A Tribute to Mum

Betty Konayuma (1986)

Tuesday, 21 April 2009 marked 50 days since my beloved mum passed away. On 3rd March 2009 when I was in Mansa on duty I received an sms from my dear wife which stated “mum has departed”. My mother: Betty Rundu Konayuma died at the age of 65. She had turned 65 on 2nd February. This was after suffering a second stroke in eight years. She was admitted on 8th February. At the time she was staying with my young sister Catherine and her husband Matthew. She was in hospital for three weeks till she passed away. Mum is survived by four children i.e. Gabriel (myself) aged 41, Catherine and Kenneth aged 36 and Tendai aged 25. On the siblings side mum is survived a brother Enock aged 73 and Jescah aged 65 both living in Mutoko in Zimbabwe. I travelled to Zimbabwe to bring aunt Jescah when mum was still in hospital. This remembrance of mum focuses on mum’s early life, her studies, working life, family life and religious life.

Early Life and Working Life
Betty Konayuma was born on 2nd February 1944 in Mutoko. She went to Nahirira School in Harare (in Mbare area) where she did Sub A to Standard 6 from 1952 to 1959. Whilst working at a hospital in Harare, she attended to a critically ill patient in the absence of a doctor after prayer resulting in the patient’s life being saved. Her bravery and commitment to duty was awarded with a scholarship for short medical training to the United Kingdom. In 1961, Betty travelled to then Northern Rhodesia (Zambia) to do nursing training at St. Francis Hospital, Katete. After completion of her training, Betty went to work at Batoka Hospital in Livingstone in 1966. She was then transferred to Mwinilunga Hospital in 1969. Other hospitals worked in include Kitwe Central Hospital, Ndola Central Hospital, LENCO Surgery, Chainama Hospital and University Teaching Hospital in Lusaka. Betty underwent in-service training in 1967 and 1977. Her work mostly involved mid-wife nursing. She developed close friendships with mothers whom she helped in delivering their babies. Due to demands on her time as a mother, Betty resigned from her nursing career. This shows the love she had for us as children and was willing to give greater attention to motherhood without the constraints of a full-time job.

Linda, Kenneth, Josiah, Catherine, Gabriel.
Seated: Betty with Tendai in arms

Family Life
Mum married Josiah Konayuma at Kitwe Magistrate’s court on 11 November 1967. This union was blessed with five children: Gabriel, Linda, Catherine, Kenneth and Tendai. Betty was industrious and was involved in gardening, selling of vegetables, clothes (which she made), ice-blocks and other products. Josiah died in July 1992 after an illness. She managed to educate Catherine, Linda and Tendai at University and Secondary School. She was a loving mother/parent to her children and others. She was a grandmother, aunty and relative that be counted on in times of joy and sorrow.


Religious Life
Mum was a Sunday School teacher and a member of the Mother’s Union member at Cathedral of the Holy Cross. She encouraged us to pray and attend church when we were young. During her last years she loved to pray when you visited her. This could point to the fact that she had a relationship with God whom she depended upon.

Lessons learnt from mum
Mum instilled the following values in us and others who stayed in our home. Some of the values she instilled in us are:
• hard work,
• determination,
• foresightedness,
• hospitality and
• friendliness.

Hard work: Mum worked hard as a nurse especially when she was a mid-wife. She loved her job and had a keen interest in the patients she attended to. At home mum worked hard to ensure that the home was clean and that the family had good food to eat and nice clothes to wear. Mum would grow vegetables for sale and make cool drinks for sale. One time when I was a teacher at David Kaunda Technical High School and staying in Emmasdale, mum taught me how to bake scones which I would sell to the school tuckshop. This enabled me to raise enough transport money to get to work.

Determination: Mum was a determined person. This was not only seen during the time she got sick when she suffered her first stroke right up to the time she died, but even in healthier times when faced with challenging times she was determined to do what she could to go on. It was determination that led her to leave a place familiar to her (Zimbabwe) and come to an unfamiliar place. Through determination she was able to ensure that the late Linda (second born), Catherine and Tendai completed their studies after the demise of dad.

Foresightedness: Mum had a rare sense of foresight. At a time (1970s) when many in Zambia were not thinking of owning property, mum together with dad acquired some property in Emmasdale which was to become a family home for many years. Due to foresight mum saved money for hard times.

Hospitality: Hospitality in the home is made easier when the lady of the home has an open heart. Mum opened her home to relatives and friends. She ensured that their stay was comfortable by providing good meals and clean beddings. I remember one time when my Scripture Union patron, Mr. Steve Winter and I, in 1982 arrived at home in the evening and mum readily accommodated him in our home!

Friendliness: Mum was friendly. She was friendly to the patients she attended to. Some of these became very close to her. She was also friendly to relatives and neighbours. She liked to assist those in need.

Conclusion
We thank God for giving us mum. She was a good mother and did the best she could do for us. Of the 65 years God gave her on earth, it was a privilege to spend the first 28 years of my life with her. Her death is but a solemn reminder that this world is not our home, we are just passing through. And so there is little sense in clinging to the material things of this life at the expense of our souls. As I end, I can say with Job, the Lord gave and the Lord has taken away. Blessed be His name! Amen!