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Herald Reporter 

National heroine and liberation struggle stalwart, Cde Jane Lungile Ngwenya will be buried today at the National Heroes Acre with President Mnangagwa presiding over the event. 

The burial will also be attended by Vice President Constantino Chiwenga and Vice President and Second Secretary of Zanu PF Cde Kembo Mohadi. 

The body of the late heroine came by road from Bulawayo yesterday and arrived around 4pm and was taken to Doves Funeral Parlour where it lay in state. 

In a statement yesterday, the Ministry of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage said all was set for the burial. 

“All is set for the burial of veteran nationalist Cde Jane Lungile Ngwenya at the National Heroes Acre tomorrow (today), 

The burial will also be attended by a limited number of Ministers, permanent secretaries, service chiefs and senior Government officials. 

Owing to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Ministry said only a limited gathering was allowed to physically witness the proceedings. 

“All other people are kindly requested to watch the programme on virtual platforms,” said the Ministry. Cde Ngwenya died at Mater Dei Hospital in Bulawayo last Thursday. 

She was honoured posthumously with the second highest honour, the Grand Commander Zimbabwe Order of Merit Award. 

The heroine served as Deputy Minister of Labour, Manpower Planning and Social Welfare in the early 80s and was inclined in the formation of the Southern Rhodesia African National Congress in 1952, the National Democratic Party in 1960 and ZAPU two years later. 

Inspired by late nationalists such as Vice President Joshua Nkomo, Benjamin Burombo and Josiah Chinamano among others, Cde Ngwenya crossed into Zambia via Botswana to join the liberation struggle where on arrival she found Cde George Silundika and Edward Ndlovu in charge of ZAPU and became one of the leaders of the party. 

Besides her role in liberating the country from colonial rule, Cde Ngwenya will also be remembered for sacrificing her marriage for nationalist politics. 

As a young wife, in colonial Rhodesia, Cde Ngwenya, grew thirstier for the country to be liberated by each day as she lived under the shackles of white minority rule. 

She was actively involved in the politics of the time despite having young children to look after.