Story by Kenias Chivuzhe and Peter Chivhima
THE stage is set for the burial of the late Air Vice Marshal Retired Winnie Mandeya at the National Heroes Acre this Friday.
This Thursday, the Manicaland community got a chance to bid farewell to Cde Mandeya when her body was taken to her rural home in Chiendambuya.
The people of Chiendambuya have praised Air Vice Marshal Retired Winnie Mandeya for her for her humble character and for spearheading developmental works in her community.
“She was very helpful. When she passed on she had started the process of construct a clinic in our area. We don’t know if the project will be completed,” a relative said.
“The late was helping us to mobilise funds to construct a clinic. She was our main sponsor,” a community member said.
“We thank the government for according Winnie the heroine status. She deserved it as she went to war at 15 years,” a family member said.
“She grew up here before going to war. She was very humble and frequently visited her rural home. Last year she spearheaded efforts to construct a health facility after she saw that people from here travelled over 20 kilometres to the nearest clinic. We thank President Mnangagwa for giving her a heroine status,” Traditional Leader, Village Head, Robert Matare said.
Family members described her as a unifier whose generosity benefited many.
“This is a very sad loss. She was not just a sister but a deputy parent who made huge sacrifices. She helped a lot of people to develop in life. We want to thank the government for honouring our sister who worked tersely for the country ever since she went to the war of liberation at the age of 15,” a sibling said.
“She was born in the Inyati area and first went to school at Mutendebvure Primary before going to Mutambara. She went to war at the age of 15. She assisted families to go to school. She was also very patriotic and we want to thank President Mnangagwa for honouring her sacrifices,” a beneficiary said.
“We grew up together in the Mhandambiri area in Maondera village in the Tanda area of Makoni district. When she was in Form One she crossed into Mozambique in 1975,” a friend said.
Her workmates say the late heroine’s competence was the springboard for his elevation at work.
“We worked with here very well. We thank the government for granting her a national heroine status. She was a peace maker. She is the first lady to be accorded that rank and she led by example,” her workmate, Squadron Leader Daniel Mawanga said.
Manicaland Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Advocate Misheck Mugadza says the province is humbled by the decision to honour Cde Mandeya with national heroine status.
“We want to thank President Mnangagwa for this declaration. After having joined the liberation struggle at 15, Cde Mandeya’s history inspires us and the girl child. The province is humbled that one of our own is a heroine and we believe many girls will get inspiration from her heroic works that resulted in her achievements,” Manicaland Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Advocate Misheck Mugadza said.
The body of Air Vice Marshal Retired Mandeya will lie in state at Charles Gumbo Barracks after being flown back to Harare from her rural home in Chiendambuya.
The Ministry of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage says everything in place for the burial.
“We are ready for the burial of our National Heroine Air Vice Marshal (Retired) Winnie Cabby Mandeya. As the Ministry of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage, we have mobilised 64 buses to ferry our mourners. So we are encouraging all those who are going to attend to be seated by 7 am,” Director Human Resources-Ministry of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage, Mr Maxwell Muguse said.
Born on July 14, 1960, in Rusape, Makoni District, Air Vice Marshal (Retired) Mandeya joined the liberation struggle at the age of 15, abandoning her studies to fight for Zimbabwe’s independence.
She underwent military training in Tanzania and served in various capacities during the war.
