Source: The Herald – Breaking news.
Brig-Gen (Rtd) Rungani ![]()
Joseph Madzimure-Zimpapers Politics Hub
RETIRED Brigadier-General Victor Chikudo Rungani, who once served as director of the Zimbabwe National Army’s Engineering Military Equipment Directorate, has died.
He was 76.
Brig Gen (Rtd) Rungani died at Mbuya Dorcas Hospital in Waterfalls, Harare, at 2am on Tuesday.
He was a respected military figure whose service and leadership contributed significantly to the development and maintenance of the army’s engineering capabilities.
Minister of State for National Security Lovemore Matuke confirmed the death.
“I can confirm that Brig-Gen Rungani passed away on Tuesday morning. I received the sad news from his wife, Cde Anna Rungani who is the Zanu PF Women’s League secretary for Security,” said Minister Matuke.
The Minister, who hails from the same province with Brig-Gen Rungani, described him as an astute leader who after his retirement, joined the Masvingo Business Association as a successful businessman.
He was a member of the Masvingo Business Association where he helped craft policies to mould the province as a business hub. “We will greatly miss him,” said Minister Matuke.
Zanu PF secretary for Women’s Affairs Cde Mabel Chinomona, who visited the Rungani’s homestead to console the family last night, described the deceased as a great fighter who resolutely defended his country during the war and after independence.
“We have come here to console the family on the untimely death of their beloved father. As the league we are here to mourn with one of us, Cde Anna Rungani who is the Secretary for Security in the Women’s league. It’s not easy to lose your husband. She needs her peers during this difficult moment,” she said.
Zanu PF Women’s League secretary Cde Mabel Chinomona (right) consoles Retired Brigadier-General Victor Rungani’s widow, Senator Annah Rungani (next to her), and other mourners at the family home at Bally Vaughan Farm 9 in Goromonzi yesterday. — Picture: Kudakwashe Hunda.
Cde Chinomona said Brig-Gen (Rtd) Rungani was a straight forward person who loved his party Zanu PF.
Family spokesperson, Professor Ellen Rungani, said her father succumbed to chest pains. She described her father as a unifier and a straight forward person.
“Besides being a military commander, he was a farmer and a businessman. We will greatly miss him as a family. May His Soul Rest in peace,” said Prof Rungani.
Further, she said patriotism was in his DNA. “My father loved his country above everything. In his spare time, he used to tell us about his life history during the liberation struggle, how he survived some of the fierce battles,” she said.
His 25-year-old son, Daniel, commended his father for making sure his children attained the highest education
“As many as we are, he managed to send us to better schools. He was also a disciplinarian, he wanted us to be exemplary wherever we go,” he said.
He was born on 29, June 1949 in Bikita, Masvingo where he did his primary education at Mashingaidze Primary School from 1958 – 1961 for Sub A to Standard Two.
He went to Mutimwi School for Standard Three and Standard Four 1963 – 1964.
He also attended Zimuto Central Primary School for Standard Five and Six from 1965 -1966.
He later went to Zimuto Secondary School for Form One and Two from 1967 – 1968, Luveve Secondary School in Bulawayo for Form Three and Four from 1969 – 1970.
He left Bulawayo for Salisbury in 1971. Stayed in Highfield (Zororo Western Triangle Section) where he became a member of the Zimbabwe Youth Centre and started to participate in youth politics.
He was elected Organising Secretary for Highfield Youth during the Pearce Commission and later became the Organising Secretary for Salisbury District.
Bri Gen Rungani joined the liberation struggle in Mozambique through Machaze, Chibavava and Nyadzonya in 1975 where he received military training at Mapinduzi Military Camp at Chimoio Mozambique and deployed to the Department of Transport in 1976. After military training he was deployed as Head of ZANLA Workshops.
In early 1977, he became a member of the ZANLA General Staff and appointed Provincial Director of Transport Manica. In June of the same year he was appointed Director of Transport Gaza Province.
In October 1977, he got deployed in the Gaza Province Sector Two Operation Front until mid 1978 and continued with Directing Provincial Transport Operations.
In December 1978, he was deployed in Sector Three of Gaza Province as Commander Sabotage Operations of rail and roads in the Operational Zone.
Early 1979, he was deployed in the Advance Detachment of Filabusi, Gatemba and Fort Rexon.
In July 1979, he opened the Gwanda Detachment and Matonjeni (Matobos) Detachment respectively. At ceasefire he went to Juliet Assembly Point (Zezani) in Matebeleland South.
During the introduction to the Zimbabwe National Army he went to the Zimbabwe School of Infantry in May 1980 for integration of former ZANLA and ZIPRA and became the First ZANLA Commanding Officer in the Zimbabwe National Army Commanding 43 Infantry Battalion Gutu in Four Brigade area Masvingo.
He survived by his wife Anna and 36 children. Mourners are gathered at Bally Vaughan Farm number 9, Goromonzi.
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