The family of the late former Vice-President Phelekezela Mphoko has announced that he will be laid to rest in Bulawayo, fulfilling his final wish. Mphoko, who passed away last Friday in India at the age of 84 following a pulmonary embolism, was declared a national hero by President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
His body is expected to arrive at Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport today at 5pm, before being transported to Bulawayo tomorrow at 9am. He was surrounded by his wife Laurinda, two daughters, and grandson Daluthando when he died.
His daughter, Siduduzo, confirmed the family’s decision on Facebook: “On behalf of the family, I hereby confirm that my father’s wish has been granted. He will be laid to rest at his home in Bulawayo. I will share funeral details,” she posted yesterday.
The family spokesperson, Ndaba Mphoko, confirmed that his brother would be buried at his plot in Douglasdale, though he couldn’t comment on the logistics of transporting the remains. He indicated that the family had conveyed Mphoko’s wishes to the government.
Mphoko’s decision to be buried in Bulawayo, rather than at the National Heroes Acre, marks a significant departure from tradition and highlights a complex relationship with the current political landscape. He joins a number of prominent Zapu figures who chose not to be interred at the national shrine. This includes former liberation war stalwart and Zipra intelligence supremo Dumiso Dabengwa, buried at his home in Ntabazinduna in May 2019.
Even former President Robert Mugabe, the architect of the National Heroes Acre, was buried at his rural home in Zvimba, defying the government’s offer of a mausoleum at the shrine. While some Zapu figures, such as the late former minister Tshinga Dube and Edgar Tekere, initially refused burial at the National Heroes Acre, they were ultimately interred there.
Mphoko’s life was one of significant political involvement and military leadership. During the liberation struggle, he served as Zipra’s chief of logistics, deputised by Retired Colonel Thomas Ngwenya. His outspoken nature and political affiliations placed him at the centre of significant political events. He became a target of the November 2017 military coup that ousted President Mugabe and led to his own removal from the vice-presidency.
Between 2014 and 2017, Mphoko served as Vice-President, often clashing with Mnangagwa and his supporters, who viewed him as a rival. He publicly declared himself an equal to Mnangagwa, a statement that did not sit well with the President’s loyalists. They saw him as a key ally of the G40 faction, which sought to elevate then First Lady Grace Mugabe to the presidency.
Born on June 11, 1940, in Gwizane, Matabeleland North province, Mphoko’s education included David Livingstone Memorial School in Ntabazinduna and Mzilikazi High School in Bulawayo. He later attended Tsholotsho Agricultural Breeding and Experimental School, studying cropping and animal husbandry.
His early political activism began at Dunlop Rhodesia Ltd, where he represented workers. In 1963, he was arrested for political violence after confronting a Rhodesian police officer, resulting in a three-year prison sentence at Khami Prison, later appealed and granted bail pending retrial. That same year, he participated in the People’s Caretaker Council congress at Cold Comfort Farm, a pivotal event in the formation of Zapu’s special affairs department and external wing, responsible for planning and directing the armed struggle.
Mphoko’s military career began in 1964 when he received military training in the Soviet Union. He played a crucial role in establishing the first military command structure, the military planning committee, and was among the first seven commanders commissioned to recruit, train, and command the revolutionary army.
His military experience extended to the ANC-Zapu Alliance, where he led logistics and supply. He participated in joint military rehearsals for the Wankie operations, alongside notable figures like Joe Modise and Chris Hani. His involvement in the liberation struggle continued with operations in Sipolilo (now Guruve) and participation in the formation of the Patriotic Front in Maputo, Mozambique, and the Lancaster House peace talks.
Following independence, Mphoko served as a special envoy for Joshua Nkomo, engaging with leaders across Africa and beyond. He contributed to the design of Zimbabwe’s national flag and held various positions in government, including deputy director for demobilisation in the Labour and Social Welfare ministry, liaison officer in Mozambique, and ambassador to Botswana, Russia, and South Africa.
His appointment as Vice-President in December 2014 marked the culmination of a long and distinguished career, although his tenure was marked by political tensions that ultimately led to his departure from office. He is survived by his wife, two daughters, one son, and three grandchildren. Mourners are currently gathered at his home in Douglasdale, Bulawayo.
