Online Reporter
Michelle Musandinyoze, [email protected]
IN a world where life expectancy seems to inch downward with each passing decade, reaching the age of 100 feels almost miraculous — a small, shining victory against the relentlessness of time. Such moments become more than birthdays; they grow into gatherings of gratitude, where families reconnect and reflect, where stories rise from memory, and where wisdom is handed from one generation to the next like a fragile heirloom.
On Sunday, the Ncube family— joined by their church community, relatives and friends — gathered in Bulawayo’s Emganwini suburb to celebrate the remarkable life of Gogo Elizabeth Ncube, who has now walked the earth for a full century.
The air was filled with warmth, admiration and a kind of reverence reserved only for those who have lived long enough to witness history fold and unfold around them.
The centenarian, who has lived through colonial rule, the dawn of independence and the many social shifts that followed, carries with her a lineage that continues to flourish: five surviving children — with one having passed on — 17 grandchildren and 23 great grandchildren.
Her life story stretches back to a time when communities leaned on subsistence farming, neighbourly co-operation, and the strength of hands that worked from sunrise to dusk.
Through it all, Gogo Ncube believes the secret to her longevity lies in her faith and the gentleness with which she has always approached others.
“As a Seventh Day Adventist member, I have always lived in Christ and tried to show love to everyone, as this is what God requires of us on earth. I thank God for allowing me to live to 100 years,” she said.
Born into an era defined by simplicity, community and hard work, she spent most of her life raising her children and keeping her home running like a well woven fabric.
Like many women of her generation, her joy was rooted in the comforting arts of sewing, baking and cooking — crafts that were not just hobbies but essential lifelines in a world where self reliance was a daily necessity.
Her first-born daughter, Mrs Hildah Dewa, carries memories of her mother that radiate kindness and unshakeable faith. She describes a woman whose generosity was boundless, extending even to strangers who happened to pass by her home.
“She loved everyone, even passers-by. Sometimes she would invite strangers to stop and share a meal before continuing their journey.
“She would give away most of the groceries we bought for her, even if it meant she would be left with very little,” said Mrs Dewa.
It is the kind of giving that speaks not of abundance but of character — the instinct to share even in modest circumstances.
Mrs Dewa recalls that their mother believed deeply in fairness and discipline, raising all her children to be equally capable. In her home, there was no such thing as “work for girls” or “work for boys.”
“She loved sewing, baking and cooking, and she made sure all her children, including my brothers, learnt these skills because she believed in equality of duties.
“I still remember her sewing bedsheets for me, which I used while I was in college,” she said.
Those memories echo the lessons of a woman who understood that true independence comes from knowing how to take care of oneself — and others.
Even as age crept upon her gently, Gogo Ncube remained committed to her own well-being. She embraced movement as a companion, cycling long distances and running regularly well into her seventies.
“She loved cycling long distances and used to run regularly up until she was 70 years old.
“ One of my brothers had to dismantle her bicycle because she refused to rest, and we feared she might fall,” Mrs Dewa said, recalling the memory with a mix of amusement and admiration.
But of all the teachings Gogo Ncube imparted, the one her family holds closest is the simplest and the most profound: love.
“She taught us to love others the way Christ did. Kindness, unity and love are the values that have kept our family intact, and it all comes from what we learnt from her,” said Mrs Dewa.
