adminVictor Maphosa Mash East Correspondent
WAR Veteran Cde Judith Satuku, who died on Wednesday morning, was laid to rest at Mashonaland East Provincial Heroes Acre last Sunday. She was 67.
Cde Satuku, whose Chimurenga name was Margie Smile Dlodlo, succumbed to cancer of the colon at Marondera Provincial Hospital.
In a speech read on her behalf by Provincial Director Mr Muchemwa Mugwisi, the Minister of State for Mashonaland East Province Cde Apolonia Munzverengi described Cde Satuku as someone who loathed oppression.
She chronicled how the late heroine joined the war and contributed to the liberation of Zimbabwe.
“It is once again a very sad moment as we are gathered here today to bury one of us, a distinguished and illustrious daughter of the soil,” she said.
“Cde Satuku was born at Kezi (Antelope Mine) in Matobo District. After being irked by the oppressive tendencies of the Rhodesian regime, she left Zimbabwe to join the liberation struggle in 1977. She went to Botswana and was later flown to Zambia where she received training at Mukushi Training Camp for six months,” Cde Munzverengi said.
She said Cde Satuku was later transferred to Mazowi Training Camp where she specialised in the department of communication. After Independence, she was attested into the Zimbabwe National Army and in 1981, she enrolled at Kushinga Phikelela Institute where she studied a secretarial course. She said in 1982 Cde Satuku joined the Public Service and got a job as typist in the Ministry of Home Affairs within the Zimbabwe Republic Police where she continued to serve until her death on Wednesday.
In his remarks, chairman of the war veterans for Mashonaland East Province Cde Sigauke urged people to respect and honour the sacrifice of fallen and living freedom fighters and not belittle it.
“Today we are burying a gallant daughter of the soil, a child who left everything for the love of this country’s freedom. Today we are saying go well, you fought a good fight,” he said.
“Let us all remember one thing, that this country’s freedom did not come on a silver platter, blood was shed, lives were lost, so today we must honour these fighters, we must not belittle their contributions and their sacrifice,” he said.
Cde Sigauke urged everyone to safeguard the national legacy and to take pride in the leadership under Cde Mnangagwa.
Cde Satuku is survived by her husband and two children.
Online Reporter