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The Rhodesia Herald, 13 March 1980
A FORMER guerilla commander and political commissar, 25- year-old Teurai Ropa Nhongo has capped her career by becoming Rhodesia’s first woman Cabinet Minister and almost certainly the youngest.
The wife of the ZANLA commander has another first to her credit, she will head the first Ministry of Youth, Sport and Recreation.
Mrs Nhongo has difficulty in expressing her reaction to her appointment.
“I wasn’t expecting it,” she said yesterday. “When I was chosen as a parliamentary candidate I thought even if I was to be included in the Government, I would be just an ordinary MP, not given such a responsible post.” However, the youthful Mrs Nhongo is not new to leadership.
“I have been a leader since I was 18. I think the only difference is that I am now nominated to the highest peak, the excitement is being involved in a new department.”
Joyce Mugari, as she was born, came from the Mount Darwin area. Her secondary schooling was at the Howard Institute where she completed Form ll.
“Then l left for the struggle,” she said. I joined some of the boys in the area and fought for three months.
She took on her Chimurenga name Teurai Ropa Nhongo, which means Spill Blood. She has retained the name because that is how most people know her.
During the three months from December 1973 until February, the young guerilla was in three contacts with Rhodesia security forces.
She admits to being frightened at first. “It was the first time I heard guns, the first time I saw a helicopter in an actual fight. But as time went on, I got used to it.”
Online Reporter