adminrobbed the AFZ and the nation at large of a loyal and patriotic senior officer who had dedicated her life to serving the nation.
“We are deeply saddened by the death of a gallant daughter of the soil, Group Captain Muchena. Her selflessness and dedication to Zimbabwe saw her defy gender stereotypes to join others in the fight to liberate Zimbabwe from colonial bondage,” said Air Marshal Shiri. “After independence she once again chose to dedicate her life to serving the country in the AFZ.”
He described Capt Muchena as a torchbearer in the journey to empowerment of women in the AFZ and the nation.
Born on February 1, 1959 in Mutare, Capt Muchena then aged 17 experienced the brutality of colonial regime and abandoned school to take up arms in the liberation struggle.
She went to Mozambique and underwent military training at Tembwe before she was deployed to Battaliao Camp in Tete Province as a secretary.
In 1979 she was nominated to attend a secretarial course in Guyana and was charged to be part of a team to establish the Zanla headquarters.
In 1982 she was attested into the Zimbabwe National Army and transferred to AFZ to bring in her experience in administration and chart the way forward for women in the AFZ.
She was the second female officer to be promoted to the rank of group captain in the Zimbabwe Defence Forces in 2005. During her career in the AFZ she held numerous appointments and at the time of her death she was acting director general service personnel.
She is survived by four children.
Mourners are gathered at Number 5, 36 Avenue Mabelreign, Harare.
Online Reporter
dyton mupawaenda