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The 10-year-old Grade Six pupil at Dzivaresekwa Barracks 2 Presidential Guard Primary School, Ashley Mhanji, who died of cancer on Tuesday, was buried in Mutoko yesterday. Ashley, who was battling cancer and receiving help from Musha Mukadzi Zimbabwe Armed Forces Foundation, was buried at her family’s rural home in Kamusori Village under Chief Nyamukoho.
Ashley was one of the beneficiaries of the charity organisation whose national chairperson is Mrs Mary Chiwenga, wife to Zimbabwe Defence Forces Commander General Constantine Chiwenga.
Addressing mourners at the burial, Mrs Chiwenga urged Ashley’s parents, Sergeant Kudzidza Mhanji and Ms Linda Muzarabani to remain strong and united.
“I would like to thank them for standing by Ashley during the time that she was not feeling well,” she said.
“Ashley was in pain for several days and I would like to urge you (the parents) to be strong during this period.
“I would also want to urge you to be united, that is if you were not. Please remain united.”
Mrs Chiwenga said Ashley had always hoped to recover.
“She would always tell me that she would want to be a doctor when she grows up and be able to assist people suffering from cancer and I had hope in her,” she said.
Mrs Chiwenga said she was saddened that Ashley was the second child to die from cancer under the care of Musha Mukadzi.
The other one, Wishes Chimuzira died last year in May and was aged 12.
“As Musha Mukadzi Zimbabwe Armed Forces Foundation, we cannot fight cancer alone and we also need Government’s assistance,” said Mrs Chiwenga.
“Cancer is real and it’s killing people.”
Mrs Chiwenga appealed to Government to ensure that pharmacies were able to purchase chemotherapy drugs which were only limited to three hospitals countrywide.
The charity organisation has set up a cancer facility at Trauma Centre.
Ashley’s father, Sgt Mhanji said he had a very strong relationship with his daughter.
“She was closer to me than her mother and she would ask for anything from me,” he said.
Sgt Mhanji thanked Musha Mukadzi for the assistance given to Ashley.
National Defence College director administration Colonel Gertrude Dube said in Ashley they had lost a future soldier and one of the future leaders.
The burial was attended by army officers, officials from Musha Mukadzi and relatives.
Online Reporter