The Sunday News
Vusumuzi Dube Sunday News Reporter
THE Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF) yesterday held a military parade in honour of the late liberation war hero, Colonel Kuthandakwenkosi Donga, at the Headquarters Bulawayo District Parade Square, where the late Col Donga was described as a true soldier who was dedicated to defending the nation.Col Donga, the first woman to be appointed a defence attaché in the ZDF, died in Addis Ababa on 8 January from a suspected heart attack. She was 56.
Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) Commander, Lieutenant-General Philip Valerio Sibanda, who was the chief mourner, described Col Donga’s service to the nation and the army as one that would be forever remembered and honoured.
Lt-Gen Sibanda said the late liberation war hero would be difficult to replace due to her dedication.
“It was a shock to many of us to learn that such a hardworking, loyal and experienced officer who seemed to be in good health could be taken away from our midst without warning, when her services were still very much required by the Zimbabwe Defence Forces and the nation as a whole.
“The late Colonel Donga was a rare kind of officer who had the enviable gift of the ability to mix freely at all levels both in her work and social life. While you have lost a daughter, daughter-in-law, mother, umzukulu, and so on, we in the ZNA in particular and the ZDF at large have lost a trusted and hardworking colleague who will be difficult to replace,” said the ZNA commander.
Lt-Gen Sibanda said during her time as the defence attaché in Ethiopia, Col Donga led by example and helped improve army relations between the two countries.
“Cognisant of her proven and unquestionable loyalty and dedication to serve the nation through hard and trying times, the late Col Donga was nominated as one of the candidates earmarked for external diplomatic assignments.
“This development saw her being deployed to Ethiopia on 1 February 2011 as the defence attaché, a post she held until her untimely death. Her presence in Ethiopia as a defence attaché greatly improved the military relationship between Ethiopia and Zimbabwe due to her ability to articulate the true Zimbabwean military picture,” he said.
The army commander noted that although she was not a liberation fighter, her dedication and commitment to duty had won her a provincial hero status.
ZDF commander General Constantine Chiwenga, Minister of State for Provincial Affairs in Bulawayo Cde Nomthandazo Eunice Moyo and Commissioner General of the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services Major-General Paradzai Zimondi also attended the parade.
Gen Chiwenga will officiate today at Col Donga’s burial at West Park Cemetery.
Col Donga was born on 2 September 1959 in the then Bulilima-Mangwe district, under Chief Mpini in Dombodema village. She attended her primary education at Masuku Primary School in Bulawayo before proceeding to St Peters Secondary School for her secondary education.
From March 1978 to December 1980 she did her diploma in social work at the School of Social Work at the University of Zimbabwe after which she enrolled for a Bachelor of Science degree in Sociology at the same university in 1981.
She was attested into the ZNA on 1 March 1985 as a Lieutenant and was posted to Headquarters 3 Infantry Brigade as the brigade social services officer.
Among the medals she was awarded by the ZNA include the Independence, Ten Years Service, Long and Exemplary Service, Mozambique campaign and Democratic Republic of Congo campaign medal. She was also honoured with the Commander of the Zimbabwe Order of Merit Award for her eminent achievement and distinguished service to Zimbabwe or to humanity at large.
She is survived by her husband Kingstone Donga and two children Takunda and Sakhile.
