Online Reporter
Columbus Mabika
Herald Reporter
ZIMBABWEANS should consolidate gains of their hard-won Independence by attaining high development standards as envisaged by President Mnangagwa, Commander Zimbabwe Defence Forces General Philip Valerio Sibanda has said.
Presiding as chief mourner at the funeral parade of the decorated and trailblazing Air Vice Marshal Winnie Mandeya (Retired), the Air Force of Zimbabwe (AFZ)’s first and still only female air vice marshal
Air Vice Marshal Mandeya (64) died on Monday in Harare after battling cancer.
Gen Sibanda said the ZDF and the nation at large had been robbed of a loyal and patriotic cadre who dedicated her life to serving Zimbabwe.
“The late officer ran her race well and has now passed the baton to those surviving to continue the race. It is, therefore, incumbent on us, as serving officers and members and indeed all Zimbabweans, to ensure that her good deeds and hard work were not in vain,” said Gen Sibanda.
“We all have a responsibility to ensure that Zimbabwe attains an upper-middle-income status which will translate into improvement of the welfare of citizens and ourselves as members of the ZDF.”
He said the ZDF would remain loyal, patriotic and disciplined as demonstrated by the career of the ir Vice Marshal Mandeya.
She was born on 14 July 1960 in Rusape, Makoni District.
After primary education at Anoldine Primary School and Mutendebvure Primary School, she enrolled at Mutambara High School in 1975 for her secondary education.
That very year when she had commenced her secondary education, she made a selfless sacrifice to put her nation before her life.
At the age of 15 years, she abandoned her studies and joined other cadres in Mozambique to fight for the liberation of Zimbabwe.
What is striking about this decision that she made was that she had not even attained that age of majority at that time. In spite of this, she felt compelled enough to sacrifice her life for Zimbabwe to attain independence although would be in training until reaching adulthood.
This decision defied the gender stereotype that only males could fight for their country. It is this trait that continued to define a career in the ZDF and made her a true trailblazer.
After joining the liberation struggle in 1975, she briefly stayed at Junda and Nyadzonya in Mozambique.
Thereafter, she was taken to Tanzania where she successfully completed basic military training at Nachingweya. After military training, the late air officer was deployed to Gaza province where she operated until 1978.
With the Independence of Zimbabwe in sight, preparations were set in motion to equip liberation fighters with essential skills to serve the people of Zimbabwe.
Air Vice Marshal Mandeya was, therefore, selected to undertake a medical course which covered basic obstetrics and gynaecology, basic nursing and basic paediatrics.
At Independence, she joined the President’s Department where she actively participated in the Commission of Inquiry into Missing Persons in 1981.
She was later transferred to the Air Force of Zimbabwe in 1984 as a non-commissioned member.
Through sheer hard work and excellence in the performance of her duties, she rose through the ranks and was commissioned as an officer with the rank of air lieutenant in 1994.
Her elevation in ranks and appointments was supported by her commitment to advance herself academically to enhance her performance of duties.
Throughout her service in the ZDF and in all appointments, she held, Air Vice Marshal Mandeya was a very humble and affable officer and was decorated with the following medals, Liberation Medal, Independence Medal, Ten Years Service Medal, Mozambique Campaign Medal, DRC Campaign Medal and Long and Exemplary Medal.
The late Air Vice Marshal Mandeya is survived by her son, Munyaradzi Valentine Mandeya.
Mourners are gathered at number 766 Hogerty Hill in Borrowdale, Harare.
