Staff Reporter
The Midlands Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Owen Ncube has described the late City of Kwekwe Alderman Clarissa Vongai Muchengeti as a dynamic politician, seasoned educationist and accomplished civic leader who dedicated her life to serving the nation.
Speaking at her burial at Kwekwe Central Cemetery on Tuesday, Ncube said the province and the nation at large had lost a mother figure and mentor whose legacy spanned politics, education and community development.
“It is with a heavy heart and deep sense of sorrow that we lay to rest Alderman Muchengeti, who was a dynamic politician, seasoned educationist and an accomplished civic leader,” Ncube said.
Muchengeti, who passed away on 15 August at St Anne’s Hospital in Harare after a short illness, rose through the ranks of ZANU PF to serve on the party’s Central Committee for 15 years. She was also a war collaborator in Bikita and Gutu, where she assisted the late National Hero Dr Samuel Mazorodze in providing food, clothing and medical supplies to freedom fighters.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa and First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa sent condolence messages to the Muchengeti family, acknowledging her contribution to the liberation struggle and national development.
Born on 29 November 1949, Muchengeti trained as a teacher at Mukaro and later earned a Bachelor of Education and a Master’s degree in Educational Management and Policy Studies with the Zimbabwe Open University. She served 36 years as a teacher, including 12 years as headmistress of Kushinga Primary School in Kwekwe.
Her public service career included 13 years as Kwekwe Ward 8 councillor, membership in the Senate and the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly between 2005 and 2008, as well as a stint on the Zimbabwe Power Company Board, where she chaired the Human Resources Committee.
Ncube said he personally worked with Muchengeti from his youth and regarded her as a mentor. “She groomed and inspired us to be what we are today,” he told mourners.
Muchengeti is survived by six children and 15 grandchildren.
