Kumbirai Kangai
Kumbirai Kangai was a Zimbabwean politician and national hero, he was involved in the liberation of Zimbabwe during the war of independence.
Born in Buhera, in Manicaland Province on February 17, 1938, he attended Makumbe Mission, Zimuto Secondary School and later United Teachers Training College, Mutare for his education.
He left the country for San Mateo College at the University of California in the United States to further his education.
After teacher training, Kangai started his career by teaching at Zimuto, Michinjike and Rupange Schools.
His political career in the 60’s when he joined ZANU and rose up the ranks to become a member of Dare reChimurenga in 1973. He was involved in military activity in Zambia and Mozambique during the war years from 1973 to 1979 when the talks for independence started taking shape. During the same time, he served as Secretary of Labour and Social Services in the ZANU Supreme Council, ZANU (1973-76).
In March 1975 he was detained with other Dare leaders in Zambia, and released on 16 October 1976. After detention, he served in the Supreme Council as Secretary of Welfare and Transport (1977) and also as a member of the ZANU Central Committee (1977).
Following the country’s independence in 1980, he was elected as a Member of Parliament for Manicaland Province. The Prime Minister appointed a government minister with the portfolio of Labour and Social Services and later Minister of Agriculture.
Kangai died of a heart attack on the 24th of August 2013 and was declared a national hero and buried at National Heroes Acre.
