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Pamela Shumba Chronicle Reporter
THE wife of the Commander of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF), General Constantine Chiwenga, Mrs Mary Mubaiwa-Chiwenga, yesterday donated $3 500 to a war veteran, Cde Jeffery Ndlovu, who lost sight following an explosion of a landmine during the liberation struggle in 1979.Mrs Mubaiwa-Chiwenga donated the money on behalf of the newly launched Musha Mukadzi-Zimbabwe Armed Forces Foundation MM-ZAFF, meant to empower families of the members of the defence forces, especially women.

The donation is meant for the completion of a poultry project that Cde Ndlovu and his wife, Anna are running after they were sponsored by the ZDF.
Cde Ndlovu, whose pseudo name was Kenneth Murwiri, was left completely blind after a  landmine exploded during operations in Chirundu, Kariba.

Handing over the money to Cde Ndlovu at his Lockview home in Bulawayo, Mrs Mubaiwa-Chiwenga said the poultry project was a token of appreciation to Cde Ndlovu for the sacrifices that he made, together with other sons and daughters of Zimbabwe to liberate the country.

“Cde Ndlovu is one of the thousands of sons and daughters of Zimbabwe, who sacrificed their lives to liberate the country and free every Zimbabwean from colonial bondage. As Zimbabweans, we owe such cadres a lot. On behalf of MM-ZAFF, I have given him $3 500 for the completion of the poultry project that he is running.

“The ZDF assisted him with funding for his fowl runs and the first batch of broiler chickens. He indicated that he needed about $3 000 for the project to be more profitable and productive, but we decided to give him $3 500 so that he can be able to cover other expenses,” said Mrs Mubaiwa-Chiwenga.

Cde Ndlovu expressed gratitude to Mrs Mubaiwa-Chiwenga for the kind gesture, saying he was grateful for what the ZDF had done for him so far.

“I am grateful for what Gen Chiwenga and his beloved wife have done for me. This shows that they know where we came from and they have their people at heart. This money will go a long way in completing my poultry project, which is already running, and will make life easier for my family.

“The ZDF funded the construction of my fowl run and the first batch of chicks. The money that I have received from MM-ZAFF will be used to buy more chicks and other materials to expand the project,” he said.

Cde Ndlovu was born on 5 April 1948 in Matobo district and joined the liberation in 1969.

He was trained at Marogoro Camp in Tanzania before he was deployed at the army headquarters in Lusaka, Zambia in 1972, where he was the adjutant general of the commander.

In 1978 he was elevated to be chief of technical engineering in the Zipra high command, in charge of urban units up to the time he was injured in 1979.

After an attack of the first battalion in Chirundu, Cde Ndlovu and his then regional commissar detected landmines and tried to detonate them.

In the process, the landmines exploded, killing the commissar instantly and blowing off his eyes before he spent three months in hospital and was subsequently brought back home a few days before independence in 1980.

The late Vice-President, Cde Joshua Nkomo facilitated for him to secure a house to stay, where he lives until today.

Cde Ndlovu married his wife in 1984 and they are blessed with three children.

Mrs Mubaiwa-Chiwenga launched MM-ZAFF at Mbalabala School of Infantry, One Brigade Headquarters and Imbizo Barracks during her two-day visit in Bulawayo.

The foundation was officially launched in Harare by the First Lady Amai Grace Mugabe.

Mrs Mubaiwa-Chiwenga urged the women to promote peace for the sake of their families and vote for Zanu-PF and President Mugabe during the harmonised elections.