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Nqobile Tshili Chronicle Correspondent
A liberation war heroine who lost her teeth during the war, is able to chew food for the first time in more than 50 years after Premier Service Medical Investments (PSMI) heeded calls by First Lady Grace Mugabe to fit her with dentures.

Gogo Idah Hwiza, 80, lost all her teeth following a brutal assault at the hands of the Rhodesian forces.

The colonial masters were angered by her unrelenting assistance to freedom fighters in sabotaging the Ian Smith-led government.

“I received several blows on my face and the boss of the Rhodesian police force said to me, ‘I wonder why they brought you here, they should’ve killed you.’

“After the assault, I had problems with my teeth and when dentists removed some of them, the remaining ones started falling off and eventually I was left with none,” said Gogo Hwiza.

Two weeks ago at a rally in Mbare, Harare, Cde Mugabe touched by the fact that Gogo Hwiza had not chewed solid food for more than half her life, promised that the octogenarian will get a new set of teeth.

PSMI answered the call and returned the smile to Gogo Hwiza’s face.

She got a full set of new teeth.

An ecstatic Gogo Hwiza who said she had over the years adjusted to living without teeth, expressed gratitude to PSMI.

“When the First Lady said that she was going to make sure that I get a new set of teeth, I thought she was kidding, but now I’m out of words after this,” said Gogo Hwiza.

She said she never dreamt having teeth again in her life.

“I was now used to chewing meat with my gums,” said Gogo Hwiza.

She said she wanted to visit the State House to thank the First Lady for assisting her.

“Look at me now, I’ve teeth and I want to dye my hair black and dress myself well and knock at Dr Mugabe’s door so that she sees how beautiful I look,” she joked.

Premier Service Dental Clinics (PSDC) general manager Dr Nyasha Kunzekweguta said by fitting Hwiza with dentures, the institution was giving back to the community.

“At PSDC our mandate is to serve the community we live in and also to make sure patients get the best services. PSDC takes pride in giving patients their smiles back,” said Dr Kunzekweguta.

PSMI business development and customer relations manager, Nhamo Marandu said the institution has a duty to assist the elderly in society and will continue providing them with free medication whenever it can.

At the Mbare rally Cde Mugabe narrated how Gogo Hwiza housed liberation fighters who carried sabotage activities such as bombing the colonial government’s fuel depots.

She told of how Gogo Hwiza sheltered eight freedom fighters who saved lives of thousands of other fighters by cutting the settler government’s communication and backup lines.

“The job was done and this is the day Ian Smith suffered a major blow when the fuel that his government used to commit several atrocities in the country went up in smoke. Mbuya Hwiza did a great job and I would like to thank her by referring her to the dentists so that she will be given her teeth back.”

Cde Mugabe said Gogo Hwiza was sold out by a driver on the mission adding the old lady said she had forgiven the man.