National heroine Ngwenya laid to rest

Harare (New Ziana)-National heroine Jane Ngwenya was buried on Friday at the National Heroes Acre amid calls for the media to use their platforms to propagate national development issues.

Ngwenya (86) died last week at a Bulawayo Hospital, days before she was due to be honoured with a medal on Heroes Day last Monday.

She was then honoured posthumously with the second highest honour, the Grand Command Zimbabwe Order of Merit.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa handed over the honour to the late national hero’s son, Shingirirai Ngwenya at the burial.

Addressing the mourners, President Mnangagwa said the media should emulate the role the press played during the days when the late Ngwenya was a broadcaster.

“Together with other gallant sons and daughters if the soil, the late Cde Ngwenya loved her nation, preached democracy , unity and sustainable development as opposed to self hate or denigration of one’s motherland.

“I challenge the media to use their respective platforms to propel the national development agenda and the national interest of the country.

“Equally, I exhort us all riding on the new ICT platforms to use our new voice given to us by the Second Republic to also advance national interests patriotically,” he said.

He added: “Each of us has a role in building the Zimbabwe we want.”

President Mnangagwa said Ngwenya leaves behind a rich and inspiring legacy of patriotism and nationalism.
“She was a woman who claimed her space in the political arena of her time.

“I thus exhort women and women organisations to continue promoting the ideals of Pan Africanism /Ubuntu/Unhu which the late Jane Ngwenya fought for,” he said.

He said the late Ngwenya was part of a rare breed of women as she turned down a scholarship to study law in Canada in favour of fighting the liberation struggle with fellow Comrades.

“Finally, to the late Jane Ngwenya I say to you, farewell to you our revolutionary nationalist, fearless freedom fighter, mentor and mother,” he said.

New Ziana