NOT even the rains that pounded Harare on Saturday morning could dampen the spirits of the people who thronged the National Heroes Acre to witness the burial of the late Cde Peter Tapera Chanetsa.
He was a giant, not only physically, but a diplomatic guru who was among the many cadres who gave the heroic and historic Land Reform and Resettlement Programme meaning and greater significance.
The programme that sought to address land imbalances in the country saw over 400 000 black households getting land previously owned by a paltry 4 000 white farmers.
Peter Chanetsa, that good man from Mashonaland West, was no ordinary comrade.
He was an intellectual whose wit redefined and refined protocol systems and operations when the country gained independence in 1980.
Far detached from publicity, it was no surprise many people were unaware of his great service to the nation as the country’s first black Chief of Protocol.
But that did not take the glow away from him as he was laid to rest on Saturday at the National Shrine.
Not only was he a protocol guru, Cde Chanetsa made a mark as Governor of Mashonaland West Province through his expertise during the initial stages of the Land Reform Programme.
He served as Governor of Mashonaland West from 1996 to 2003.
Addressing mourners during Cde Chanetsa’s burial, Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa said the late Governor managed to tame the fierce resistance of white farmers who were prepared to do anything to stay on the land – land that the same whites stole from blacks through colonisation.
“His governorship covered the early phase of our radical Land Reform Programme,” said VP Mnangagwa.
“His governorship, too, placed him in the firing line of most former white farmers who had made fortunes out of tobacco and were prepared to defend their privileges, most notably in the Banket area.
“Cde Chanetsa had to contend with such a hugely networked crop of white farmers who never brooked leaving the land that had given them such riches.”
Mashonaland West is an important agricultural centre and as such was a key national constituency during the Land Reform Programme. 
VP Mnangagwa implored the nation to honour Cde Chanetsa’s vision for the success of the Land Reform Programme in order to attain food security.
“As we gather to lay Cde Peter Chanetsa in his final resting place, I implore the nation to recall his service,” he said.
“Above all, let us remember what he did to ensure the success of our Land Reform Programme.
“Today, we gloat and tell the world that our Land Reform Programme is irreversible.
“It is because of such cadres that we managed to achieve this state of irreversibility.
“Let us ensure that the land we have acquired is utilised to the fullest.”
VP Mnangagwa highlighted Cde Chanetsa’s history.
He said Cde Chanetsa left the country for Tanzania at an early age owing to his abhorrence of racism and oppression.
There he attended Kantaramba Secondary School in the Sumbawanga Ufipa area where he completed Standard 12.
Prior to that, he had attended Fear-Not Primary School in Chinhoyi’s old location for his Sub-A and B, Charles Clark Primary School in Magunje for Standard 1 and Donnybrook Primary School for Standard 2.
After completing primary school, he proceeded to Nyamutora Secondary School in Mabvuku for his secondary school education.
After that, he worked closely with Tanzania’s liberation movement, Chama Cha Mapinduzi, getting exposed to nationalist politics as a youth.
In 1974, Cde Chanetsa was assigned to the ZANU office in Dar es Salaam, where he conducted security and protocol duties.
At the party’s 1977 Chimoio Congress, Cde Chanetsa was appointed party protocol chief for East Africa, an office which also handled the colossal task of preparing for the crunch Lancaster House Conference.
“A major highlight of that delicate assignment was in preparation for the 1979 Lancaster House Conference when Cde Chanetsa had to go ahead of the main delegation to ensure that sound logistical and protocol arrangements for the leadership were in place,” said VP Mnangagwa.
“It was a tall order, but working with the likes of Dr (Frederick) Shava, our current representative to the United Nations, the assignment was undertaken professionally without any hitches.”
Following the Lancaster House Conference, the Party sent Cde Chanetsa to the US to mobilise students for the 1980 general elections and was appointed Chief of Protocol to the then Prime Minister Robert Mugabe soon after independence in 1980.
Cde Chanetsa was born on July 15 1946 in Chinhoyi.
He died on January 2 2017 at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals in Harare after a protracted battle with chronic diabetes and hypertension.
Rest in peace diplomatic giant, you served your country and people well!