Online Reporter
Mathew Masinge
THEY came in their thousands and, for some time in the afternoon yesterday, the crowd going to bid farewell to fitness trainer and karate champion, Sensei Mugove Muhambi, blocked Chiremba Road on its way to his final resting place.
Sensei Mugo was laid to rest at Zinyengerere Cemetery in Epworth.
He died in a road traffic accident on Saturday morning and he was celebrated as a decorated sports personality and a unifier.
Thousands paid their respects with a street procession bringing traffic to a standstill from his St Martins home to his final resting place.
Karatekas, boxers, musicians and sports personalities joined the procession.
Sensei Mugo was 49, and left behind his wife and two children.
Addressing mourners at the burial site, Sports Minister Anselem Sanyatwe said:
“We have lost a great sportsman who flew the Zimbabwean flag high since the year 2000, he represented our country well and executed his duties well.
“He went to Russia, Hungary, Asia and the Far East and brought all kinds of medals back home. He made us proud and, on behalf of the Sports Ministry, we have lost a national asset.
“What’s left for us is to emulate what he did and the greatest gift is to love one another as he was a man of the people who accommodated everyone.
“He was able to plant the seed of the nation, which is the unity of purpose.”
Min Sanyatwe also took the platform to urge youths to stay away from drugs.
“To our young people, stay away from drugs for they do not go hand-in-hand with athleticism. We need you to prosper, siyanai netumbwa, nekuti hazviti yamure semhuri yeZimbabwe, siyai zvinodhakwa,” he said.
Nutty O, who was a close friend of the late Sensei Mugo, said he has lost a pillar of strength.“I have learnt a lot from Sensei Mugo, he taught me to spread love to others, to be patient with others.
“It’s a special thing that I paid my last respects because he would have done the same to me.
“He was my big brother, teacher and big fan and we would talk almost every night. I will always honour him because he was important to me,” said Nutty O.
Deputy Sports Minister Emily Jesaya and Finance and Economic Development Permanent Secretary George Guvamatanga also paid their last respects by joining mourners at Zinyengerere Cemetery.Members of the Sports and Recreation Commission, the Boxing Federation and members of Kyokushin Karate also attended the burial.
