The late Colonel Enias Hungwe
Moleen Machingura Herald Reporter—
Zimbabwe National Army director of education Colonel Enias Hungwe who died last Thursday will be buried in Chivi today. He was 58. Col Hungwe, whose Chimurenga name was ‘Zvichanaka Chete’, died at a private hospital in Harare after a short illness. A funeral parade in his honour was held last Friday at One Commando Barracks.
Speaking at the funeral parade, ZNA Chief of Staff Administration, Major General Trust Mugoba conveyed his condolence message to the Hungwe family.
“On behalf of the General officers, Senior officers, officers, men and women of the ZNA in particular and the Zimbabwe Defence Forces in general and my own behalf, I would like to pay my deep condolences to the bereaved family and relatives of the late Colonel Hungwe,” Maj Gen Mugoba said.
“His untimely death is very saddening and painful, not only to you but to all peace loving Zimbabweans.”
He commended Col Hungwe for the role he played in transforming army schools to become vibrant learning institutions.
“As Director Army Education Corps and Administrator of the ZNA Schools Welfare Trust, he was instrumental in invigorating the activities of the Trust through the transformation of army schools into model schools,” he said.
He said Col Hungwe was also influential in the ZNA Schools Cadetship Programme, Information and Communication Technology, where all the 17 Army schools were fully computerised and had e-learning programmes.
Minister of State for Liaising on Psychomotor Activities in Education Cde Josiah Hungwe who was uncle to Col Hungwe described him as a family unifier.
“The death of our son is a great loss to us as he united the family,” he said.
“I also want to thank him for contributing to the peace, not only of this country as he was a war veteran but of other countries in the region like Mozambique and the DRC.”
Born on December 31, 1956 in Chivi District, Masvingo, the late senior officer did his Sub A to Standard 3 in Mberengwa before attending Lower Gweru Mission in 1968 for Standard 4 and 5. He proceeded to Wanezi Mission for secondary education before joining the liberation struggle as a ZANLA cadre in 1977. He received military training in Mozambique and operated in the Gaza Province until ceasefire.
Col Hungwe was attested into the ZNA in 1981 as a psrivate soldier and rose through ranks to become colonel in 2010, a rank he held until his death.
He held various appointments during service among them education staff officer Grade Two responsible for administration; brigade education officer, deputy director army education.
He did various military courses and non-military courses which included Diploma in Business Management, Diploma in General Management and Certificate in Executive Defence Management Programme.
Col Hungwe was awarded several medals and took part in the Mozambique and DRC campaigns. He is survived by wife, Violet and five children.