Mbuya Huruva dies, declared heroine

CHIVI- Mbuya Monica Mukungunugwa Huruva (96) from the famous political Huruva family of Chivi has died.

Mbuya Huruva who is mother to prominent politicians like Tranos Huruva, Cllr Ward 5 Grace Mukungunugwa, Neddy Mlambo who the aspiring Gutu North People First parliamentary candidate and is also grandmother to Mirror Editor Nkulumani Mlambo was declared a war heroine for her contribution to the liberation struggle.

She died last week on Thursday February 16 at Gweru General Hospital of diabetes mellitus.

She was 96 years old.

Gogo Huruva was diagnosed with diabetes over 20 years ago but this time she could not make it as it had become too severe and she spent the last three months in hospital battling the ailment.

President Mugabe declared her a liberation war heroine in recognition of her pivotal role during and after the war which of independence.

"His Exellency, the President R.G. Mugabe, has conferred Liberation Heroine status on the late Monica Mukungunugwa Huruva…," reads part of the communiqué signed by the Minister of Home Affairs and Zanu PF secretary for administration in the ruling party Ignatius Chombo.

Gogo Huruva was buried last Sunday at her homestead in Gondo Village under headman Madamombe in Chivi where hundreds of people from across the country converged to pay their last respects.

Speaker after speaker spoke glowingly about her humility and selflessness in the community.

In a speech read on her behalf by Chivi Rural District Administrator Mafios Hlabati, Minister of State for Provincial Affairs for Masvingo, Senator Shuvai Ben Mahofa chronicled the history of Gogo Huruva during the war.

"The late Gogo Huruva was a pillar of the liberation war as he made immense contribution to the cause of the war. She used to shelter the freedom fighters at her house and provide food, she provided clothes and advise to the gorillas when they opened one of the first bases in the district at Chirombo and Dasva in 1978," said Mahofa.

She also said Gogo Huruva was very supportive of her son Tranos Huruba when he went to Mozambique to join the war liberation at a very tender age.

"She would tell the comrades where to hide and how the enemy was operating despite that she was never a trained soldier, in short I can say she was a great tactician as it was going to be very difficult for the fighters to operate without the assistance of such great women.

"Freedom fighters like Cdes Bob Museve, Zvombozvehondo, Dzike and John Kufahakurambwi are some of the Cdes who executed the war from Gogo Huruva's homestead with the support of her other children who were providing clothes and food," Mahofa added.

Retired Chief Superintended Cleopas Mukungunugwa Huruva who spoke on behalf of the family also heaped praises on the heroine and paid tribute to the Government for the recognition of Gogo Huruva's contribution during the war.

 "Personally I grew up under the tutelage of Gogo Huruva and one thing she taught me was love and the fear of the Lord. She would tell me that, moyo wakanaka unokunda zvose panyika.

"She was unwavering in her Christian beliefs as even a visitor would be commandeered to go to Church on Saturday at the same time she would not allow anyone to go with an empty stomach even a passer-by would be called to come and have a share of the little that was available," said the family rep.

"She encouraged me to go to school at a very young age despite her not having seen the door of a school, it was very rare to see girls going to school that time but she encouraged me to do so, and she taught me the beauty of being a Christian," said Seretina Mukungunugwa Huruva Gogo Huruva's young sister and the only surviving widow to Solomon Huruva Mukungunugwa who had eight wives and 91 children.

Former education director Lakayana Dube a nephew to the late Gogo Huruva described her as a pillar of strength and forthright person who wanted the best out of everyone as she made sure that with the little that she had all her children managed to school.

"She would pester me to ensure that all the grandchildren and relatives would go to the best schools and those who enrolled as teachers would get places at the most convenient stations," said Dube.

"This woman laying here was everything, I can spend the whole day describing her, during the war she never complained that her domestic animals were wiped out feeding freedom fighters as she knew that it was for a good cause" said Kudakwashe Dzoro a war veteran and nephew as well to the late Gogo Huruva.

Elizabeth Chigombe nee Huruva who was with the late Gogo Huruva throughout her illness also chronicled how she spent three months in hospital until the day she passed on.

Znau PF Central Committee member Jimayi Muduvuri encouraged the family to remain united as was the case during Gogo Huruva's time. He also encouraged the family members to follow in the footsteps of the late heroine.

Gidfrey Mukungunugwa Huruva a businessman and one of the late Gogo Huruva's grandsons said the family has lost a pillar who would unite everyone through her superb leadership style of non discrimination.

Gogo Huruva is survived by 11 children, four girls and seven boys, 60 grandchildren and 63 great grandchildren.

Prisons and Correctional Services officer commanding Masvingo province Assistant Commissioner Social Ndanga, officer commanding Masvingo west district Chief Superintended Gedion Zulu, officer in charge ZRP Mashava, Inspector Lodwin Chaibva, Chief Chivi,  Senator James Makore and Shurugwi Town Council chairman Tsungai Makore among others attended the burial.