HARARE, April 4 (Xinhua) -- Zimbabwean women are to hold a memorial service in honor of the late South African political icon Winnie Madikizela-Mandela (81) who died on Monday.
Many Zimbabweans have been paying condolences to her family and to South Africans in general on social media since news of her death in a South African hospital filtered into the country.
Chairperson of the Parliamentary Committee for Women and Youth Affairs Priscilla Misihairabwi-Mushonga confirmed the memorial service which she said would be held after the burial.
"You may want to know that we are planning as women activists to have a memorial service for the late Winnie, to celebrate her life. And we have spoken to the Ambassador of South Africa," she told The Herald newspaper Wednesday.
She said they would want some members of the African National Congress' women's league to attend and give testimonies about the late anti-apartheid activist's life.
"Her death is a heavy blow to many of us. Her death has educated us to rethink about what we need to do to celebrate heroines of the struggles that we had. We recognize her and celebrate her life," she said.
She added that the late should not be celebrated for her links with South Africa's first black president Nelson Mandela, but because of her ideals and what she stood for.
Madikizela-Mandela was once married to Mandela but the couple divorced during the husband's presidency.
Minister of State for Bulawayo Province Angeline Masuku said Madikizela-Mandela could have given up the struggle during her husband's 27-year incarceration but she fought on.
"She fought for the liberation of her country. She fought for the emancipation of women and fought to emancipate black people.
"Therefore we honor her for her bravery as she continued with the struggle while her husband was in jail for 27 years," Masuku said.
Madikizela-Mandela, who has been accorded a state funeral, will be buried on April 14.
The African Union and the United Nations have also paid tribute to one of the few remaining anti-apartheid stalwarts who fought against the repressive minority regime in South Africa which finally gave way to majority rule in 1994.
