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George Maponga Masvingo Bureau
The death of national heroine and former Masvingo Provincial Affairs Minister Senator Shuvai Mahofa has reportedly stifled plans to rename major roads and key State buildings in Mpandawana Town after the late Vice-President and veteran nationalist Dr Simon Vengayi Muzenda and his national heroine wife, Mbuya Moudy Muzenda. Dr Muzenda and his wife were both buried at the National Heroes Acre in Harare and plans were in motion to honour them for the role they played in the development of Gutu district after independence.

The late VP Muzenda died in September 2003, while Mbuya Muzenda died in August this year. Both hailed from Zvavahera in Gutu. Senator Mahofa, who also hailed from Gutu, was at the forefront of pushing for VP Muzenda to be honoured by naming major roads and Government buildings in Mpandawana after the iconic Vice-President and his wife.

Mpandawana Town Board chairperson Mr Gabriel Mapepa yesterday revealed that Senator Mahofa’s death had delayed progress in honouring the late VP Muzenda and his wife.

“It is Mbuya (Senator Mahofa) who was at the forefront of having major roads and Government buildings at Mpandawana renamed after the late Vice-President Muzenda,” he said.

“Senator Mahofa was seriously pursuing that matter and had already engaged the top Government leadership in Gutu and top officials in Mpandawana Town to have the late VP honoured. After the death of Mbuya Muzenda, it was also felt that there was also need to jointly honour the late VP together with his national heroine wife, but unfortunately Mbuya (Senator Mahofa) had already passed on by the time Mbuya Muzenda also died.’’

Mr Mapepa said his board had no qualms about honouring the late VP Muzenda and his wife by renaming major roads and buildings in Mpandawana after them. “We will still stand guided by what the top Government leadership in the province wants, but otherwise we are not against any decision that might be reached to honour the late VP and his wife,’’ said Mr Mapepa.

The late VP Muzenda and his wife were credited for initiating a number of developmental projects in Zvavahera and surrounding areas, hence the moves to honour them. VP Muzenda, who was affectionately known as the “Soul of the Nation’’, together with his wife, assisted many underprivileged members of the society, particularly orphans, throughout Gutu district and beyond.

They were credited with putting Gutu on the national map through the Annual Simon Vengayi Muzenda Gutu Half Marathon that became a key event on the nation’s annual sports calendar, drawing some of the country’s top athletes. Before her death, Mbuya Muzenda said her main wish was for her husband’s statue to be erected in Mpandawana Town in his honour.

Speaking during the send-off ceremony of Mbuya Muzenda’s body in Mpandawana, one of her sons, Cde Tongai Muzenda, who is the legislator for Gutu West, said the Muzenda family would push for the erection of their parents’ statues in the town as a way of remembering them.