27/05/2026
This morning, His Excellency President Emmerson Mnangagwa is presiding over the burial of late National Hero, Brigadier General (Rtd) Donald Silundi Tshuma at the National Shrine.
Brig Gen (Rtd) Donald Silundi Tshuma whose nom de guerre was Cde Henry Silundi, was born on 12 July 1955, at Mpilo Hospital in Bulawayo. He was the only child and hailed from Siganda Inkosikazi Village in Nkayi District under Chief Sikhobokhobo, Matabeleland North Province. In 1963, he enrolled for primary education at Sikhobokhobo Primary School and could not further his education due to bottlenecks in the colonial education system which disadvantaged Africans.
Cde Tshuma's exposure to colonial injustices compelled him to join active nationalist politics with fellow youths determined to liberate the country. His charisma in mobilizing African resistance drew the attention of the Rhodesian Special Branch. Recognized within nationalist circles, he was appointed ZAPU Youth League District Organising Secretary for Gwabalanda, where he mobilised and facilitated the movement of youths into Zambia to join the liberation struggle.
In November 1976, Cde Tshuma skipped the border into Botswana and briefly stayed in Francistown before crossing into Zambia to join the liberation struggle as a ZIPRA cadre. He initially stayed at Nampundwe Transit Camp before going to Mwembeshi Camp for military training. Upon completion of training, he was deployed along Zambezi River in the Northern Front under Section Commander Comrade ‘Curtain.’
At independence, Cde Tshuma was attested into the Zimbabwe National Army as Private on 28 July 1981 and was subsequently posted to 19 Infantry Battalion in Ntabazinduna, Bulawayo. He demonstrated exceptional leadership, discipline and professional competence and as a result he was promoted to Captain and again was posted to 16 Infantry Battalion in 1982.
In 1992, he was elevated to the rank of Major. In 2012, he was commissioned Lieutenant Colonel. In 2019, he was further promoted to Colonel. Upon his retirement from active military service in 2020, he was promoted to the rank of Brigadier General in recognition of his long, distinguished and exemplary service to the nation and the defence forces of Zimbabwe.
The late Brigadier General (Rtd) Tshuma held numerous appointments in which he consistently demonstrated exceptional leadership qualities, earning nomination to serve in a Peacekeeping Mission in South Sudan. Throughout his illustrious career, he successfully completed various military courses and was honoured with several medals in recognition of his service.