Women urged to emulate Mutaisi

Harare Bureau
PRESIDENT Mugabe yesterday paid his last respects to his cousin Mrs Getrude Karigamombe-Mutaisi who died on Monday at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals after succumbing to cervical cancer.

Mrs Mutaisi was laid to rest at Warren Hills Cemetery in Harare.

She was 67.

Speaking at her graveside, President Mugabe described Mrs Karigamombe-Mutaisi as an upright person.

He said although Mrs Karigamombe-Mutaisi was active in politics, she was not ambitious.

“We are burying a woman from Zvimba, my sister,” said President Mugabe.

“I said when I visited her home after her death that I trusted her very much. Her father came after mine. Getrude was an upright person. Zanu-PF members spoke about her works but in the family she was a forthright person. She was quiet but truthful.”

President Mugabe said Mrs Karigamombe-Mutaisi grew up in Mhondoro after her father, who was a teacher, was transferred to St Michael’s School.

He said her sister’s husband was also a morally upright man. “He worked at the Harare city health (department). They met Sabina (Mugabe) there. He was not too ambitious,” he said.

Mrs Karigamombe-Mutaisi’s close friend Ms Fungisai Marere said she deserved provincial heroine status.

She said Mrs Karigamombe-Mutaisi was a diligent woman who offered her house in Mbare during the liberation struggle to conduct political meetings.

“She is a true heroine and it is only that we did not organise well but we otherwise could have written a letter to the party recommending that she be conferred with provincial heroine status,” said Ms Marere.

“I want to tell all women that we have worked with Mrs Mutaisi in Zanu-PF for a long time. I want to warn you that don’t be greedy for positions in the party. There are certain individuals who are using money to get positions.

“The problem that we are facing in the party is that of people who have joined the party to destroy from within.”

Vice Presidents Emmerson Mnangagwa and Phelekezela Mphoko, and Cabinet ministers attended the burial.

Zanu-PF members, especially those from Mbare, were also among the mourners.

Mrs Karigamombe-Mutaisi is survived by three children.