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Herald Reporter

THE death of Cde Jane Lungile Ngwenya as a great loss to the nation as she was a dedicated cadre and stalwart of the nationalist movement and liberation struggle, President Mnangagwa said yesterday.

She was 86.

The death of the liberation struggle stalwart comes just a few days before she was set to be honoured for the role she played in freeing Zimbabwe.

“I received with deep shock and grief news of the passing on last night of Cde Jane Lungile Ngwenya at Mater Dei Hospital after a long illness. Only less than two and half months ago, on May 13, 2021, I had an opportunity to pay a courtesy visit to her at Coronation Cottages Home in Bulawayo. Little did I know that this would be our last meeting in this life. Our nation has lost a dedicated cadre-leader and stalwart of the nationalist movement and our liberation struggle,” said the President.

Cde Ngwenya was due to receive the Grant Commander Zimbabwe Order of Merit Award next week as a way of honouring and celebrating her outstanding contribution to the national cause.  

“What breaks my heart is that her demise came just three days before our nation would have honoured and celebrated her outstanding contribution to the national cause by conferring the Grand Commander Zimbabwe Order of Merit Award on her, the second highest honour Zimbabwe reserves for her most distinguished sons and daughters,” he said.

She would have been the first living female recipient of such an outstanding award.

Born on June 15, 1935 in the then Buhera reserve area under colonial Rhodesia, the late Cde Ngwenya stood out as a firebrand female cadre who lent militancy to the nationalist movement in its early phase. 

Alongside nationalist luminaries, she founded and launched the National Democratic Party, NDP, thereafter founding ZAPU after the NDP had been banned.

“It required men and women of exceptional courage and belief, both to confront the brutal Rhodesian settler system at that time and to keep the spirit of militant nationalism alive. Jane was one such personality, even sacrificing her marriage for the cause. 

“Her fearless personality made her an ideal candidate to lead the Youth Wing of the nationalist movement. As a member of the Youth League, I served under her, and vividly recall her bold and exceptional leadership in that role,” said President Mnangagwa.

Through her persuasive broadcast messages aired from Zambia, President Mnangagwa said many youths gathered courage to join the armed struggle. 

“Never to avoid risks of the struggle, she carries to the grave injuries she sustained in a bomb blast which claimed our late National Hero, Jason Ziyapapa Moyo on January 22, 1977 in Zambia”.

After independence she served as the Deputy Minister of Labour, Manpower and Social Welfare, a key portfolio which oversaw the rehabilitation of returnees and refugees from the struggle. 

The President said her role and contribution both before and after independence leaves a rich and inspiring legacy for the nation.

“On behalf of the party, Zanu PF, Government, my family and on my own behalf, I wish to convey my deepest, heartfelt condolences to the Ngwenya family for losing a leading guardian and mentor. 

“As they go through their bereavement, may they take comfort from the knowledge that our whole nation joins them in mourning her sad departure. May her sour rest in eternal peace,” said President Mnangagwa .

In the 1960s, Cde Ngwenya served detention at Grey Street Prison, now Bulawayo Prison and Hwahwa detention camp in Gweru before being taken to Gonakudzingwa where she met several nationalists who were also incarcerated in the camp.

She credited her career to strong inspiration from founding nationalists such as the late Vice President Joshua Nkomo, Benjamin Burombo, Joseph Msika, and Josiah Chinamano and the late former President Robert Mugabe.