The Sunday Mail
Bruce Ndlovu Bulawayo Bureau
Lupane East Member of Parliament and liberation war heroine Cde Sithembile Gumbo was yesterday buried at the Matabeleland North Provincial Heroes Acre at Lupane Centre.
Cde Gumbo (56) died on Monday evening at the United Bulawayo Hospitals where she had been admitted after being involved in an accident two weeks ago.
Speakers from across the political divide described the late Cde Gumbo as a hard worker and dedicated legislator.
Zanu-PF Secretary for Administration Dr Obert Mpofu, Speaker of the National Assembly Advocate Jacob Mudenda, Minister of Women Affairs, Community and Small and Medium Enterprises Development Cde Sithembiso Nyoni, Minister of State for Matabeleland North Provincial Affairs Cde Richard Moyo, MDC chief whip Mr Prosper Mutseyami and MPs from both parties united to bid farewell to Cde Gumbo.
Addressing mourners, Cde Mpofu warned errant drivers who he accused of causing unnecessary loss of lives.
Adv Mudenda said Cde Gumbo was a down-to-earth leader who did not look down on those she served. “She just didn’t talk, but she also walked the talk,” he said.
Adv Mudenda said it was now up to those that worked closely with her to finish the projects she had been working on.
Cde Gumbo, Adv Mudenda added, was instrumental in the establishment of the Zimbabwe Women’s Microfinance Bank.
Minister Moyo said the presence of opposition politicians at the burial of a ruling party cadre fulfilled President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s wish to see all Zimbabweans united despite their political differences.
He said the presence of Mr Mutseyami and other opposition MPs was an example of the political maturity and leadership that would be required in future.
“In Parliament, she was in two committees: one was for Local Governent and she was one of those people that were tasked with making sure that power does not only reside in Harare, but is spread to all provinces under devolution. She was also on a Women’s Affairs committee and she fought very hard to make the women’s bank a reality,” he said.
The council chairperson of the of the Kusile Rural District Council, Clr Phibion Ngwenya, said Cde Gumbo had been instrumental in driving Lupane East into the 21st century, as she spearheaded a lot of developmental projects in the constituency.
“Lupane was a place with no network, but she worked hard from 2013 to 2018 to have boosters installed and now the network is easily available.”
Cde Gumbo is survived by four children.
