admin
on Friday was laid to rest yesterday.
He is survived by his wife, Norma, and a three-year-old son, Kunashe.
He was 34.
According to his uncle, Danny Joe, Novell woke up on Friday morning complaining of stomach pain.
He was taken to a local clinic where he was referred to Parirenyatwa Hospital. He spent the day at the hospital before passing away that evening.
“He had been suffering from ulcers for years but whenever he felt any pain he would usually drink milk to make the pain subside.
“When he was taken to the hospital, the doctors did a scan and found that some of his intestines had rotted and while some were entangled. They operated on him but he died in the resuscitation room,” said Mr Joe.
Novell made his name as ecological and ethnic-fashion designer with BlackScissors Ethno Design Project. He won the Global Young Social Entrepreneurs’ Top 100 Award in 2007 following his shortlisting for the prestigious awards which run in all regions of the globe.
The international shortlist comprised of selected young people up to 30 years who set up innovative enterprises that aim to make a revenue as well as positive social impact by harnessing the Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) and Knowledge as part of their business model.
Novell, also an award-winning artiste in the UN-sponsored Artists Against Poverty Campaign (AAPAC) had been shortlisted for his Ethno-Eco Fashion Design Project, whose objectives were to advance skills and knowledge of the ecological and ethnic fashion designing through the innovative use of ICTs.
In 2005, his project also qualified for financing at the Zimbabwe Culture Fund but he refused to accept the grant “because they did insist on funding some different objects which did not correspond with our projec.”.
“I am so overwhelmed to be among the top 100 young global entrepreneurs, life is just beginning at 30, and I thank God for the blessings he’s been extending to my life,” said a jubilant Novell then.
The artiste once had a spate with Viomak after mocking her and her “protest music”.
Online Reporter