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Tanyaradzwa Rusike
IN an age where the gift of long life has become a near-absolute rarity, celebrating a 100 years of life has now come to be considered a miracle.
Experts have cited high-risk lifestyles, lack of regular exercise and poor diet as major reasons behind diminishing life expectancy. However, Estina Hove from Mutasa Village in Mberengwa, who recently celebrated her 100th birthday, is proving that age is just a number.
Last month, her family gathered to celebrate her latest milestone amid grand pomp and fanfare. Born in November 1921, the centenarian has six children, 22 grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren.
Ambuya Hove told The Sunday Mail last week that her secret to a long life was working for God and a good diet. All her life, she said, she has been a committed servant of God, who has served diligently in the Lutheran Church.
She said her diet, which is largely made up of traditional foods, has also contributed to her longevity.
“Celebrating 100 years is a great mystery,” Ambuya Hove said.
“Jesus has kept me up to today. He has been taking care of me and that is why I have survived up to today.” She said she was no longer able to walk on her own and required a helper to go through her daily activities.
“I am happy with the gift of life that I was given by the Almighty, but right now I am waiting for his time,” she said.
Ambuya Hove said she has lived through generations that have come and gone and has learnt many lessons about the importance of life.
“During our days, we did not focus on the desires of the flesh because we knew that could not help us. Working for the Creator was my focus and I sacrificed all I had for the church. I was a preacher, leader of women and also a choir leader.
“I enjoyed my mission and I could spend most of my time running around to make sure that the Word of God spread to all corners of the world.”
Ambuya Hove counselled the younger generation to live a righteous life.
“My word to the younger generation is that keep the Word of God, work for Him while you can because He is the giver of life.”
Her daughter, Mrs Vimbai Nyemba, a top Harare lawyer, said her mother’s life was a mystery.
“I am the youngest in my family and the first-born in our family is 76. My birth came as a miracle because my mother conceived me when she was 50.
I was the baby of the family and at times I was worried that my mother was going to die before I had grown into a woman; this was after I lost my father in 2001.
However, I have witnessed the power of God and realised that he is the giver of life and today we are still celebrating another milestone,” she said.
Online Reporter