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Ambuya Matadzisei succumbed to a heart ailment at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals yesterday morning.

Zanu-PF Secretary for Administration Cde Didymus Mutasa confirmed the death, adding that she had been accorded a State-assi-sted funeral.

“Ambuya Tangwena died at Parirenyatwa Hospitals this morning (yesterday). She was transferred from Rusape Hospital to Parirenyatwa Hospital with a heart problem and she died today. Her body is now at Doves Funeral Services and will be buried at her rural home in Nyafaru at a date to be advised. She has been accorded a State-assisted funeral,” he said.

She had two children, son Elijah who is now late, daughter Joice, and many grandchildren.
Ambuya Matadzisei was a spirit medium and during the liberation struggle she instructed her husband Chief Tangwena to guide President Mugabe and Cde Edgar Tekere to cross into Mozambique.

“She was a spirit medium and during the liberation struggle when President Mugabe went to Nyafaru, she instructed her husband to assist the President to cross into Mozambique. The spirit advised her husband that the road was clear,” said Cde Mutasa.

Ambuya Tangwena and her husband, Chief Tangwena, are famed for resisting eviction from their lands after the racist Land Apportionment Act was passed by the Rhodesian regime.

Cde Mutasa said Ambuya Matadzisei was first admitted to Rusape Hospital, but her condition did not improve and doctors transferred her to Parirenyatwa.

“I went to see her at Rusape Hospital because she was always telling people that she wanted to see me. When I went there, she just looked at me and did not talk, she was in pain.

“We called the doctor and he said they were trying their best. She was later taken to Parirenyatwa Hospital.

“Dr David Parirenyatwa went and examined her and said her condition was not impressive,” said Cde Mutasa.

Ambuya Matadzisei, together with her husband, who was an opponent of the Smith regime, made history during the colonial era when in 1964 they led the Tangwena people to resist orders to move from the Gaeresi area to Gokwe in the Midlands.

Chief Tangwena was told by the Rhodesian Front regime that he had forfeited his chieftainship for refusing to take orders.

Following several raids, arrests of elders, destruction of property and houses, the Tangwena people moved to Mozambique in 1975 to join the liberation struggle.

Chief Tangwena and his people returned into the country at independence and he was appointed Senator.