“I learnt with a deep sense of shock and sorrow of the death of Rtd General Solomon Tapfumaneyi Mujuru in a fire mishap at his Beatrice Farm early this morning,” Mugabe said in statement, issued hours after reports first filtered of the death of Zimbabwe’s first black army chief.

“This horrific tragedy the full details of which are still coming has robbed the nation of a veteran commander of our war of national liberation.

“As we grieve his tragic departure, we recall and celebrate the exceptional leadership he showed in the run-up to our independence, most markedly in 1979 as we drifted into the uncertainties of ceasefire and subsequent tense general elections of 1980,” Mugabe said.

Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai in a statement issued moments after Mugabe spoke, described Mujuru as a “patriot who served his country with honour and distinction.”

“It is with deep sorrow and grief that I learnt of the death of Retired General Solomon Tapfumanei Mujuru, one of the undisputed national heroes of this country.

“Rtd General Mujuru, the founding commander of our national army after independence, will be greatly remembered for his sterling role in the liberation struggle and his outstanding and distinguished service in our military,” Tsvangirai said.

Mujuru (62) was husband to Vice President Joice Mujuru. He died on Monday night in a fire accident, at his farm in Beatrice, about 56 km south of Harare.

Police forensic investigators were on Tuesday said to be investigating the cause of the fire that engulfed the entire farmhouse, causing the roof to collapse and trapping the former army chief and senior member of the inner politburo cabinet of Mugabe’s ZANU (PF) party.

Police told the state owned Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation that his body, which was burnt beyond recognition, had been taken to an army hospital for more tests.

A maid allegedly alerted the police, however by the time they arrived the fire had engulfed the entire house, the ZBC reported.

Mujuru, the first of Zimbabwe’s two vice presidents, was not at the farmhouse when the fire occurred.

Under his nom de guerre, Rex Nhongo, Mujuru (62) was the operations chief of Mugabe's ZANLA guerrilla forces during the 1970s war of independence, which ended Rhodesia’s white minority rule to pave way for black majority ruled Zimbabwe.

He played a key role in Mugabe's rise to the top of ZANU (PF). Following independence, he pretty much carried on as Mugabe’s muscleman  - as independent Zimbabwe’s first black army chief after serving for a short stint under General Peter Walls, Rhodesia’s last army commander.

After leaving the army in 1992, Mujuru was elected MP for his Chikomba home constituency, before leaving public life in 1995 to concentrate on his business interests, ranging from farming to diamond mining.

Even after quitting public life, Mujuru retained immense power and influence in ZANU (PF), leading a faction that has tussled with another one led by Defence Minister Emmerson Mnangagwa for control of the former liberation movement if and when Mugabe steps down.

The former army chief’s faction of ZANU (PF) was seen as comprising the more pragmatic and moderate elements of Mugabe’s party.

Many analysts believe Mujuru’s faction – if it had ever won control of the party – was likely to agree to work with popular Tsvangirai, who many say is most likely to win any free and fair presidential election in Zimbabwe held today.

But Mujuru’s departure from the political scene is certain to strengthen the hand of Mnangagwa, a hardliner long regarded as Mugabe’s preferred heir.

Mujuru started off his military career in the 60s when he joined the Zimbabwe African People’s Revolutionary Army (ZIPRA), the late Vice President Joshua Nkomo’s guerrilla army.

He later switched sides to join ZANLA, where as operations commander, he was second in rank only to the late Josiah Tongogara who was overall in charge of the guerrilla force.

By Special correspondent