Its exactly 6 years since you were taken from us but in our hearts you still live. The rest of the people remember you as a visionary leader who was once the Vice-President of Zimbabwe but I remember you as the nephew who loved me and honoured me and never ever called me by first name. I remember you living with us for a while because our farm was closest to your farm and because you were hiding away from the Gukurahundi ordeal which affected you and your family and resulted in your Bulawayo house burning and your dear wife being seriously injured in the fire. I remember arguing with you then that there could be no possible way I could be your mother since you were old and had a beard and I wasnt even in school. But now I look in retrospect maybe you saw a bit of your late mother in me since she was my tete and from my bloodline or maybe you saw the greatness in me that I didnt see then or maybe you just respected the fact that I was your maternal aunt regardless of our age difference.
The day you took me on a day trip in the helicopter with other cabinet members is forever etched in my heart. I was in high school then and you called my dad to say you wanted to take your mum (me) along with you to see you at work. I sat and mixed with high profile politicians; even ate what they ate as well and I was only 15 or 16 I think, all because of you. I was even more excited when saw myself on TV in the news when they were reporting about the trip. When you invited me to ride in the presidential motorcade with you at a family gathering that also caused jealousy even among grown up relatives who wanted the same honour. I even became apologetic and would go and sit in the background at your family functions to avoid the outrage but you would still single me out and take me to the high table and shout at them saying "why are you seating her with the commoners when she is my mother." I am certain they were just as baffled as I was at why you were ordering them to wait on a mere child. When I went on the helicopter trip with you I had all the other ministers calling me "Amai" 'mother'as well and being respectful to me because of you, You would proudly introduce me as your mother to your other peers and always affirmed me.I had no accolades , I wasnt rich, I was a cocky kid but the excitement and pride you took in introducing me still moves me to tears. Later on when I was older and I visited your state residence with my friends I remember you spicing up the helicopter story to my friends and you telling them that I had been on a plane with you.
You even allowed me to grill you about the land invasions. When the landgrabbing started you ordered the war vets to get off the farms and then retracted the statement and you explained to me that " had you ordered the war vets off civil war could have started and the west would have said look at those savages killing each other.You even shared your concerns about the manner in which the farms were taken and how they were being distributed. You even stood up for many white farmers who were unfairly treated. You were about upholding peace and justice, each morning you woke up and saw your wife's scars from Gukurahundi and went to work - to work with the very people who caused your wife's scars because you understood that not everything was about you, because you had given yourself to this nation. Not many people knew how principled you were and did not like your family to have an 'entitlement mentality' expecting favours and short cuts because of you. You would always say "endai kuri kuenda vamwe' "just apply for it like everyone else , follow the due process" Not many people knew that the farm you had in Concession you didnt grab it from anyone you bought it after independence, Not many people knew that you only had one house in Harare and another in Bulawayo in your constituency. Not many people knew that you gave your life to the Lord at an Action Conference at Hear the Word Church(Celebration Church). Not many people knew that you were a staunch Anglican and that you were inducted as a lay-reader in the church meaning that you were effectively a sub deacon and could conduct mass in church should the priest be absent.Not many people knew that you were also the patron of St Albans Anglican Mission School in Chiweshe where you were born and bred. They knew you as Bruno, Mlambo, Dziva, the Honourable Vice President. I knew you as my nephew, mwana wangu, mwana wavatete vangu. I remember your love and respect for me and I remember your love and dedication to this beautiful nation. I have committed myself to play my part in whatever way I can in bringing about the Zimbabwe you envisaged so that when I see you again in God's glory you can show me off again.
Comments