admin
Sydney Kawadza Senior : Features Writers
Draped in colours of the national flag, the bearded man endures the weather of the day, but stays rooted to his position listening intently to speeches from the main podium. Sekuru Howard Malleni has attended all but one burial at the National Heroes Acre since independence in 1980. Only one unfortunate incident in April when the high-density suburb of Rugare, Harare, had no electricity for a week caused him to miss the historic double burial of national heroines Cdes Victoria Chitepo and Vivian Mwashita.
The 79-year-old has never missed Heroes Day commemorations either.
“I have been walking to the national shrine since independence and I would have wanted to pay my respects to Mai Chitepo because she sacrificed a lot for the independence of Zimbabwe.
“I only heard that the burial was on the day in question but it was too late to walk to the national shrine for the burial.
“I, however, requested to have her poster from the burial and it’s part of my collection at home.”
Indeed, Sekuru Malleni has created a “museum” at his house situated at JM34 Mapembe Road, Rugare.
He has kept all the memorabilia from the burials he has attended at the national shrine. Mukoma Howard, as he prefers to be called, has attended other important events, both national and Zanu-PF programmes.
Also known as Mukoma Bye Bye Shamwari Dzangu, Sekuru Malleni strategically stands at a vantage point to listening to the message and paying his respects.
“I have been walking to the National Heroes Acre since independence, either for a burial or the annual commemorations,” he said recently.
“In as far as I remember, I missed only one burial.”
His best friend could be his radio.
“I am always glued to the radio for information,” he said.
Mukoma Howard prepares thoroughly when attending the commemorations.
“When there is burial at the national shrine or we are celebrating the Heroes Day, I make sure I am well fed before I walk the few kilometres to the national shrine.
“I am guided by the tower (the Eternal Flame), which I follow till I climb up the sacred hill.”
He is even surprised that he sometimes stands for more than four hours.
Mukoma Howard’s strength is derived from his sense of patriotism.
“I feel energised when I set foot on that sacred ground. How many hours do I remain standing? I have never even thought of it, although I feel obliged to remain standing until the day’s proceedings are done,” he said.
The spirit of patriotism has been a driving force for Mukoma Howard hence his desire to express himself.
“I experienced the brutality of colonialism and when I am attending a national event, it’s in appreciation of our hard-won liberation. Anyone who suffered at the hands of the colonial masters would be happy to be part of an independent Zimbabwe,” he said.
“Rhodesia was not easy for us and we should cherish the independence we are enjoying these days.”
The passion with which Mukoma Howard speaks of independent Zimbabwe is driven by his personal experiences in colonial Rhodesia.
“I had brushes with my white superiors when I joined the Rhodesia Railways in 1961 and this saw me being shuffled among various departments after breaking a rule here and another one there,” he reminisced.
A particular incident exposes his defiant character against his white bosses.
After an altercation with his boss, Mukoma Howard, livid with the racist attitude from the white man, spat into the man’s cup of tea.
“I was just trying to point out some of his mistakes that could have cost him his job. The auditors could have easily picked his mistakes but he became arrogant.
“We had a serious confrontation and I ended up spitting in his cup of tea.”
He was taken to the welding department after losing his job at the parcel office.
But Mukoma Howard’s brushes with authorities had been inherent in his working life.
“Early 1975, all black security officers were given firearms and instructed to go on a mission to hunt for freedom fighters but I refused.
“There was a daily allowance for that but I refused to track down and kill my own people.”
Mukoma Howard said he was a Zimbabwean who is passionate about his country and its history.
“When we are celebrating a national day, we should do it with all our hearts.
“There are people who died for us to enjoy this independence, so the passion is driven by this history.”
The tower bearing the Eternal Flame at the Heroes Acre is of great significance to Mukoma Howard.
“That is the source of my strength. When I am walking to the national shrine, I focus my attention on that tower.
“I will never feel weak when I am going up that hill,” he said.
Born on July 20, 1937 at Mt Selinda in Chipinge, Manicaland Province in a family of 12, Mukoma Howard joined the Rhodesia Railways in 1961.
“I joined the RR, yes railways, RR I don’t know what it means, on July 1, 1961 AD, don’t forget to write AD,” he chuckled.
He vividly recalls working along the railway tracks when he got employed by the RR.
“In 1962, they decided that I was fit to join the security department where I was the first black security guard,” he said.
“All the others who were recruited from the BSAP found me there.”
The BSAP is the acronym for the British South Africa Police.
“When in 1975 they decided to recruit us to track down freedom fighters, I refused because I knew some of them by name and they also knew me.
“There was a daily allowance to track down the freedom fighters but all those who were lured by the love of money perished. I do not remember seeing anyone who returned from these excursions and I am not sure how many came back from the war.”
He narrated how wives of the security guards would come almost every day enquiring on them but failing to get satisfactory answers.
“In fact, the Ian Smith soldiers were cowards who put the security guards in front hence most of them were killed,” he recounts. I think that was a good decision I made because I could be dead by now.”
He was moved to the parcel office where he brewed tea for the whites.
This was when he had an altercation with his boss.
“That incident saw me being punished again and I was transferred to the welding department until I retired in 1997,” he said.
Mukoma Howard, who worked for the railways company for 36 years, laments his pension benefits.
“I get $35 per month and I have to constantly remind them that I am alive because they might stop sending me the money,” he said.
A hermit of some sort, Mukoma Howard recounts how at one time he stayed with seven wives.
“They all dumped me saying the polygamous marriage was not comfortable for them, so I stay alone,” he said.
The polygamous marriage, which he does not regret, bore Mukoma Howard 26 children.
“They are all over the country but I am not sure of the number of boys and girls, although I have recorded their names in a book I keep in my room,” he said.
Mukoma Howard always makes an effort to steer away from politics but expresses his profound support for President Mugabe.
“A lot is said about President Mugabe but even if everyone abandons him and we are left the two of us, I will never abandon him at all,” he said.
He, however, urged Zimbabweans to remain united in honour of the people who died for the liberation of Zimbabwe.
“We have differences, but Zimbabweans should avoid violence and the destruction of property,” he said. “Let’s resolve our differences peacefully.”
Mukoma Howard vows to show his patriotism while hoping to inspire Zimbabweans to love their country.
Feedback: [email protected]
Online Reporter