By Shadreck Gurenje

ZANU PF First secretary and President Dr Emmerson Mnangagwa has said the nation must remain mindful and remain resolute in defending the nation’s national character and integrity.

Addressing mourners at the burial of the late national heroine Air Vice Marshal [RTD] Winnie Mandeya at National Heroes Acres today, President Mnangagwa said  with hard honest work, patriotism, discipline, focus, zeal and consistency at any level of achievement can be realised.

“With hard honest work, patriotism, discipline, focus, zeal and consistency, any level of achievement, can be realised. Under the Second Republic, merit, professionalism and hard work, among other key attributes and values of my Administration, will always be recognised.

“As we pay tribute and bid final farewell to our late National Heroine, Cde Mandeya, we must remain mindful that the onus is now on us, who remain, to defend our national character, identity, integrity and interests, as we march forward, towards Vision 2030.  We are masters of our own destinies. Nyika inovakwa, inotongwa, inonamatigwa nevene vayo/ Ilizwe lakhiwa, libuswe, likhulekelwe ngabanikazi balo.

“This is a philosophy that our heroine understood very well. Hence, today, we lay her to rest alongside her comrades in arms and commanders that have gone ahead, here at this National Shrine, for remembrance and eternal reverence. I say to ‘Cde Cabby Rujeko-rwehondo’, our departed Air Vice Marshal Mandeya; Go well, Daughter of the Soil; Famba Zvakanaka Mwana Wevhu, Hamba Kahle Mtwana Wenhlabathi; Zorora Murugare Gamba Redu; Lala Ngokuthula, Qhawe lamaqhawe; Rest in Eternal Peace, our trailblazer and decorated General,”said President Mnangagwa.

President Mnangagwa also challenged female military personnel to take a leaf and to draw lessons and inspiration from the life of the late National Heroine.

“I, therefore, challenge all Zimbabweans, particularly the female members of the security sector as well as those serving across the public and private sectors, to draw lessons and inspiration from the life of our late National Heroine,” said President Mnangagwa.

The late Air Vice Marshall (Rtd) Winnie Cabby Mandeya passed on at the age of 64 in Harare on 27 April 2025.

At ceasefire in 1979, the late Comrade Mandeya whose chimurenga name was ‘Cde Cabby Rujeko-rwehondo’ remained in Mozambique. She returned home in August 1980, along with the last group of wartime patients. Following which, she joined the President’s Department.

The late Air vice Marshall (Rtd) Winnie Cabby Mandeya was strategically transferred to the Air Force of Zimbabwe in July 1984, as a non-commissioned member. Her reliability, acquired aptitude, professionalism and dedication to duty saw her rise through the ranks from Flight Lieutenant, to Air Commodore.