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Harare Bureau
Hundreds of mourners, including senior government officials, relatives and friends yesterday gathered at Professor Jonathan Moyo’s Borrowdale home to console the family on the death of their fourth daughter Zanele.
Among the mourners at the Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development’s house were Zanu-PF members from Tsholotsho and Harare and students and staff from various universities, teachers’ colleges and polytechnics.
Zanele, 20, who was a first year Political Science, International Relations and Gender Studies student at the University of Cape Town was found dead in her apartment on Saturday.
She will be buried today at 2pm at Glen Forest Cemetery.
Speaking at the funeral wake, Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa described Zanele’s death as a tragedy, adding that what was disturbing most was that there was no clue as to what happened to her.
“The parents sent her to university expecting that she would come back with skills,” he said. “Suddenly, her life was cut short. A girl at that age, what wrong could she have done to deserve such a death?
“Only the Lord knows what happened to Zanele. We are told the record of death does not give adequate information to show the cause of death except to say investigations are continuing.
“We all know death exists, we’re all graves, but our wish as parents is to have our children and grand children looking after us, but Jehovah has his own way of doing things and he can’t be questioned.”
VP Mnangagwa said Zanele had her dreams which were not fulfilled.
“Zanele aspired to be a lawyer and work for Zimbabwe,” he said. “As parents we inspire to educate our children. Now when death takes away the young? It shows that whenever we are, no matter what age, death can come according to the will of God.”
Cabinet yesterday sent a condolence message to the Moyo family.
In a statement, Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet Misheck Sibanda said the government had been saddened by Zanele’s demise.
“On behalf of His Excellency the President, the rest of the members of Cabinet and indeed of my own family, I wish to convey to you, Honourable Minister and your dear wife and the rest of your family, our deepest condolences following the tragic death of your daughter Zanele Naledi Ntombizodwa in South Africa on the 18th of October,” he said.
“We’re deeply saddened by the loss of your daughter under tragic circumstances. This is even more grievous considering that she was taken at the prime of her life, with a bright future ahead of her.”
Minister of Policy Co-ordination and Promotion of Socio-Economic Ventures in the Office of the President and Cabinet Simon Khaya Moyo said it was sad that Zanele’s death had come a year after her sister’s wedding.
“Zanele was a special gift to the Professor and Mrs Moyo, she was very humble and focused,” he said. “Zanele was loaned to Prof Moyo and Mrs Moyo. She is not lost, but has gone before us.’’
Kenyan ambassador to Zimbabwe Lucy Jebet Chelimo said her country was saddened by Zanele’s death, whose mother Beatrice is originally from that country.
Atem Hapisu, sister to Prof Moyo’s wife said although they will go back to Kenya, they will always pray for the Moyo family.
Some of the people who attended the funeral wake were former Hurungwe West MP and expelled Zanu-PF member Temba Mliswa, Defence Minister Dr Sydney Sekeramayi, Minister of Finance and Economic Planning Cde Patrick Chinamasa, Prosecutor General Johannes Tomana, Minister of State for Harare Provincial Affairs Cde Miriam Chikukwa and members of the women’s national soccer team.
Online Reporter