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Ray Bande
Senior Reporter
THE Muslim community in Dangamvura, Mutare, took time to honour and celebrate the life of the late prominent businessman and religious icon, Mr Abdul Gaffar Bhadella last week on Sunday morning.
Passionately referred to as Abe, Mr Bhadella, who owned wholesales and properties in Mutare and Harare, breathed his last on May 9 at the age of 88 and was laid to rest at Warren Hills Cemetery in the capital.
Dangamvura Islamic Society’s Sheikh Noordeen Kiddah said: “We are here today on a day that is special for us as the Muslim community in Manicaland and Dangamvura in particular. We are here to honour and celebrate the life of an Islamic icon.
“He was the chairman for the Islamic community here in Mutare for many, many years. So that reason, we are here to pray as we thank him for the good works he did for us.
“Islam allows us to pray for our departed colleagues and leaders. These prayers are a gift to him. We will be praying to Allah to forgive him for anything that he could have wronged as well as thank him for the good work he did for our community.
“When he died and was buried in Harare, most of us here in Manicaland who worked with him and benefited from his benevolence were touched, but could not attend his funeral, hence the decision to have this ceremony,” said Sheikh Kiddah.
Mr Bhadella was very popular in Manicaland and beyond.
No wonder, Dangamvura Islamic Society chairman, Mr Juma Yard said: “We knew him as a person who loved people as they are. He was anti-racist and we really appreciate that as a community.
“He helped many black brothers and sisters, some of whom ended up being leaders in the Islamic community within and outside our country’s borders.
“He funded the construction of many buildings, amenities and projects for the Islam community here in Mutare and beyond from his own personal resources.
“I worked with him and he did many things for me that I can never forget, including arranging and facilitating my wedding. He showed me what true brotherly or fatherly love is. May his soul rest in eternal peace,” said Mr Yard.
Community leader, Mr Ibrahim Mponda said: “He was a great man. We will forever cherish his good deeds. We learnt a lot of things from him and we will strive to teach that to our young ones.”
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