Online Reporter
Patience Ndlovu
THE Tshitaudze family on Saturday celebrated the 100th birthday of Gogo Rakela Sibanda, the matriarch of the Chief Tshitaudze clan, in a colourful ceremony at the family homestead in Mpande village, Zezani area in Beitbridge District.
Gogo Sibanda was married to Chief Pariti Tshitaudze for over five decades until his death in 2007. She is mother to three children, grandmother to 25, including David Tshitaudze, the current Chief Sitauze, great-grandmother to 35 and great-great-grandmother to two
The event drew family members and local community leaders, who paid tribute to Gogo Sibanda for her role in preserving cultural values and guiding the family over decades.
Family spokesperson, Mr Muvhuso Mbedzi, described his grandmother as “a living library of our culture and a custodian of values that bind our community” and a pillar of strength.
“Our grandmother’s milestone is a moment of pride for the entire clan. She has been the glue that kept this family together, offering guidance, love and discipline. Even at her age, her memory is sharp and her counsel is valued,” he said.
Traditional Venda dances, praise songs and a communal feast marked the celebrations, with guests enjoying local dishes and a three-tier cake in the colours of the national flag.
Speaking during the celebrations, Gogo Dube attributed her longevity to “loving people, eating what you grow, and never letting anger sleep in your heart.”
“It is an honour to be celebrated on this special day and to reach 100 years of age. I thank God. All I can say to young children out there is, normalise eating healthy as it contributes to long life,” she said with a chuckle.
Born on 9 August 1925, Gogo Sibanda was the first wife of the late Chief Sitauze.
Bongani Ndlovu