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Precious Manomano, Herald Reporter
THE Zimbabwean pilot who died when his light aircraft crashed into Lake Malawi last week, was buried yesterday at Glen Forest Memorial Park in Harare.
Captain Fungai Majakwara died when the plane crashed into Lake Malawi, killing him and one passenger, while the other passenger survived and was hospitalised.
Relatives described Capt Majakwara as a loving, knowledgeable person who worked hard and united people in the family.
Family spokesperson, Chief Edson Murapa of Makoni, said no one would replace him, adding that he was a pillar of strength in the family.
“He was loyal and respectful to the family. He left three kids who are very young. I’m really hurt with this situation. There is nothing we can do as a family but to accept the situation. Go well Fungai. The gap you left is irreplaceable. Who is going to fill that gap? No one will fill it,” he said.
Capt Majakwara’s friend, Francis Juru, said he was exceptional.
“We met in Botswana around 2010. We connected well with Fungai. He was a highly impressionable young man who embraced fundamental ideas. He was a very loving and caring person, very respectful to everyone who crossed his path regardless of tribe and race. We don’t get a lot of people like Fungai. I’m truly hurt as a friend. He died in a tragic way and l pray that God gives his family comfort and his friends as well, like me,” he said.
Another friend, Mr Tendai Nyakupinda, said he was hurt by his friend’s death adding that he was a good advisor and a partner in business.
“Fungai was a loving person. He made a positive difference to the majority of people. He was an accountability partner, we consulted each other on how to run our businesses. We used to tell each other our plans. Our main goal was to ensure that we provide adequately for our families. We are really pained. We will miss him. His family is still young. I’m really hurt. This is a big gap that was left. God has done what he wants so we cannot criticise,” he said.
Another friend, Captain Amara Sok-nhep, said he worked together with Capt Majakwara in Botswana in 2001, adding that he was a good advisor who cared about other people.
“We started to fly together in Botswana. He moved to Zimbabwe for a while, and then Zambia and to Malawi. He was my best friend. He was more like a brother to me. I was very close to him and the family. He was an amazing father and husband,” he said.
Capt Majakwara left behind a wife, Else, and three children.
He trained as a pilot in Port Elizabeth and had further training in Johannesburg.
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