admin
Zimbabwe was on Friday plunged into mourning following the death of yet another national heroine, Cde Victoria Fikile Chitepo. Cde Chitepo,88, was wife to the late national hero and founding Zanu-PF national chairman Advocate Herbert Chitepo.
Cde Chitepo who was a Zanu-PF central committee member and former cabinet minister, was found dead at her Mount Pleasant Home by her granddaughter. The late Cde Chitepo who has since been declared a national heroine, will be buried at the National Heroes Acre on Wednesday.
The Zanu-PF secretary for administration, Cde Ignatius Chombo said Politburo members unanimously agreed that Cde Chitepo deserved to be declared a national heroine.
The President, Cde Robert Mugabe described Cde Chitepo as an exemplary woman of integrity worth emulating. He said the late heroine was a mother figure always prepared to lend a helping hand.
President Mugabe said the late Cde Chitepo looked after many comrades in Tanzania during the liberation struggle.
He said after the death of her husband in 1975, Cde Chitepo remained committed to the liberation struggle and continued to work tirelessly for the party. Cde Mugabe said Cde Chitepo wrote her own page or book of the liberation struggle.
The President said Cde Chitepo always encouraged harmony, dialogue and togetherness in the party. Cde Chitepo who was born on March 27, 1928, in South Africa held several ministerial positions before she retired from the government.
Cde Chitepo joins other heroines such as Cdes Sally Mugabe, Sabina Mugabe, Johanna Mafuyana Nkomo, Julia Tukai Zvobgo and Ruth Chinamano whose remains are interred at the National Heroes Acre.
Zimbabwe is obviously poorer following the death of Cde Chitepo who is among the veterans of the liberation struggle who was giving guidance to the party and government. She definitely fought a good war which saw Zimbabwe being freed from the shackles of colonialism.
After independence, Cde Chitepo contributed immensely to the development of the country as cabinet minister. Zimbabweans should borrow a leaf or two from Cde Chitepo’s humility and commitment to the development of the country.
Members of the ruling party Zanu-PF could therefore learn from Cde Chitepo.
The party is now very divided as a result of factional fighting and members should therefore preach togetherness as encouraged by Cde Chitepo.
Cde Mugabe who accused senior party members of fuelling factional fighting, said it was clear some part members no longer trusted each other. It is disheartening to note that instead of focusing on delivering on the promises made to the electorate, a lot of energy is now being spent on factional fighting.
President Mugabe said it was worrying that after the elimination of the Joice Mujuru-led putchist cabal from the party, divisions continued which were destroying the party. The greatest tribute that Zanu-PF members can pay to cadres like Cde Chitepo is to remain united.
Members should take seriously Cde Chitepo’s gospel of togetherness and dialogue. It is only through dialogue that differences can be resolved as opposed to fighting each other as is the case now. We need not remind the Zanu-PF leaders that they have an obligation to fulfil the mandate of providing services to the people who voted for the party in the last general elections.
The nation as it mourns Cde Chitepo should take stock of the achievements and failures since independence in order to learn from past mistakes. We once again want to implore Zimbabweans to honour Cde Chitepo by remaining united.
Online Reporter