The Zanu PF Matabeleland provincial leadership is bidding for national hero status for the late politburo member Joshua Teke Malinga who died on Friday last week, NewsDay has learnt.
The leaders, however, said a meeting with Malinga’s family was scheduled for last night for the final decision.
Malinga (79), who was also former Bulawayo executive mayor and special adviser to the President on disability issues died on Friday night at his Richmond home.
Zanu PF Bulawayo provincial spokesperson Archibold Chiponda said the leaders would write a letter requesting national hero status after the meeting with the deceased’s family.
“We are advocating the national hero status for the late former mayor. Some of the administration members were away, but we hope to meet today (yesterday) and it is our hope that once the letter is sent today to Harare we will be able to get a response by late tomorrow (today),” he said.
Malinga’s son, Mpehlabayo, said the family was waiting to hear from the Zanu PF leadership on their father’s status.
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“As a family we have respected their decision, so we will hear from them later,” he said.
Mpehlabayo told the media on Saturday that his father was diagnosed with prostate cancer four years ago.
Malinga served two terms as executive mayor of Bulawayo.
Born in Filabusi on April 20, 1944, Malinga lost the ability to walk following a polio attack at a tender age.
The late former Zanu PF politburo member Naison Khutshwekhaya Ndlovu, who was his relative, took him to Jairos Jiri Centre in Bulawayo, where he attended school and later learnt the shoe-making craft.
At Jairos Jiri, Malinga distinguished himself and he went on to study at Mpopoma High School before securing a scholarship to study in England where he graduated with an accounting degree.
Malinga joined PF Zapu and was active against the country’s racist minority rulers who oppressed the majority indigenous blacks.
Malinga has been vocal on disability and the marginalisation of Matabeleland which elevated him to national prominence leading him to be honoured with a seat in the Zanu PF politburo for many years.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa later appointed him presidential adviser on disability issues.
Bulawayo’s incoming mayor and former minister David Coltart described Malinga as his good friend despite being in opposing political parties.
“He became a good friend in the 1980s and 90s and has remained so since. I admired his courage under such affliction,” Coltart told journalists yesterday.