Online Reporter
Dr Obadiah Thembani Moyo
IT is with great sadness that I learnt of the passing away of a dear comrade and friend Alderman Mohammed Hassen Esat. My sincere condolences to Mrs. Esat, the Esat Family, friends and colleagues.
I first met Mohammed Esat in 1977 when I was a student at the Bulawayo Polytechnic and also as an underground strategist for ZAPU’s Zimbabwe People’s Revolutionary Army (ZIPRA). My task was to source clothing and other essential commodities for the ZIPRA fighters who were operating in the Bubi and Nkayi districts.
Besides making his own contribution, Mohammed Esat mobilised support from his Indian business associates and handed these to me for forwarding
to the appropriate persons. He was reliable, courageous and ably handled very sensitive guerrilla wartime underground activities.
Soon after independence, we worked together to restructure the then Sports and Recreation Council. He rose to become the chairman of Matabeleland North Province under which Bulawayo fell.
One of the challenges that Zimbabwe faced soon after independence was baby dumping. This became a big burden for the families, communities and the Government.
In 1984, together with Mrs. Margret Vickery they founded a non-governmental organisation, Save A Baby Save A Zimbabwean Association (SABSAZ) to
mitigate this baby dumping problem. A few years later, he invited me to join the executive committee of SABSAZA, becoming its committee secretary. As
chairman of SABSAZA, Alderman Esat introduced community-based programmes that contributed to the reduction of baby dumping; thus enabling the board to introduce a needy schools and families feeding activity.
In all this, his own businesses also made a significant contribution, besides some donations from local Bulawayo companies.
Mohammed Esat remained politically active and as comrades, we continued our dialogues about Zimbabwe and Bulawayo we want. In 1995, he contested and won a seat to represent Ward One in the Bulawayo City Council.
Personally and within my organisation, he was an advisor and would encourage other staff members and me to continue supporting the education of rural learners.
The great contribution he made to the Rural Libraries and Research Development Programme (RLRDP), an organisation I lead, will forever be cherished. It will be an honour, should his family agree, to have one of our Libraries and Resource
Centre named after Alderman Mohammed Hassen Esat.
We say to his family, comrades and friends – Heroes like Mohammed Esat do not Die – They Are Turned in Their Bones.
Farewell thee Dear Friend and Comrade, Alderman Mohammed Hassen Esat.
