Gertrude Mthombeni

Gertrude Mthombeni,a caring sister and staunch beacon of the feminine activists of our struggle passed away on Saturday the 19th of January 2008.

Sis Gerty as most of us called her was a very passionate and caring pillar of strength particularly to the youth in Bulawayo. More of note was the comfort and encouragement she would give to those that would have been released from custody. In her own special way and soft spoken nature, she would laugh, joke and give advice to us as only a mother can.

A Trade Unionist of note and a founding member of the MDC and long serving member of its National Executive Committee, Sis Gerty was herself a subject of much persecution. Several times she was arrested and tortured at the hands of the Bulwayo Central Law and order Police and a handful CIO operatives. At one time she was arrested alongside Ms Thokozani khuphe and Mrs Zodwa Sibanda (the late wife to Mr. Gibson Sibanda and related to the late Joshua Nkomo's wife). I remember how I heard from Abednigo Bhebhe when they joined me at Khami Maximum, how brave she had been as they were flogged by the army. They had been on a campaign trail preparing for the 2002 Presidential elections.

On the 5th of February in 2006, the Harare Sunday Mail, carried a ridiculous story on the deportation of Sis Gerty. The paper said that she had been deported alongside with Morgan Tsvangirai, the late Isaac Matongo, Nelson Chamisa, Ms Lucia Matibenga, Paurina Mpariwa, Wiiliam Bango, Eddie Cross and MaKhuphe. The paper further stated that they had been deported fro attending a meeting with the "CIA funded Freedom House". The title of that report actually read, "Zambia deports spies with CIA-Freedom House ties".

After the MDC split, when many were predicting that Welshman's faction would win the hearts of the people of Matebeleland, Sis Gerty remained sober, rooted and firm in her faith in Morgan as a genuine Peoples' Leader. She became a major discerning voice of reason that gave hope and courage to the many die-hard supporters who had suffered in the in party disturbances that characterised the split in Matebeleland. She refused to see the people of the region as a tribal people. She stood for the National struggle and not a tribal side tracked mission, that a few clicks were propagating.

Though she stood against and lost to MaKhuphe for the Vice Presidency of the real MDC, she quickly joined hands with her to make the MDC function in the difficult conditions the regime had set in Matebeleland.

At the time of her death, Sis Gerty was the National Secretary fro Labour and Social Welfare. She also held the post of Secretary for Environmental and Tourism affairs.

Sis Gerty, your love, your courage, your grassroots relations and your unassuming nature made you an icon of this struggle. You were a unifying factor, an inspiration not only to the youth but to the down trodden and undermined women in our society.

May your soul Rest In Eternal Peace.

Your spirit lives with us forever.

Tonderai Ndira

This is and will forever be the Face of Courage in the current tumultuous political landscape that prevails in Zimbabwe.Tonderai Ndira at age 30, has been compared by many to the icon of the South African struggle against apartheid - Steve Biko.

The man behind Mabvuku - the thunderous, fearful and centre of the Harare revolts, was abducted from his home by a gang of 10 state/ZanuPf security thugs.The thugs were armed with AK 47 rifles and wore masks as they drove a bruised and bleeding Tonde away to their desired "oblivion". His body was found mutilated (eyes gouged, lips and tongue cut off) discarded and abandoned to tell a tale of uncouth, cruel and inhumane torture and death.He was buried at the Warren Hills Cemetery in Harare on the 25th of May 2008.

In his political career, Chief of Mobilisation and Master Strategist, Mr. Ndira played an integral role in the formation of The Movement for Democratic Change in 1999. He was relied upon for his fearless military style mobilisation tactics, which made him the subject of over 40 dubious charges including attempted murder.His security consciousness saw him lead many an advance security team into feared Zanu pf controlled rural territories to successfully pave the way for effective MDC campaigns and events.

Tonde was very much active in the Combined Harare Residents' Association, fighting for service delivery (mainly regular refuse collection and electricity supply) and youth related developmental issues. He played a pivotal role in National Constitutional Assembly activities.This made him one of the best foot soldiers this revolution has produced.

His militant appeal was very evident at demonstrations and other invasions by the state security apparatus. He stood up to their arms and braved physical assault to provide leadership in the resistance of disruption of mass gatherings by the rogue police and other security agents. This made him highly revered in the struggle and equally feared and detested by the regime, no wonder the painful and inhumane execution he suffered.

At the time of his death, Tonde was the MDC Youth Assembly Executive Committee's National Youth Secretary for Defense and Security.


May the perpetrators of this heinous crime that has robbed us of a valued, gallant icon of the Zimbabwean Democratic Revolution never find rest and may they live to face justice.

Brother and Comrade par excellence, Tonderai Ndira Rest In Eternal Peace. Your spirit will be with us forever as your blood continues to water the tree of Freedom and Democracy in Zimbabwe.