adminFidelis Munyoro Harare Bureau
THE historic burial of two national liberation heroines — Cdes Victoria Chitepo and Vivian Mwashita — demonstrated what great community spirit Zimbabweans have as thousands of people came together to bid farewell to the gallant women at the National Heroes’ Acre in Harare yesterday.
The shrine became a hive of activity as early as 7AM when people of all races started trickling in. Even the sweltering heat did not deter people who came in their numbers. The grandstand was full to capacity while some mourners had to patch themselves on trees and others underneath trees at the national shrine. Water and ice-cream vendors made brisk business.
Members of the diplomatic corps, legislators including MDC-T secretary-general Douglas Mwonzora and captains of industry attended the historic burial. Banners of all sort punctuated the scenes at the national shrine. Some banners were inscribed “Philanthropist and educationist” in tribute to Cde Chitepo. Another banner screamed “Graceful peace maker; full of love and humility”.
A banner bearing Cde Mwashita’s picture read: “Makatakura makasha tikakunda mabhunu”.
The inscription resonated well with Cde Mwashita’s nom de guerre Cde Kundai Mabhunu. Mbare Chimurenga choir entertained mourners with their revolutionary songs and dances.
The Salvation Army Braeside Citadel, where Cde Mwashita was a congregant, put up a scintillating performance as they bid farewell to their own. The Zimbabwe Republic Police choir also had a polished performance with the song “Mafupa adzalila gwebede”.
The bodies of Cdes Chitepo and Mwashita arrived at 11:20AM on gun carriages draped in the national flag accompanied by President Robert Mugabe. The arrival turned the shrine into a sombre atmosphere with some pockets in the grandstand singing, “Tipeiwo nguva yekuchema magamba edu”.
Pallbearers carried the two caskets to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in a slow march. A religious minister gave a prayer before representatives from the families of the two heroines took to the podium.
Kule Zvenyika Chitepo, son of Cde Chitepo was first to speak on behalf of the Chitepo family. He offered condolences to the Mwashita family.
He described his mother as a dedicated nationalist who never looked back in her career as a politician and a person who did a lot for the country as a minister in various portfolios in government and the Zanu-PF party. “Her humility, commitment, love and her sacrifice for what’s good and what’s right represent resilience personified through Amai Chitepo,” he said,
Chitepo also commended the Chama Cha Mapinduzi party of Tanzania and the Julius Nyerere government as well as the people of Tanzania that played a critical role in the lives of the Chitepo family. He also thanked Zanu-PF for the support as well as Zimbabwe Defence Forces Commander Constantine Chiwenga for ensuring that her last wish to bid farewell to the people of her village in Bonda came true.
“Your Excellency, President Mugabe, on behalf of the Chitepo family, I say thank you,” said Chitepo.
Nyasha Mwashita said her mother was humble and down to earth. “She taught us to be strong, courageous and that all things are possible. She was a pillar of strength and comfort in the family,” she said.
“I can confirm that no man is an island as evidenced by the peopled gathered here today.”
Mwashita also thanked President Mugabe and the First Family for conferring their mother the national heroine status.
Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development Minister Professor Jonathan Moyo said: “These two women, coming from different backgrounds, one is a mother of the revolution (Cde Chitepo) and the other is a daughter of the revolution (Cde Mwashita), they give us the full spectrum of the real input women contributed in the liberation struggle and the nationalist movement.”
He said the coincidence yesterday that the two women were laid to rest together at the same time and place was significant because this had never happened in the history of the national shrine.
“It’s an honour to them and through them, to women. It’s obviously a significant milestone with lots of implications,” said Prof Moyo.
“I feel certainly it’s going to inspire Uhuru generation, young women particularly who’ve come of age and beginning to come to terms with our sovereignty with the understanding that even though 36 years may be a long time in the life of individuals, it isn’t for the country. It’s still a fresh story. Because it’s a fresh story, 36 years in the life of the nation is a short period.” said Prof Moyo.
“Now that the Uhuru children have become full adults and because the story of Zimbabwe is still fresh, it means that there’s a lot of unfinished business which is still fresh, which has got to do with the liberation struggle. Whereas we attained political independence, a lot of questions having to do with our economic liberation remain unresolved. As we lay to rest the founder mothers of our armed struggle personified by Cde Chitepo, there must be a passing of the baton. It’s these Uhuru children who will complete the struggle. They shouldn’t take the liberation struggle for granted.”
The Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association chairman Cde Chris Mutsvangwa said Cde Chitepo was an embodiment of the regional commitment which bonded revolutionary movements in the region.
“We feel proud. Cde Chitepo is a history of unflinching commitment to the cause of freedom. The cause of freedom has no boundaries and no tribes. She was the ultimate internationalist in this regard taking into account her political background,” he said.
Cde Mutsvangwa said Cde Mwashita was part of the original core of 45 women who were deployed to the front following a series of bombings at freedom fighters’ camps in Mozambique. They felt it was better to be deployed to the front to deal with the enemies instead of waiting to be ambushed in Mozambique.
“A woman combatant in the field of confronting the enemy,” said Cde Mutsvangwa. “She did reconnaissance for the biggest battle of Grange Reef.”
Online Reporter