RETIRED Central Intelligence Organisation Director, Cde Walter Basopo, who passed away in South Africa on Tuesday, has been declared a national hero.
Delivering the message of his national hero status to the family in Goodhope, Harare, this Friday, Minister of State for National Security, Senator Lovemore Matuke, stated that the Government and the ruling ZANU PF party had recognised the significant role played by Cde Basopo both before and after Zimbabwe’s independence.
“I have been sent by President Mnangagwa to relay an important message. He worked in government for a long time. He was working with the government, defending the country. His contribution has been important since the liberation struggle. The President has seen it fit to accord national hero status to Cde Basopo,” he said.
The family expressed gratitude to the government for bestowing national hero status on Cde Basopo, describing him as a fatherly figure and unifier.
“We are grateful for the hero status that has been accorded to our father. He was a unifier. He worked hard for the country and even at home, he was a fatherly figure,” family spokesperson, Kudakwashe Musungwa Zvinavashe said.
Cde Basopo joined the liberation struggle in June 1976 under ZANLA, after crossing into Mozambique.
He then received political training at Chibawabawa Transit Camp until 1978.
Cde Basopo later received military training at Tembwe Camp, before being deployed to ZANLA’s security department in Manica Province.
In 1980 Cde Basopo, was attested into the President’s Department under the Internal Branch and rose through the ranks to become Director of the Central Intelligence Organisation due to his exceptional dedication to duty.
He is survived by two wives and five children.
Mourners are gathered at Number 227 Willowcreek Road in Goodhope, in Mt Hampden.
