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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