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A Tribute to Aunty Jessica


Last week on Monday, 1st May, 2017, I learned about the death of my Aunt Jessica. I had gone to visit my cousins and mother to my cousin Shingisai in Bindura in Zimbabwe. Aunt Jessica had been ill for some time and was especially sick in the last two weeks prior to her death. Though my plans during the visit had not been to visit friends and relatives in Bindura and Mutoko, the passing on of my Aunt changed all that. As I was already in Zimbabwe and as transport was available to take us to Mutoko and back, I made plans to travel for the burial of late Aunt Jessica. A team of seven travelled to Mutoko via Harare i.e. Andrew (Shingisai’s husband), Shingisai, Pedzai Revai, Christine and her son. In Harare we got Teddy (Pedzai’s husband) and we dropped off Luyando my daughter in Grange, Harare at the home of Ernest and Nyadzi Gore (where we were staying). This tribute is dedicated to Aunt Jessica, the only surviving family member in my late mum’s family. She is survived by two children: Fiona and Tendai.

Meeting Aunt Jessica
I first met Aunt Jessica in July 2005 when my wife Judy and I went to visit her and my late Uncle Duri in Mutoko. We had a great time in the village and enjoyed the hospitality that Aunt Jessica provided. The next time I met Aunt Jessica was in 2008? when I went to collect her from Mutoko to come and nurse our sick mum. The late uncle Enock was very helpful in allowing Aunt Jessica to travel back with me to Lusaka. We spent a night in Harare at adjacent hotels. I remember (with a smile) being told by the receptionist at Fife Hotel where Aunt Jessica was staying that she had gotten up around 19 00 hours and thought it was already dawn! Aunt Jessica and her sister Betty (my mum) were meeting after a very long time. The next time I met Aunt Jessica was when she travelled back to Zambia after mum became very ill till her passing on. We thank God that she was around during the passing on of mum. Catherine (my young sister) and I travelled back with her to Mutoko. We passed through Harare where we connected with my cousins: Rosa and Chennai. We also travelled with my nephews Simba (who drove the vehicle we used) and Muchi.

Memories of Aunt Jessica
During her stay in Zambia, my daughter Luyando learnt knitting from Aunt Jessica. This is a good example of a grandmother passing on a life skill to her grand-daughter. She was very good at knitting. During her burial on 2nd May, 2017 a close friend of hers when called upon to say a few words about her late friend, she came with a knitting needle and wool and acted out how late Aunt Jessica used to visit people in other villages while knitting and asking that she be given some water to drink. During the burial of late Aunt Jessica, someone spoke of how she liked to live at peace with everyone. We also heard of her friendliness and hospitality. We also heard of her being hard working and used her hands to till the land in order to grow food for herself and others.

Conclusion
The passing on of Aunt Jessica marks the end of the Rundu family (i.e. my late mum’s family). In the past nine years four member’s of my late mum’s family have passed on i.e. Uncle Duri in 2008, Betty (my mum) in 2009, Uncle Enock in 2015 and finally Aunt Jessica this year in 2017. This marks the end of the Rundu family but not the end of the memories that we share of them and the lessons we have learnt from them. We thank God for the memory of Aunt Jessica and the privilege of meeting and interacting with her. Amy God comfort the surviving children and help them emulate the positive virtues their mum Aunt Jessica had!

©Gabriel Konayuma, 12 May 2017
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