Thousands bid farewell to liberation heroine
A SOMBRE atmosphere engulfed the thickets of Bulilima district in Malalume Village yesterday as Bulilima Ward 14 Councillor Cde Delani Mabhena was laid to rest.
President and First Secretary of Zanu-PF, Cde Emmerson Mnangagwa on Friday conferred a Liberation Heroine status to the late Cde Mabhena who died on June 22 at the United Bulawayo Hospital (UBH). She was 46.
Cde Mabhena was elected councillor in 2018 under the ruling party ticket after being identified to stand for the local representative post by freedom fighters from the ward. Her body left Kings and Queens Parlour after a service in Bulawayo on Friday shortly after 3pm. Upon arrival in Plumtree town, her body briefly stopped for a prayer at the Zanu-PF Bulilima and Mangwe district offices.
After the prayer at the party office, a funeral procession left for her rural home in Malalume Village.
Upon arrival at Tshaguta Business Centre at around 9pm, five kilometres before the homestead, local ruling party youths, women, war veterans, main wing members and villagers took part in a march to celebrate the fallen heroine. War calls and party slogans lighted up the darkness until the body reached the home.
Yesterday, thousands of people from all walks of life came to witness the send-off which was filled with heart touching moments as through her charisma, Cde Mabhena united communities across all divides. Speaker after speaker showered praises of the always smiling character and motherly love that Cde Mabhena was entitled to.
Chief mourner Minister of State for Matabeleland South Provincial Affairs and Devolution Cde Abednico Ncube, represented by Deputy Minister of Information Communication Technologies, Postal And Courier Services Cde Dingumuzi Phuti, said Cde Mabhena was a devoted servant of the people who facilitated President Mnangagwa’s Vision 2030 development mantra.
“Throughout her tenure as councillor for Malanswazwi, Delani Mabhena implemented a lot of developments under the vision of his Excellency, President Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa. She championed the Malalume Clinic completion, which is, awaiting official opening.
“Her untimely illness and subsequent death halted the official opening programme as it was hoped that she would heal. She mobilised women development clubs across the ward, various youth groups, projects, ward hall, a police base as well as Nswazwi Secondary School on the cards. She also had mooted Malopa dip-tank as well as various boreholes across,” said Cde Phuti.
Cde Phuti, who is also the Bulilima West Constituency legislator, said Cde Mabhena had left a huge void and thus will work tirelessly with the party to ensure that plans she had mooted give fruitful results.
Cde Mabhena was also Zanu-PF Bulilima district Secretary for Women Affairs. In her ward, she was known as a pioneer of the Pfumvudza/ Intwasa scheme which continues to scale up as Bulilima West constituency. Cde Mabhena is survived by her husband and four children. - @ mthabisi_mthire