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George Maponga in Masvingo
The Muzenda family has announced plans to erect statues for the late veteran nationalist Vice President Dr Simon Muzenda and his wife, national heroine Mbuya Maud Muzenda, at Mupandawana Growth Point in Gutu, as a way of remembering the two iconic figures. Dr Muzenda, who was affectionately known as the “Soul of the Nation”, passed on in September 2003 and was buried at the National Heroes Acre.
Mbuya Muzenda, who was diabetic and hypertensive, died on Tuesday last week and was declared a national heroine, joining her husband at the national shrine.
She passed on at Avenues Clinic in Harare after a prolonged period of ill-health.
The late Vice President Muzenda served as Member of Parliament for Gutu North until his death, while Mbuya Muzenda was an acclaimed philanthropist who assisted the poor in Zvavahera (Nyamandi communal lands), Gutu.
Addressing mourners who thronged the Muzenda family-owned Paradise Motel at Mupandawana on Friday last week, one of Dr Muzenda’s sons and Gutu West legislator, Cde Tongai Muzenda, said it was Mbuya Muzenda’s wish for the late Vice President to be remembered with a statue at the growth point.
Cde Muzenda said his family would seek permission from Chief Gutu to erect a statue in memory of Dr Muzenda and his wife.
“Our mother had one wish up to the time of her death, she always wanted her husband to be remembered and honoured through the erection of a statue in his memory here at Mupandawana Growth Point,” he said.
“Now that she is no more and has joined her husband, we think it will be befitting to erect statues for both Dr Muzenda and Mbuya Muzenda.
“We will approach Chief Gutu to seek his permission and if he approves of it, then we will erect the two statues.”
In an interview with The Herald, Chief Gutu, Mr Amon Edmund Masanganise, welcomed the proposal.
“We cannot turn down such a brilliant idea,” he said.
“Dr Mzee and his wife touched the lives of many people here in Gutu and we fully embrace the idea to erect statues in their honour here at Mupandawana.
“The Muzenda family has our full backing and we are happy that they have such plans. Dr Muzenda and his wife were larger-than-life characters who should always remain in the memory of the people of Gutu and Masvingo at large.”
Chief Gutu described the late Mbuya Muzenda as a humble and hard working woman who helped many underprivileged people in Zvavahera and surrounding areas.
“Mbuya Muzenda was a rare breed of a woman and mother who shaped the lives of many people,” he said.
“She assisted underprivileged people in areas such as Utsinda, Tongogara, Soti Source, Nyazvidzi, Chitsa, Zvavahera and Chinyika with food and her death is a very big loss to the people of Gutu and Masvingo at large.”
Mbuya Muzenda was born in 1928 in Matsikidze village in Masvingo.
She attained Standard Six at Gokomere Mission before training as a nurse at Makumbe Mission Hospital and Chinhamora.
She then worked at one of the municipal hospitals in Bulawayo in the 1950s.
After marrying the late VP Muzenda, Mbuya Muzenda resolutely stood by her husband through all his trials and tribulations during the struggle for independence.
Online Reporter