black Air 
Force commander comes as a blow to the regime,s morale. 
Tungamirai's liberation war credentials, wide popularity, and 
relative youth (57) made him a pivotal ally of the Mujuru 
clique in historically divided Masvingo.  His passing leaves 
retired General Vitalis Zvinavashe ) an Emmerson Mnangagwa 
ally also from Masvingo ) as the Zimbabwe,s most preeminent 
war hero and retired military officer. 
DELL