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Nqobile Tshili, Chronicle Correspondent
HUNDREDS of people yesterday celebrated the life of National University of Science and Technology Nust Lawton Hikwa at a funeral service held at St John’s Anglican Church in Bulawayo.
The mood was festive as mourners agreed “that’s what the fun loving Hikwa would have wanted.”
The first tears were shed during body viewing.
Speakers spoke in glowing terms about Hikwa who died on Sunday at Mater-Dei Hospital after suffering respiratory complications.
The Anglican Church was too small to accommodate the crowd with scores following the proceedings from the courtyard and dozens more from the street.
People from all walks including senior politicians, academics, the clergy, students and ordinary residents went down memory lane, sharing anecdotes about Hikwa whom they described as a motivator, unifier and father figure.
The Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development, Professor Jonathan Moyo, sent his condolence messages to the Hikwa family and Nust community.
He was represented by the Minister of Policy Coordination and Promotion of Socio-Economic Ventures in the Office of the President, Cde Simon Khaya-Moyo, who challenged members of the public to live a purposeful life like Hikwa did.
Khaya-Moyo said yesterday’s attendance was testimony that Hikwa left an indelible mark on the lives of the people he came into contact with.
“We’re here to bid farewell to a great man not because of anything else but his deeds. He has departed too early,” he said. Khaya-Moyo described
Hikwa as a good man and on several occasions cracked jokes saying that was what Hikwa would have wanted.
He had mourners in stitches when he said: “It’s only the important people who contribute significantly to society, like Dr Hikwa, who die. There are some people who seem to serve no purpose, who you always ask yourself when God will take them, but they continue living.”
Khaya-Moyo said Hikwa was purposeful, productive, principled and lived a pure life.
Anglican Church Bishop Cleopas Lunga weighed in saying Hikwa was a God fearing academic who never despised theological debates. “He knew when to stop discussing about the theological issues and start listening to the spirit. Very few academics can do that,” said Lunga.
Obadiah Moyo of the Rural Libraries and Resources Development Programme chronicled his works with Hikwa describing him as people oriented and down to earth.
Hikwa’s sister, Mavis Hikwa-Mlilo, said from a tender age he was a charming boy who was loved by women.
“He knew each and every woman in the community by their first name although he was just under the age of five. I tried to influence him to stop drinking citing health reasons but he said even those who drink tea will die eventually,” said Hikwa-Mlilo. His daughter, Vanessa, said her father would sacrifice anything to keep his family happy.
MDC-T deputy president and niece to Hikwa, Thokozani Khupe, said she tried but failed to convince him to join politics.
Khupe, however, said through Hikwa’s inspiration, she is now pursuing a doctorate degree.
Among the mourners were Makokoba legislator Cde Tshinga Dube, Senator Angelina Masuku, Zimbabwe Media Commission chairperson Tafataona Mahoso and the academic community.
Online Reporter