Online Reporter
Ray Bande in Chiendambuya
THE late national heroine, Retired Air Vice Marshal Winnie Cabby Mandeya, was described by her natives as a humble figure, whose passing has left a huge void as she had initiated the construction of a clinic in her rural Matare Village in Chiendambuya, in Makoni District.
The late Rtd Air Vice Marshal Mandeya last year set the ball rolling for the construction of a clinic in her rural community, instilling hope among villagers that the long-awaited project would finally materialise.
However, her untimely passing has dealt a devastating blow to the community, leaving them worried about the project’s future.
The body of the late Rtd Air Vice Marshal Mandeya, who was declared a national heroine following her death on Sunday evening, was flown to her Matare Village homestead in Chendambuya for a service yesterday (Thursday), before being flown back to Harare ahead of her burial at the national shrine today (Friday).
Minister of State for Manicaland Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Advocate Misheck Mugadza who was leading mourners at the church service, saluted President Mnangagwa for bestowing the befitting national heroine status on Rtd Air Vice Marshal Mandeya.
“We are gathered here for a sad episode in our lives. We are thankful to the Mandeya family for giving us your daughter who fought for the liberation struggle together with he colleagues. We are short of words to describe how one of the illustrious daughters of the nation has been snatched away. This is not an ordinary loss. She was a great example of military prowess.
“While mourning the sad departure of our dear Rtd Air Vice Marshal, we thank President Mnangagwa for declaring her a national heroine. As His Excellency, the President, Dr Emmerson Mnangagwa says, no one should be left behind and no place should be left behind and no place should be left behind either, we bear testimony to this as we see the true meaning of this philosophy.
“Born and bred in our humble Matare Village here in Chendambuya, this rare breed of a female commander walked the highest corridors of military power, and we are therefore grateful, once more, that she has received the highest honour of national heroine,” said Minister Mugadza.
Family representative, Mrs Norah Eline Muzorewa said: “I am really thankful for this gesture shown to us by Government, and people here in Matare Village and the nation at large, in our moment of mourning. We are thankful to President Mnangagwa for giving this kind of respect, not only to the departed Rtd Air Vice Marshal Mandeya, but to us all as a family. The departed soul was a loving daughter in the family. She unified people in the family, in the church and community. She was a mentor in the whole family. I want to say go well, Winnie, you fought a good fight.”
Community members interviewed during the church service described her as a humble, generous person and strong advocate for community development.
War veteran, Cde Jonathan Mataga bemoaned the loss of eminent figures of the liberation war who hail from Chiendambuya.
“It is sad that we continue losing war veterans from this area. We have gathered here barely three months when we lost former Manicaland Provincial Governor, Cde Tinaye Chigudu. Now we are gathered here witnessing the loss of yet another war veteran. It is painful for us as veterans of the liberation war. However, we are grateful to President Mnangagwa for the befitting national heroine status that he has bestowed on our departed colleague,” he said.
Matare Village head, Mr Robert Matare said: “The late Air Vice Marshal Winnie Mandeya grew up here and went to join the liberation war at a tender age. After gaining independence, she went on to serve in the Air Force of Zimbabwe. She was a caring person. She mixed and mingled with local villagers without showing that she was a high ranking Government official. She was indeed a humble person, and we are saddened by her demise.
“She helped us to have meaningful progress in the construction of a local clinic. We spent 40 years trying to construct this clinic, but her intervention last year had started to bear fruit in terms of the paperwork, which is already complete. Now that she is gone, we are at pains, wondering who will come in to see the project coming to fruition. Villagers here go to Nyamusosa Clinic, which is more than 20km away. We can only thank President Mnangagwa for our daughter’s national heroine status.”
Mr Solomon Karindi, a neighbour to the late national heroine, said: “She was a nice person to us, and we will remember her for her humility. She would come to our homesteads to greet us each time she visited her home area. She never showed any airs of superiority, despite her high status. She was so humble.”
Headman Tonderai Chitsike, who knew the late Rtd Vice Air Marshal Mandeya for a long time, added: “Her passing has left a huge void since she had initiated the construction of a clinic in our area. She was very approachable and will be deeply missed.”
Mr Chipisai Nyahuna, a local villager and relative, echoed similar sentiments: “We are saddened by her loss. She was a kind and generous person who would visit us regularly, sharing goodies with us. Her humility was inspiring.”
Rtd Air Vice Marshal Mandeya, who died on Sunday evening, joins 17 other heroines buried at the National Heroes’ Arce in Harare.
She was born in Rusape in July 1960, and joined the liberation struggle at a tender age of 15.
Rtd Air Vice Marshal Mandeya received military training at Nachingweya in Tanzania, after which she was deployed to operate in Gaza Province until 1978, when her rare skills saw her nominated to receive nurse training.
For the remaining years of the liberation struggle until 1980, she helped many of her sick, injured and dying colleagues of the struggle with unparalleled devotion.
She is survived by her son, Valentine Mandeya.
