Mtero declared national heroine

Harmony Agere

Former Zanu PF Central Committee member and liberation stalwart Cde Betty Flora Mtero, who died last week, has been declared a national heroine. She was 90.

Delivering the message to the Mtero family on behalf of President Mnangagwa in Glen Lorne, Harare, last night, Zanu PF Secretary for War Veterans Affairs Cde Douglas Mahiya said Cde Mtero will be interred at the Heroes Acre on a date to be advised.

Cde Mahiya described Cde Mtero as a dedicated revolutionary, who risked her life for the liberation of the country.

“I have been sent by the President to say that, after the Zanu PF party looked at the work that was done by Cde Mtero, has been declared a national hero,” he said. “The President said Mai Betty Mtero did great work during the liberation war and the revolutionary movement. The Harare province, where Cde Mtero hailed from, is in mourning because she was a strong and committed member of the party.”

Zanu PF Chairperson for Harare Cde Goodwills Masimirembwa said Cde Mtero started a lot of empowerment projects in the province.

“I worked with Gogo Mtero, doing economic empowerment programmes for women and the youths for many years. We covered a lot of areas from Hatcliff to Mabvuku, starting projects that brought many people out of poverty.”

Family representative Mr Tony Mtero said the family was grateful for the honour bestowed on his mother.

“It’s a great honour and I just want to say thank you to President Mnangagwa and the Zanu PF party for giving her the national heroine status, which is the highest honour. I’m sure wherever she is, she is smiling because she had dedicated her life to serving the country and to work for Zanu PF.”

Cde Mahiya was accompanied by the party’s National Deputy Commissar Cde Omega Hungwe and other senior party members.

Cde Mtero is survived by three children Tony, Shungu and Kundai, and five grandchildren.