Online Reporter
Patience Ndlovu
THE Tshitaudze family on Saturday hosted a colourful celebration to mark the 100th birthday of Gogo Rakela Sibanda, matriarch of the Chief Tshitaudze clan, at the family homestead in Mpande village, Zezani area in Beitbridge District.
Born on August 9, 1925, Gogo Sibanda was the first wife of the late Chief Pariti Tshitaudze, to whom she was married for more than five decades until his death in 2007.
She is mother to three children, grandmother to 25 — including the current Chief Sitauze, David Tshitaudze — great-grandmother to 35 and great-great-grandmother to two.
Family members, local leaders and community members gathered to honour 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.
The celebrations were marked by traditional Venda dances, praise songs and a communal feast. Guests enjoyed local dishes and admired a three-tier cake decorated in Venda traditional colours.
Speaking at the event, Gogo Sibanda attributed her long life 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.
