Online Reporter
Mbulelo Mpofu [email protected]
RENOWNED Zimbabwean educationist, author and cultural figure Ericah Gwetai will be laid to rest in Bulawayo today following her death on Friday at the age of 84.
Gwetai, whose life was dedicated to education, literature and the development of young people, died on September 18, leaving behind a legacy that spans the classroom, the literary world and Zimbabwe’s cultural landscape.
Her burial service will be held at 8.30am at the Anglican Church of Ascension in Hillside, along Leander Road in Bulawayo. Mourners travelling by public transport can board kombis heading to Fourwinds at City Hall, while those driving from Robert Mugabe Way are advised to join Matopos Road, turn left into Cecil Avenue and then right into Kent Road.
Announcing her death on Friday, her son, Tafadzwa Gwetai, paid tribute to his mother as a dedicated teacher, writer and mentor whose life revolved around education and nurturing young minds.
“She was a strong believer in children’s education as she had been an educationist for most of her life. She is among the last of a disappearing breed of teachers who cared for and nurtured her students. As an author/writer, she found a new avenue to entertain, educate and share with us parts of her past world and life,” he said.
Born on February 2, 1942, Ericah Gwetai devoted much of her life to teaching, earning respect not only for her commitment to education but also for the personal interest she took in the growth and wellbeing of her students. Her passion for learning later found expression through writing,
providing her with a platform to share experiences, preserve memories and engage with broader social issues.
Her published works include Embracing the Cactus, Realities and Petal Thoughts: Yvonne Vera and
The Other Side, books that reflected her experiences, observations and reflections on life and society.
Through her writing, Gwetai extended a lifelong commitment to educating and inspiring others, using literature to entertain, inform and document aspects of Zimbabwean life and culture. Her contribution to the country’s arts and cultural sector was recognised in 2023 when she received the Icon Award at the Bulawayo Arts Awards.
The honour acknowledged her enduring contribution to education, literature and the cultural life of Bulawayo.
Gwetai was also the mother of the late internationally acclaimed Zimbabwean writer Yvonne Vera, one of the country’s most celebrated literary figures. Her book Petal Thoughts: Yvonne Vera and
The Other Side offered a deeply personal reflection on her daughter’s life and literary legacy, while her own publications established her as a respected author in her own right.
Her passing marks the end of a remarkable life dedicated to teaching, writing and shaping generations of Zimbabweans.
