Check Out The Late Ellen Gwaradzimba's Husband And Detailed Biography

The late Dr. Ellen Gwaradzimba was an accomplished intellectual who contributed to the fight for the liberation of Zimbabwe and went on to serve in various important capacities after the country gained independence.

Here is everything you need to know about Ellen Gwaradzimba’s husband, her background, education and struggle for independence, her political career, as well as her death and legacy. May her soul continue resting well.

Dr. Ellen Gwaradzimba’s husband was the late Cde Godfrey Mtausi Gwaradzimba. The two met in 1978 during the liberation struggle and began their relationship. 

They had their first child and lived together for a short period of time before they were separated for four years. The couple reunited in 1981 after the war ended and continued with their marriage.

Although it is not clear exactly when Ellen Gwaradzimba’s husband passed on, sources indicate that she was a widow at the time of her death.

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The late Ellen Gwaradzimba was born in December 1960 in Gutu District and named Ellen Munyoro. She came from a family of freedom fighters and her father, five of her brothers and her aunt all fought in the struggle for liberation.

Born into a humble family, Ellen’s parents motivated her to aim at achieving academic excellence with her father hoping that she would grow up to be a doctor.

With the kind of motivation she got from home, Ellen dedicated her time to her studies from when she was a little girl. 

She got her primary and secondary education at Masvingo, but when she was 16 years old she joined the struggle for liberation against the Rhodesian government during the second Chimurenga war.

She was sent to Nachingwea Military Academy, in Tanzania where she received training in guerrilla warfare and conventional warfare after which she was posted in Gaza province in Mozambique.

During the war, she also served as the secretary to commanders William Ndangana and Kumbirai Kangai.

Although she was reunited with her husband after the war, she never got to see her father and brother again who were both killed during the war.

After the war ended, Ellen resumed her studies. She studied at the University of Zimbabwe and the University of Fort Hare in South Africa and obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree and a Masters degree in Adult Education and a PhD in education.

She served as Senior Lecturer at Mutare Polytechnic and the University of Zimbabwe. She also served as the Dean at Africa University.

Besides serving in institutions of higher learning, Dr Ellen Gwaradzimba also served on various boards including Manicaland Development Association, Forestry Commission, Zimpapers, and the Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment Board, among others.

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After Zimbabwe gained its independence, Dr Ellen Gwaradzimba remained in Zanu PF and rose through the ranks to become the Provincial President of the Zimbabwe Women's League between 2001 to 2009.

She became the Secretary for Administration and a member of the Central Committee in the province of Manicaland in 2010 and served in this position until 2018.

During the 2018 general elections, Dr Ellen Gwaradzimba was elected a senator for Manicaland and in 2019 she was appointed as the Minister for Provincial Affairs for Manicaland.

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Dr Ellen Gwaradzimba succumbed to COVID-19-related complications on the 15th of January 2021 while receiving treatment at a private hospital in Harare. She was 60 years old at the time of her death.

She was posthumously accorded the National Hero title by President Emmerson Mnangagwa and was buried at the National Heroes Acre.

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