MDC-T senator, Enna Chitsa, laid to rest

President Tsvangirai has said his Movement for Democratic Change and Zimbabwe have lost a dedicated and determined heroine, Senator Enna Chitsa whom he said was unshaken even in her fight against an unrepentant regime. She was 66.

Speaking at the Assemblies of God Church in Luveve, Bulawayo on Monday shortly before the burial of the Masotsha Ndlovu Senator at Lady Stanley cemetery, MDC president, Tsvangirai, said it was because of the wisdom of the likes of the late Mai Chitsa that leaders of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) and the MDC got guidance.

He said personally, he had lost a responsible leader who was determined to see change in Zimbabwe. "The people's struggle of this country will not be written without the mention of people like Enna Chitsa. She represented that crop of leaders that was very principled and determined even, against all odds, to see that this country achieves democratic change," he said, while addressing thousands of mourners gathered for the burial.

Tvangirai said he was at a great loss as members of his team continued to die. "In this struggle, I am at a bigger loss because every time a cadre passes away, I lose those soldiers who have backed me from the beginning to the end. The generation that saw it worthy that change was necessary in this country is the generation that is passing away.

"I hope the party and those who are alive today will not let these people down, the struggle of the people will continue until the goal of democratic change is achieved," he said.

He said that in his days as the Secretary General of ZCTU, he had been controlled by the likes of Mai Chitsa, who were his elders.

"We have lost a pioneer in the struggle for change. We must remain united and promote those values that all our departed leaders like Chitsa, Gombami, Sibanda, Matongo and many others upheld," he said.

Thokozani Khupe, the MDC Vice President said she knew Mai Chitsa since 1992 and they had worked together since then. "We have come a long way together. We were together at the first congress of the ZCTU Women's Advisory Council. At that congress, Paurina Mpariwa was elected the chairperson and Mai Chitsa was elected the vice chairperson, while I was voted the Secretary General. At the general council of the ZCTU of 1995, she was voted 3rd vice president," she said.

She said when the MDC was formed in 1999; Senator Chitsa was appointed the interim vice chairperson of the party. She encouraged the senator's children to celebrate the life of their mother and to grieve with hope.

"In the Bible, we hear the story of Abraham. When he was told to sacrifice his child, he could have asked why me? But he did not, so today, Patience, Victoria, Nicodemus, celebrate the life of your mother because she is a heroine.  The Lord knows why," Hon Khupe said.

Lovemore Moyo, the National Chairperson said Chitsa was a mother who had love and was a unifying force. He said that he had never heard of her being involved in any conflicts in the province and at national level.

The Women's Assembly chairperson, Hon Theresa Makone was at a loss of words. "Here, I have lost a strong pillar of support. Those that know me know that I have my own shortfalls but Senator Chitsa, as my deputy, made up for those to make me look whole," she said.

"I have done everything because of her. I do not know what I am going to do. I do not trust myself to make decisions that are made by a leader without Enna Chitsa," she said.

Hon Makone also said that Mai Chitsa had been ill for some time and the Women's Assembly management committee had visited her and spent time with her and she had indicated that she was recuperating. Mai Chitsa breathed her last on Friday at her Luveve home.

"We saw her when she was ill as the management committee and two weeks ago, she said she was ready for work. It was such a shock to hear that she was gone. This woman was strong, she was resolute, she was a Christian and she was a servant leader. She was everything you want to see in a leader and I hope we all have learnt something from her that you can be firm with a smile; you can lead against all adversities with a smile but with strength.

"I know she was at peace with her God because she served him well while she lived. She lived by her faith. I cry that I am missing a friend, a leader, an advisor and a mother but I also know that I am mourning a child of God," said Makone.

Mrs Sibusisiwe Masara, the Women's Assembly Secretary General said the Women's Assembly is bleeding as they had lost an advisor, leader of astuteness and a Christian. "Mrs Chitsa worked tirelessly to ensure that women participation is raised in the MDC. We are at pains to accept this loss but we know what our mother and fellow colleague stood for.

"She was, is and will always be our heroine As the Women's Assembly, we shall ensure what she stood for is fulfilled. She was a woman of peace and we need her strength to take us through. May her soul rest in peace," she said.

Other colleagues from the ZCTU who were present said Mai Chitsa was a dedicated woman who fought for a better life for the workers and thus the majority of Zimbabweans.

Senator Enna Chitsa was born on 14 April 1946 in Chivi, Masvingo province and passed away at her Luveve home in Bulawayo on 2 March 2012.

Senator Chitsa did her primary education at Mtshedi Primary School in Bulawayo before going to St Augustine's Mission in Penhalonga, Mutare for her high school. One of the pioneer leaders of the MDC, she was the vice chairperson of the ZCTU Women Advisory Council before she was elected the substantive vice chairperson of the Women's Assembly at the Congress of 2006 and re-elected in 2011.

In 2008, she was elected Senator for Masotsha-Ndlovu Constituency. The Senatorial constituency covers Pumula and Magwegwe.

She is survived by three children â€" Victoria, Patience and Nicodemus.