Chiwenga brags about wife’s military exploits

“SHE is the only woman in the history of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF) to command a platoon on foreign soil during a peacekeeping mission.”

That is the stunning revelation made by Vice President Constantino Chiwenga about his wife, Colonel Miniyothabo Baloyi-Chiwenga, according to State media.

The VP opened up on Saturday during double celebrations – his wife’s belated 50th birthday and her recent attainment of a Doctorate.

State media reported that Colonel Baloyi-Chiwenga made history in Angola when she commanded a platoon under the United Nations Angola Verification Mission III (UNAVEM III) from October 1997 to 1998.

At the time, VP Chiwenga was Commander of the Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) and still remembers how former President Robert Mugabe welcomed the battalion at 23 Infantry Battalion at Magunje in Mashonaland West Province upon their return.

From that daring deployment as a young officer, she has risen to become colonel and Director of Analysis at ZDF Headquarters.

But her CV does not end there.

The VP described his wife as a decorated soldier, academic, international relations and media guru, entrepreneur and polyglot who speaks English, Ndebele, Shona, French, Chinese and Zulu, State media reported.

Her chest is adorned with the Independence Medal, 10 and 15 Years Long and Exemplary Service Medals, and the DRC Campaign Medal.

Outside the barracks, she runs businesses under the Style by Minnie Group, Chivaraidze Academy and Yummy Organic Foods.

A fellow officer who trained with her at the Zimbabwe Military Academy in 1996 said her grit inspired an entire intake. Colonel Fungai Mapaya told State media that despite her small stature, she never quit during gruelling training, with fellow recruits urging each other to keep going until “that small girl” gave up.

The VP could not resist taking a playful jab at his new reality at home.

He joked that at home he is sometimes just the husband, sometimes the husband of the colonel, and now he must remember he is married to Dr Baloyi-Chiwenga.

He added that at 50, most people would sit back and celebrate, but his wife was already planning the next 50 years like a military assignment.

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