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Pallbearers carry the casket bearing the body of national heroine Mai Maria Msika at One Commando Barracks in Harare yesterday. — Picture by Justin Mutenda

Nyemudzai Kakore Herald Correspondent—
Thousands of people are expected to converge at the National Heroes Acre today to bid farewell to the gallant daughter of the soil, Mai Maria Msika, who contributed immensely to the liberation struggle and championed women emancipation. Mai Msika, widow to national hero and Vice President Joseph Msika, died last Friday at her Highlands home in Harare. She was 89.

Mai Msika married VP Msika, a freedom fighter, despite risks involved, and survived two grenade attacks in 1977. She belonged to a rare breed of women such as the late national heroines Amai Sally Mugabe, Mbuya Maud Muzenda and Mama Mafuyana, who looked after a lot of people after the incarceration of their husbands by the Rhodesian regime.

The body of Mai Msika arrived at Harare International Airport from Bulawayo yesterday ahead of today’s burial at the national shrine. Mai Msika’s body had been flown to Bulawayo to allow people in that province to bid her farewell. The body was accompanied by Zanu-PF central committee member Cde Atalia Mangoye and close relatives.

It was received by Zanu-PF secretary for Information and Publicity Cde Simon Khaya Moyo, Welfare Services for War Veterans, War Collaborators, Ex-Political Detainees and Restrictees Minister Retired Colonel Tshinga Dube, Air Force Commander Air Marshall Perrance Shiri and other senior army officials on arrival at One Commando from the airport.

Speaking to journalists after the body’s arrival, Rtd Col Dube said Mai Msika was not just an ordinary housewife, but a strong woman who gave sound political advice to her late husband. “We are very proud of her,” he said. “She deserves the honour bestowed upon her. If people like her were not made heroines, we would be missing something. Mai Msika dedicated all her life to the liberation struggle. The fact that she had to take over the running of the home when her husband was in prison and managed to send their children to school and ensuring that they get a good education is honourable. She was also the number one advisor to the late Vice President Cde Msika. I remember once when I was with both of them, a journalist called and when the late Vice President tried to respond, she cautioned him to stop the interview.

“She told him what to say, that is when I realised that she was a strong woman because she was able to control the man because politicians sometimes get carried away and say things they are not supposed to say.” From One Commando, the body was taken to St Mary’s Anglican Church in Highlands, where a church service presided over by Anglican Bishop for the Church of the Province of Central Africa Harare Diocese Chad Gandiya was held. After the service, the body was taken to her home in Highlands where it lay in state at Number 11 Nigel Lane ahead of burial today.

The burial programme will start with the body being taken to Stodart Hall in Mbare for body viewing before the funeral cortège heads for the National Heroes Acre. President Mugabe, in his capacity as the Head of State and Government and Commander-in-Chief of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces, will lead proceedings. Mai Msika is survived by three children, Lucia, Shelton and Maxwell, eight grandchildren and three great grandchildren.