Centenarian marks birthday by planting 100 indigenous trees

IN a remarkable celebration of life and legacy, Gogo Edith Ndlovu commemorated her 100th birthday in Mpopoma suburb by planting 100 indigenous trees at Lukhanyiso Primary School, a symbolic gesture that underscores her deep respect for nature and community.

“Trees are life,” Gogo Ndlovu said as she planted the saplings. “Where there are no trees, there is no life, as trees give us fruits. So, I decided to celebrate my birthday by planting these trees to leave something for the next generation.”

Born in April 1926 in Filabusi, Entembeni, Gogo Edith is the only surviving member of a family of seven children, which included two boys and five girls. Her remarkable life journey has spanned a century and she has witnessed the transformation of her country from colonial Rhodesia to independent Zimbabwe.

Her last son, Mr Casper Ndlovu, recalled his mother’s early life and education.
“Gogo went to school at Block Two, where she reached Standard Six. She finished school in the 1930s and later went to Natal, South Africa, where she worked in a kitchen for about three to five years before returning home,” he said.

After returning to Zimbabwe, then Rhodesia, Gogo Edith married into the Ndlovu family in Mtshabezi, Gwanda District. She raised a family of three sons and two daughters.

While some of her children have since passed on, and her husband, Mr David Ndlovu, is also late, her legacy continues through her surviving children and extended family.

Speaking on her secret to longevity, Gogo Edith emphasised the importance of diet, respect, discipline and listening to elders.

“I used to listen to my parents. If they told me to do something, I would do it quickly. I respected my parents and elders,” she said.

“I can see that children nowadays no longer do that. When they greet an elderly person, they do so whilst walking.”

The centenarian also expressed gratitude to her children, family and the wider Mpopoma community for their support and participation in her milestone celebration.

The opportunity to plant 100 trees at Lukhanyiso Primary School, she said, was both an honour and a gift to the community that has been part of her life for so many decades.

Community members, pupils and school staff gathered to witness the unique birthday celebration, helping Gogo Edith plant the trees, each representing a year of her long and impactful life.

The initiative not only highlighted environmental conservation but also reinforced the importance of passing down values of respect, hard work and community engagement to younger generations.