The Sunday Mail
Fatima Bulla
Tributes continue pouring in for wheelchair racer Dorcas Hwatira, who passed away last Thursday during a practice session for the Outeniqua Wheelchair Challenge in South Africa.
Hwatira (40), who was part of a Zimbabwe 12-member team that is across the Limpopo for the competition, was hit by a car around 5am in George.
She passed on while awaiting an operation on two pelvic fractures.
Her husband, Langa Libangani, yesterday disclosed that they were working on repatriating the athlete’s body.
“We have sent all the required documents to South Africa and we wait on them to contact us anytime so we can travel for the collection of the body.
“The man who hit her said he would ensure that he also gives his assistance,” said Libangani, who married Hwatira last year.
Sports and Recreation Commission corporate affairs officer Tirivashe Nheweyembwa described the award-winning Hwatira as a champion of wheelchair racing and sport for people with disabilities.
“Dorcas was always a sure nominee in the sportswoman of the year with a disability category at the Annual National Sports Awards. What pains us most is that she met her fate while doing what she knew best. She belonged to a rare breed of sport persons who was never defined by her disability.
“On behalf of the SRC I would like to express our heartfelt condolences to her family and friends. Dorcas, our champion of sport for people with disabilities, we shall forever cherish your great exploits,”
The president of the Zimbabwe National Paralympic Committee, Mike Bulagango, said the nation had been robbed of an athlete who championed the Paralympic movement. “We received the sad news with deep shock considering that last Friday we were part of the ceremony to send them off to South Africa. Hwatira has been one of the consistent paralympians for some time. And she had also taken part in this event (OCC) on several occasions.
“We knew that come February they would be heading to South Africa for this event. Hwatira had done extremely well for the Paralympic movement,” Bulagango said.
Speaking from South Africa, team manager Christopher Katore said they have received great support from the Ministry of Social Services in making arrangements for Hwatira’s repatriation.
“Hwatira has received great honour here in South Africa and a minute of silence has been observed,” Katore said.
Hwatira had become a permanent feature at ansa.
In 2008, she was an ansa finalist for Sportswoman of the Year with a disability as a wheelchair tennis player while in 2010 she got a bronze medal in the same category.
She would feature in the same category in 2011 before scooping silver in 2013.
Hwatira began her sporting career at Ruwa Rehabilitation Centre in 2006 before she went on to pursue wheelchair tennis in 2011. Her participation at the annual OCC in George contributed to her winning the 2013 ANSA silver medal.
Hwatira is survived by her husband Libangani. Mourners are gathered at 9746 G Mukonono Street in Mufakose.
