The death of Sikhubekiso Madeya Mangena, 69, widow of national hero Alfred Nikita Mangena, has drawn tributes from former ZPRA fighters and ZAPU officials, who also used the occasion to highlight the marginalisation of ZPRA’s legacy, the neglect of freedom fighters’ families, and the deterioration of public services.
Mrs Mangena died on May 12, 2025 at her family home in Manningdale, Bulawayo.
Her husband, Commander Alfred Nikita Mangena, a towering figure in Zimbabwe’s armed liberation struggle, died in June 1978 in a landmine explosion before the country attained independence.
As condolences poured in, the ZPRA Veterans Association lamented that much of the country’s liberation history, particularly involving ZPRA commanders and fighters, remained neglected in public narratives and official records.
“The Association joins the Nation in mourning our National Heroin who was a pillar of strength to the late national hero Comrade Alfred Nikita Mangena during the protracted war of liberation that gave birth to Zimbabwe Independence in 1980,” said ZPRA Veterans Association Secretary General, Petros Sibanda.
“We salute her heroic deeds and maximum sacrifice and determination in the fight against Colonialism seeking nothing but Justice, Peace, Development and equal opportunities for every Zimbabwean without exception.”
Sibanda said women such as Mrs Mangena played a critical role in the liberation struggle, often quietly and without the recognition given to front-line fighters.
“Some comrades she rubbed shoulders with during that period include Jane Ngwenya, Thenjiwe Lesabe, Gertrude Sihle Moyo, Amos Ngwenya and many others whose bodies lie in unmarked graves both outside and in Zimbabwe, may their souls rest in eternal peace,” said the former ZPRA fighter.
He also warned against the deliberate distortion of historical truth:
“As we mourn her, let us not forget our liberation heritage to protect the truth for our future generations. We implore the government to recognise the contributions made by all Zimbabweans during the War of Liberation.”
“We are in a situation where people deliberately fight the truth for expediency, reminding us of Amilcar Cabral’s words ‘not to tell lies and claim easy victories.’”
Sibanda urged the government to go beyond symbolic gestures by improving the welfare of war veterans and their families, particularly spouses.
“The life of widows is not easy. The family might have benefited from some state support, we appreciate that, as well as recognising Nikita Alfred Mangena as commander of ZPRA and honouring the late wife,” he said, however pointing out many veterans were struggling.
“Veterans of the liberation struggle welfare issues are not sound as per what is on the Veterans of the Liberation Struggle Act.”
The act was signed into law by President Emmerson Mnangagwa in September 2020.
Sibanda called on the Ministry of Veterans of the Liberation Struggle to fulfill its obligations.
“We implore the ministry to take positive action by ameliorating the conditions of the spouses and families during their lifetime and upon passing on from this world.”
He also advocated for ZPRA’s greater involvement in preserving liberation history.
“Mrs Mangena has left her son and daughter who today are recognised with the naming and order of the Nikita Mangena university.we also request the state to give the ZPRA veterans the honour and latitude to present lectures on Nikita Mangena and other departed heroes and heroines of the liberation struggle,” Sibanda said.
“We also request the state to give the ZPRA veterans the honour and latitude to present lectures on Nikita Mangena and other departed heroes and heroines of the liberation struggle. We, the ZPRA surviving members, realise there’s a wide knowledge gap of the ZPRA liberation war commanders and the goings-on during and after war that brought about freedom.”
The ZPRA Veterans Association reiterated that the Mangenas legacy, and that of other freedom fighters must be documented and preserved for future generations.
“Nikita Mangena’s contribution and that of his family must be accessible in annals of history and be accessible for next generations and research,” Sibanda said.
ZAPU President Michael Sibangilizwe Nkomo, also paid tribute to Mrs Mangena but offered a stark critique of the current leadership.
“It is with profound sorrow that we received the sad news of the passing on of our dear, Mrs Mangena, a loyal wife who stood by her husband during the liberation struggle, and continued to stand with our revolutionary movement till independence and afterwards,” he said.
Nkomo pointed out the tragic irony of her passing in a time of national decline.
“The unfortunate situation is that Cde Alfred Nikita Mangena died before our independence and his wife has passed on at a time our country lies broken, led by a broken leadership with no clue of what good governance means,” said the ZAPU leader.
“The country is enduring a dilapidated public healthcare system and corruption at the highest level, with no end in sight. Human rights abuses and the fight against truth is part of the ruling party’s DNA.”
Nkomo urged Zimbabweans to honour the sacrifices of the liberation generation by demanding better.
“It is time for all Zimbabweans to reclaim our dignity and establish normalcy no matter the pain. As we mourn our heroine, let us cherish her revolutionary legacy. May her departed soul rest in eternal peace,” he said.