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Bongani Ndlovu Entertainment Correspondent
HUNDREDS of people on Saturday bade farewell to the veteran educationalist and Amangwe cultural grouping chairman Walter Njabulo Mbambo who was buried at Lady Stanley Cemetery in Bulawayo.Mbambo died at the age of 75 at Mpilo Central Hospital on Monday after a long battle with oesophageal cancer.
Speaker after speaker described Mbambo as a unifier in the family and the community. The spokesperson of the Amangwe, Nkosinathi Ndiweni, said he was dedicated to the education of black people in Zimbabwe.
“This man dedicated 43 years of his life to educating young children in Bulawayo. He was a man of the people and a man who loved his work,” he said.
Ndiweni also described Mbambo as a man who gave advice to the youth especially those who wanted to get into politics.
“He was astute in the advice he gave the youth. He was especially interested in giving advice to those who wanted to be in politics. Some politicians in the city sought advice from him from time to time,” he said.
Bulawayo Mayor Councillor Martin Moyo also attended the burial and described Mbambo as a man who contributed immensely to the development of the city.
He said Mbambo was a man who cherished African tradition and love.
“He was a city father who contributed a lot to the development of Bulawayo. He wanted people especially blacks to keep their heritage and stick to their culture of love and kindness, ubuntu,” said Moyo.
He said unity was the key that developed the city of Bulawayo and Mbambo exhibited that spirit in the long life he lived. Silonda Mbambo chronicled Mbambo’s long life including that he was instrumental in bringing together members of the Amangwe clan.
“Mbambo wanted to leave a legacy for his children and grandchildren. That is why he made efforts to come up with the Amangwe cultural group. That is the attitude we should have as people in the country where we cherish our culture whoever we are,” he said.
The service was held at St Patrick’s cathedral in Makokoba. Mbambo is survived by a wife Situtu and six children. The Amangwe clan in Zimbabwe, which originated in KwaZulu-Natal, is spread across the southern parts of the country. They had been separated from their kinsman for 180 years.
The Amangwe people comprise the Ndiweni, Mbambo and Zwane surnames. It is strongly believed that one of them, Cikose Ndiweni, was mother to King Mzilikazi, which was why King Mzilikazi appointed Ndiweni chiefs in his nation.
The cultural grouping decided to reunite with their kith and kin in 2012 thereby organising the visit of their King Ntshosho II from Entshenteka, KwaZulu-Natal.
The King duly obliged and visited his subjects during the annual Amangwe clan cultural celebrations held at chief Wasi’s homestead in the Macingwane area in Mangwe district Matabeleland South Province.
Online Reporter