Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe has called again for the lifting of sanctions against the govenment by the western imperialist states.
Originally uploaded by Pan-African News Wire File Photos
By Takunda Maodza and Tendai Mugabe
Zimbabwe Herald
President Mugabe has thanked Zanu-PF’s Politburo and Government for according Cde Sabina Mugabe national heroine status, saying though she did not take up arms against the racist Rhodesian regime, his sister played a crucial role in Zimbabwe’s liberation.
Addressing mourners at the First Family’s homestead in Kutama Village, Zvimba yesterday, President Mugabe narrated his sister’s role before and after independence.
He said her death was not only a loss to the family and Zanu-PF, but to the country as a whole.
"Rukudzo rwatapiwa rukudzo rwemberi. Tino-fanira kutenda musangano neHurumende norukudzo rwakadai.
"Vemusangano nezuro (Thursday) vakagara pasi vakati mwanasikana akaita mushando mukuru.
"Hapana chatinovona chingatadzisa kuti apihwe rukudzo rwemberi — national heroine — agovigwa kunovigwa magamba makuru.
"Ava mumwe wevakadzi vashoma variku-Heroes Acre," he said.
Cde Sabina Mugabe becomes the sixth woman to be interred at the national shrine.
Visibly subdued by the loss of his sister, the President added: "Hongu tirikuchema asi tinofarawo kuti apembedzwa uyu; apembedzwa nenyika yose.
"Haana kuiita sevamwe vakadududza."
Cde Sabina Mugabe’s body was yesterday flown from Harare to her rural home in Zvimba by an Air Force of Zimbabwe helicopter as is the norm for national heroes and heroines.
The First Lady Amai Grace Mugabe, Senate President Cde Edna Madzongwe and other senior Government and Zanu-PF officials accompanied the body.
Cde Sabina Mugabe’s two sons — Leo Mugabe and Patrick Zhuwawo — were part of the entourage that accompanied the heroine’s body.
At 1 Commando, uniformed military officers held a parade in her honour before placing the casket in the helicopter that flew the body to Kutama Village.
Her body lay in state at the First Family’s homestead last night and will be flown back to Harare today where a similar military ceremony will be held.
President Mugabe applauded the people of Zvimba for coming in their numbers to pay their last respects to the former Zvimba South legislator.
"Tinoda kukutendai norukudzo rwamatipa, muri kutirerutsira mutoro watinawo nekuremerwa kwatinako pamoyo yedu zvinoita kuti tisvimhe tichiziva kuti murikuchema nesu," he said.
President Mugabe narrated Cde Sabina Mugabe’s role during the Second Chimurenga, saying she acted as a link between jailed nationalists and the outside world.
"Uyu watirikuviga kuswera mangwana (Sunday) akaitawo mushando wake wekubatsira nezviito zvake.
"Tirimujeri paayiuya ndiye wandaipa magwaro ekuenda kunze kwenyika. Ndanga ndamuudza kuti tsamba unodziwana pakadai, rega kudziposta muno nekuti dzinovhurwa; enda kuKadoma."
Some of the letters, the President said, were to fellow nationalists in Zambia like the late chairman of the party, Cde Herbert Chitepo.
He said after independence, the late heroine initiated several projects in the various constituencies she represented as a legislator and as a party cadre.
The President said even on her deathbed, Cde Sabina Mugabe, who empowered a lot of women through businesses like animal husbandry and sewing, still spoke of her unfinished projects.
He spoke of how the family had battled to save the late heroine’s life after she suffered strokes in 1985 and 2005.
"Munoruzivo rwokuti vanga vava murwere kwemakore akati kuti nokuti chirwere chakamubata chakazomupa stroke chikakanganisa hupenyu hwake.
"Paakamborwara paye tikati dzimwe nguva akazokwanisa kufamba asi vanachiremba vanoti brain yake yanga yapazika.
"Nenguva zvakaramba zvichikura ukavamutoro mukuru," President Mugabe said.
He said the family was still not sure of what really caused Cde Sabina Mugabe’s death on Thurs-day morning at the Avenues Clinic.
Post-mortem results were yet to be released to the family.
President Mugabe challenged Zimbabweans to jealously safeguard Zimbabwe’s independence because many sons and daughters of the soil — like Cde Sabina Mugabe — had sacrificed immensely for this very cause.
Vice President Mujuru, her husband Retired General Solomon Mujuru, Zanu-PF’s Mashona-land West provincial political leadership and senior Government officials joined hundreds of mourners that gathered at the First Family’s Zvimba homestead to pay their last respects to the late heroine and champion of empowerment.
Meanwhile, condolence messages continued to pour in yesterday following Cde Sabina Mugabe’s death.
In a message to President Mugabe, First Lady Amai Grace Mugabe and the First Family yesterday, the Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet, Dr Misheck Sibanda, said Government was saddened by the death of Cde Sabina Mugabe.
"On behalf of the Vice Presidents, Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Ministers and all the other members of Cabinet, I wish to convey to you Sir and your whole family our heartfelt condolences following the passing on of your beloved sister, Tete Sabina Mugabe, on 29 July, 2010 after a long illness.
"We have indeed been deeply saddened by this loss of an industrious mother, family pillar of strength and a true daughter of the soil, whose contribution to the national cause before and after the independence of our country shall remain indelibly etched in our minds," he said.
He said the First Family should take solace from the fact that Government and the entire nation was supporting them during their time of bereavement.
The Zimbabwe National Liberation Supporters’ Association also expressed its deep sadness.
Zinalisa president Cde Gabriel Chipare said: "Zinalisa has learnt with deep shock of the death of Cde Sabina Mugabe.
"We pay our condolences to the Mugabe family, the Zvimba community and Mashonaland West Province for the sad loss of a true visionary and liberator of the oppressed of Zimbabwe."
She will be buried at the National Heroes Acre tomorrow after the decision to honour her was unanimously reached on Thursday.
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