The Sunday News
Ngqwele Dube, Sunday News Correspondent
LIBERATION war hero, Cde Boniface Mlungisi Mabhena (63), who died on Thursday last week due to ill health was yesterday buried at the Bulawayo Provincial Heroes’ Acre in Nkulumane, amid calls for war veterans to focus on unity and fight divisions.
In a speech read on her behalf by the District Development Co-ordinator for Bulawayo Central, Mr Fungayi Nkuziwalela, Minister of State for Bulawayo Metropolitan Province, Cde Judith Ncube paid tribute to war veterans for the sacrifices they made in liberating the country from colonial rule.
“He (Mabhena) will always be remembered along with the rest of the heroes and heroines of the struggle for the sacrifices they made during the liberation struggle. We are who we are because of the valiant efforts they made as they dedicated their lives to liberating Zimbabwe,” said Cde Ncube.
In a graveside speech, Bubi Member of the National Assembly Cde Sonny Key Mguni said Cde Mabhena left a legacy worth emulating as he put his focus on fighting for the country and also working in Government after the attainment of independence.
Cde Mguni said Cde Mabhena, who was a nurse at Sipepa District Hospital in Tsholotsho District at the time of his death, was a forthright man who was dedicated to serving the country. He paid tribute to health workers who are in the frontline in the fight against Covid-19 saying they were playing a crucial role during trying times.
“Health workers, the police and soldiers have been playing a tremendous role during the fight against Covid-19 and we should salute them for their roles. Mabhena also played his role along with his colleagues as they did not desert the patients but have been assisting us deal with this pandemic,” said Cde Mguni, who is also the chairman of War Veterans Association Matabeleland North Province.
The burial was also attended by Tsholotsho North Member of Parliament, Retired Major-General Sibangumuzi Khumalo and Matabeleland North Senator Cde Alice Dube. Cde Mabhena was born on 20 September 1957 at Manaleni under Village Head, John Mabhena, Chief Siphoso in Tsholotsho.
He did his primary education at St James’ School and proceeded to St Augustine’s for his secondary education.
After completing his education, he worked at Sugar Refineries Company, then called Rhodesia Sugar Refineries. He joined the armed struggle in 1977, reaching Zambia via Francistown in Botswana. Cde Mabhena, whose pseudo name was Mfundisi Sibindi, was moved to Zambia with his first port of call being Nampundwe Transit Camp and later moved to Camp of General Training 1 (CGT1) for military training.
He joined the Medical Department upon completion of his training and worked at Makheni in Zambia and Zambia General Hospital. When the ceasefire was attained Cde Mabhena stayed behind and came back into the country late in 1980 and assembled at Luveve.
He joined the Ministry of Health in 1981 and was stationed at Kwekwe General Hospital before moving to Sekani Clinic and then later transferred to Gokwe General Hospital. He was further transferred to Tsholotsho District Hospital before ending up at Sipepa. He is survived by wife Sifiso and four children.
