HEALTH AND CHILD CARE minister David Parirenyatwa’s mother Emily Mkhwananzi was buried at Lady Stanley Cemetery in Bulawayo on Friday. MTHANDAZO NYONI OWN CORRESPONDENT
Lady Stanley Cemetery is reserved for outstanding senior citizens from Bulawayo and Matabeleland region.
Mkhwananzi, who was 85, was the wife of founding PF Zapu vice-president and Zimbabwe’s first black physician Samuel Parirenyatwa. She was born on July 16 1929 and coincidentally died on her birthday.
Speakers described her as a loving and an affectionate mother who believed in God.
“She was so kind and loving and I hope her children and grandchildren will emulate that,” her cousin Themba Dabengwa, said.
Senior Minister Simon Khaya Moyo said Mkhwananzi had played a very significant role during the liberation struggle and was of royal extraction.
“She was a God-fearing mother and we will miss her forever,” he said.
Parirenyatwa said his mother gave him advice and he had achieved a lot because of her.
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Mkhwananzi died of diabetes complications and Parirenyatwa urged other people suffering from the disease to take care of themselves.
He revealed that his mother had been amputated twice, first a toe and then just above the knee because of diabetes.
Mkhwananzi trained as a nurse at Howard Institute in Mazowe and served the profession for 40 years before retiring in 1994.
She worked at Antelope Mine Hospital where she met the late national hero.
However, their parents prevented them from legally marrying due to cultural differences.
Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare minister Nicholas Goche, Defence minister Sydney Sekeremayi and Bulawayo Provincial Affairs minister Eunice Sandi Moyo also attended the burial.
