Two heroines, Victoria Chitepo and Vivian Mwashita Muchicho, were laid to rest at the Zimbabwe National Heroes Acre on Wednesday.
Thousands of Zimbabweans gathered at the National Heroes’ Acre to bid farewell to two heroines, Victoria Chitepo and Vivian Mwashita Muchicho. This became the first time in Zimbabwe’s history that two nationalists were buried at the national shrine in a single day.
Officiating at the burial of the two heroines, President Robert Mugabe told mourners that Zimbabweans should emulate the bravery and courage that was shown by the two during and after the country’s war
A representative of the Chitepo family, who is a son of the deceased national icon, Zvenyika Chitepo, said his mother worked hard in uplifting the lives of Zimbabweans and others in the Southern African region.
A representative of the Mwashita family, Nyasha Mwashita who is Vivian Mwashita’s daughter, said her mother was advocating for Zimbabweans to be self-reliant.
War veterans leader Chris Mutsvangwa encouraged Zimbabweans to work hard to ensure that Chitepo and Mwashita’s vision of a vibrant Zimbabwean economy is realized.
First Lady Grace Mugabe, former vice president Joice Mujuru and MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai were among politicians who did not attend the burial of Chitepo and Mwashita.
Tsvangirai’s spokesperson, Luke Tamborinyoka, said Tsvangirai and the top leadership of his party did not attend the funeral because Zanu PF was monopolizing state functions.
Studio 7 failed to reach Mujuru’s People First and other opposition parties. Victoria Chitepo, who was the widow of veteran nationalist Herbert Chitepo, held some cabinet positions and was once a member of parliament.
Mwashita, who also fought in Zimbabwe’s liberation struggle of the 1970ss, worked at Zanu PF headquarters before she was attested into the Central Intelligence Organization where she served until 1995. In the same year, she was elected legislator for Harare South constituency before becoming a senator for Mvurachena in 2005. She is survived by her husband Peter Muchicho, three children and six grandchildren.
