Brendah Muchato
Addressing mourners Thursday, at the burial of the Late National Heroine Cde Betty Flora Mtero at the National Heroes Acre, His Excellency President Mnangagwa urged all stakeholders to strive towards uplifting all women in memory of the late female cadres such as Cde Mtero.
“Going forward, I urge all stakeholders in my Government and the corporate world to continue supporting efforts by philanthropic organisations in our country that work hard to uplift the lives of disadvantaged women and children as well as the elderly,” said President Mnangagwa.
President Mnangagwa said that we must remain guided by the constitution that promotes women rights.
"We will continue to honour our departed heroine by making sure that Zimbabwe remains part of the community of nations that are bound by international and regional conventions that seek to promote women's rights. We must also remain guided by our country's Constitution which promotes the rights of women in all spheres of life," said His Excellency.
He further called for unity and peace among all Zimbabweans.
“When we call for unity of purpose in our thrust for sustainable development, peace and prosperity, let us always remember that such calls have traceable history rooted in the efforts made by the likes of our departed heroine, Cde Mutero,” said President Mnangagwa.
President Mnangagwa went on to describe the Late National Heroine Cde Mtero as a gallant daughter of the soil who sacrificed for freedom from the racist Rhodesians.
"We gather once again at the National Heroes Acre to lay to rest a gallant daughter of Zimbabwe, a distinguished patriot and a dedicated revolutionary, who contributed immensely to the liberation of the country, Cde Betty Flora Mtero. She was part of a generation that contributed greatly in the liberation of our country from colonial injustices of racist Rhodesia. Her passing on, is yet another huge blow to our nation. We grieve over this sad loss," he said.
He also said " In Cde Mtero,we have lost a revolutionary icon and true champion of the economic empowerment agenda as she played a critical role in the facilitation of projects and programmes designed to uplift the socio-economic conditions of the disadvantaged before we attained our independence".
In addition President Mnangagwa praised the work of the Late Cde Betty Mtero and urged for gender equity.
" As a result of her Philanthropic works, Cde Mtero was awarded some accolades in recognition of her active involvement and initiatives which saw the formation of women's empowerment clubs and groups in many parts of the country," said President Mnangagwa.
"As a way of respecting the legacy of our departed women cadres such as Amai Mtero and those who are still with us, let us be exemplary in promoting our country's thrust towards gender equity. They sacrificed their entire lives to serve their country with dedication and selflessness so that no one and no place would be left behind," he said.
The late National Heroine Cde Betty Mtero passed on 6 December 2022. She was born on 16 May 1932 in Musengezi, Zvimba District and died at the age of 90.