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a national heroine saying she played a pivotal role during the liberation struggle.
Ambuya Tangwena (82) died this week in a Harare hospital from a respiratory ailment.
The Zanu-PF Manicaland province made an official request for Ambuya Tangwena, wife to Chief Rekayi Tangwena, to be conferred national heroine status. According to the family, Ambuya Tangwena was a spirit medium who helped guerillas to evade enemy forces during the war of liberation.
“We are happy that Zanu-PF Manicaland province has requested that she be declared a national heroine. It is our wish that she be buried beside her husband at the National Heroes Acre,” said Mr John Tangwena, one of the two surviving sons of Chief Tangwena.
“I remember the role she played during the liberation struggle. Besides standing by her husband against the Rhodesian rule, she was a brave soldier,” Mr Tangwena said.
He said the family was grateful that Government had chipped in with funeral assistance that included food.
Another family member Mr Peter Tangwena, said so brave was Ambuya Tangwena that she resisted attempts by the Rhodesian Government to forcibly relocate people from Nyanga to Gokwe. This was after vast tracts of land in the area had been given to white farmers.
“She was very brave and encouraged people not to be scared of whites. She also encouraged people to join the liberation war.
“Using her spiritual powers she foresaw danger and advised the guerillas accordingly,” he said.
Peter was Chief Tangwena’s secretary.
“We are happy with Ambuya’s contribution to the war of liberation. Even after the family relocated to Mozambique as the war raged on, we were given a piece of land by Frelimo and she would grow food to feed the comrades. We grew such crops as maize and beans,” he said.
Mr Lazarus Nyakuruita, a medic during the war, said it was only appropriate to confer Ambuya Tangwena with national heroine status as she contributed immensely to the struggle for independence.
“She also assisted a lot when President Mugabe and Cde Edgar Tekere crossed into Mozambique,” he said.
Chief Tangwena helped President Mugabe and Cde Tekere cross into Mozambique to wage the liberation war on instruction from the late Mbuya.
“On his arrival here, he asked me to shave his head and I did. We were at that mountain called Gonakudzingwa. He liked reading books. Cde Tekere liked beer,” he said.
Cde Nyakuruita said it was his wish to meet President Mugabe one day.
Online Reporter