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beard.
His booming voice transports you back into time. Back to Bindura constituency where Madzibaba Border Gezi “Mhofu Yemukono’’ used to get down to scintillating kongonya dances as he reiterated his constant refrain, “nyika haivakwi nekutengerana doro!’’
The man is none other than Isaiah Kadifura, the legend of Mbire and Guruve. Never think he enjoys his unkempt look, as he says he is in mourning, lamenting the passing on of his hero, and a hero of our time, Madzibaba Border Gezi with whom he bears an uncanny resemblance.
Kadifura said the dreadlocks only developed because of difficulties in combing the hair, otherwise he would have wanted to keep his hair long and Afro-centric.
The bushy beard has become his trademark. Though the man is deadlocked, he normally wears a beret or an assortment of funny hats. He is a socialite of great proportion and at times he carries a knobkerrie. A flat nose that straddles a wide face, and the deep, booming voice always gets people’s attention.
Kadifura, who became a businessman after being given a loan by the then Ministry of Youth Development and Employment Creation, headed by Cde Gezi, says he is still mourning the passing on of his icon, the man who made him what he is today. Madzibaba Border Gezi passed on April 28, 2001 after car crash 10km outside Mvuma along the Harare-Masvingo Road.
“I was a mere youthful vendor selling my wares in a pushcart. Cde Border Gezi changed my life. He gave me a loan and for the first time in my life, I opened a shop at Mutota Business Centre, also known as KwaDenis. I also got a farm there under the land reform programme through Cde Gezi’s encouragement when he was Governor of Mashonaland Central Province.
“When he died in 2001, I was very shocked and saddened. I am still in shock. I mourn him everyday. I pray to God and my ancestors, that wherever he is, he has a nice time.
“I keep this beard and hair as remembrance for my political godfather. I have not shaved my hair and beard, ever since Cde Gezi died and I have no plans to shave in the near future.
“Some people say I look like Cde Gezi.
“Others think I am his young brother but we are not related. Cde Gezi led this province. He was a good man and he helped many people and to me, this long hair and beard reminds me of him,’’ Kadifura says.
Those who remember the energetic national hero, Cde Gezi, know him for his huge afro hair, bushy beard and booming voice.
Kadifura is married and has four children. Born on December 17, 1964, Cde Border Gezi was brought up in Mvurwi and attended Holy Rosary Secondary School.
He first worked as an accounts clerk for Zesa before being elected to the House of Assembly for Muzarabani in the 1990 elections.
In 1993 Madzibaba Gezi was elected Zanu-PF chairman for Mashonaland Central Province, and the Government appointed him Provincial Governor from 1996.
Cde Gezi won the Bindura seat in election 2000 election and was appointed as Minister for Youth Development, Gender, and Employment Creation.
At a special Zanu-PF congress in 2000, Gezi was appointed secretary for the commissariat, charged with rejuvenating the party that had been given quite a scare by the MDC in June that year.
Online Reporter