THE Zanu-PF leadership in Matabeleland South Province has hailed the elevation of Cde Rose Mpofu to the ruling party’s Politburo where she will serve as secretary for people with disabilities.
Cde Mpofu, who is visually impaired, replaced the late National Hero, Cde Joshua Malinga who was Special Advisor to the President. He died last month at the age of 79.
In an interview yesterday, Zanu-PF provincial chairman for Matabeleland South, Cde Nqobizitha Mangaliso Ndlovu commended President Mnangagwa for appointing Cde Mpofu, saying it was a great honour and recognition for the province.
President Mnangagwa announced the appointment of Cde Mpofu during the party’s 20th National People’s Conference in Gweru last week.
“The President has recognised one of the party stalwarts who has been serving the party loyally for a very long time. Cde Mpofu lost her sight seven or eight years ago, but that did not deter her from carrying out party duties,” said Cde Ndlovu.
“We are very grateful for what the President has done. He gave her a very critical assignment to advise the party, through the Politburo, on issues to do with disability.”
Cde Ndlovu said Cde Mpofu comes in handy as she knows both the able-bodied and disabled sides.
“Not too many people are able to bring to the table such a contrast, I see her giving the President the benefit of both sides. As a province, we are very excited and really cannot thank the President enough for this appointment, support, and recognition.”
Cde Ndlovu said while Cde Mpofu was taken by surprise, he was convinced that she would deliver in her new mandate.
“In fact, Cde Mpofu was telling me that when her name was mentioned, she thought it was perhaps someone else, but when people started congratulating her that is when she noticed that it was in fact her who had been appointed,” he said.
“At that point that is when emotions got the better of her, but yes, as Matabeleland South we are so excited and happy.”
Cde Mpofu was elevated alongside the Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF) Commander, General Phillip Valerio Sibanda, who became an ex-officio member of the Politburo.
Gen Sibanda has been the ZDF Commander since December 2017, and before that he was Commander of the Zimbabwe National Army.
The decorated soldier, whose nom de guerre was Cde Ananias Gwenzi, trained and served as a ZIPRA combatant during the Second Chimurenga after leaving the country in 1973 to join the war.
He received military training in Morogoro, Tanzania. In 1974, after completing his training in the East African country, he was sent to Lebanon, where he spent nine months of rigorous training under the Palestinian Liberation Organisation.
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