Online Reporter
Victor Maphosa
Mashonaland East Bureau
As a convoy of more than 50 cars snaked its way along the Harare-Mutare highway towards the Goromonzi turn-off on Saturday afternoon, in between the vehicles, was a white Mercedes Benzi from a local funeral palour, Nyaradzo Group.
Inside the white Mercedes, behind the driver sat two women, their faces at first unreadable, but at a closer look, streams of tears could be seen, their eyes showing inner exhaustion and pain.
Silently they sat, calmly they focused on the journey ahead.
The lead car turned right into another road that leads to Goromonzi business centre, and religiously, the other vehicles followed behind,closely.
At the junction, several vehicles, some coming from Harare while some from Mutare slowed their speed and stopped.
It was as if the world had stopped.
Even the always impatient kombi and mushikashika drivers stopped, just to allow the convoy an uninterrupted passage.
No horns of impatience were blown from other motorists.
Only whispers, but loud enough to be heard by the next person, were circulating.
Just about 200 metres along Goromonzi road, the convoy immediately turned left and drove for about 800 metres before turning left again into a road leading to the Goromonzi Turnoff Cemetery.
Thousands had gathered as early as 7 am in this place, singing, dancing with some just watching the unfolding last journey of Mr Mutangadura.
This is the place where a revered businessman Mr Joseph “Mutangaz” Mutangadura was buried on Saturday, August 23, 2025 in the afternoon.
It was just an end of an era, for the popular man, who was so established but so humble, he commanded respect and was loved by many.
The vehicles in the convoy then split into two, some parked on the left side while others parked on the right side, and the Mercedes Benz was left to proceed.
Ironically, it might have resembled the current situation faced by the late businessman.
He was now alone on his final journey.
The hearse continued up the tiny dusty road.
It stopped a few meters close to where a grave had been dug, awaiting to house the once established businessman.
It was going to be his new home, alone, away from his family, away from his friends.
Relatives were there, his children were there when the coffin was lifted up and placed carefully on the prepared grave.
A mini service was conducted.
Soon, and slowly, the coffin with the remains of Mr Mutangadura was lowered down.
From a distance, someone could not hold her anguish and wailed.
In no time, another one joined in and more people started crying.
Society has constructed a narrative, that men do not cry, or maybe they do not cry in public.
But on this day, particularly when the first shovel of soil was thrown on top of the coffin, some men shed tears.
Grief and a sombre atmosphere engulfed the Goromonzi community during the burial of Mr Mutangadura.
His family was seated at the front row.
They cried, silently, tears streamed down their faces.
Most faces were visibly displaying intense inner grief, anguish and anger.
In the crowd, someone started a song “ndimi makauraya hazvina mhosva….”
The public address (PA) system was silenced as more people joined in singing the song.
They sang for a good five minutes before another one from the east side corner started singing another song, popular at funeral and burial events, “tipeiwo nguva yekuchema gamba redu.”
This reporter later learnt that most of the people who were singing and dancing were his employees as well as long time neighbours.
The emotional support the huge crowd gave to the bereaved family, the huge send off, testified that the late Mutangadura was indeed a man of the people.
“It hurts to lose such an influential person. He was like a father to me. He was my advisor and always stood by me.
“I stayed in United Kingdom for 23 years but he gave me advice to come back and take agriculture as a business. I listened to him and came. We worked closely and well together. He was such a good man. He was that man who wanted to uplift everyone’s livelihoods.
“Now Joseph is gone, we are in great pain. A huge gap has been created, which we will never be able to fill. This is a huge loss to us as a family. I do not have enough words to explain the pain we have now.
“To those who did this, we are aware that God will do His will. We also have trust in our police and soon the culprits will be arrested. We have faith. To Joseph, you left us in pain, go well, and rest in eternal peace,” said Mr David Mtoko who is an in-law to the late Mutangadura.
Even business people came to pay their last respects to the late Joseph Mutangadura.
Mr Tinashe Mutarisi of the popular Nash Paints said he learnt a lot from the late businessman.
“As a businessman, I learnt a lot from Mr Mutangadura.
But what I saw today is amazing. The whole community is here, they came in their numbers to pay their last respects to Mr Mutangadura. This shows that he was indeed a man of the people.
“You see, the crowd sang and danced today. He was surely a community pillar. To the bereaved family, I say find comfort in the Lord. I urge them to trust in the police who are investigating this case. I also urge them to continue praying,” Mr Mutarisi said.
Popular musician, Saint Floew real name Tawanda Mambo said the death of Mr Mutangadura is a huge blow to the arts industry.
“We are pained as musicians. He was a father figure to us. He supported us as musicians in a big way,” he said.
“We were always coming to do live shows at his hideout and the shows were always good.
“We just hope the suspects will be brought to book.”
The community spoke highly of Mr Mutangadura, with some saying he could not afford to see someone being treated unfairly.
“When I heard that Mr Mutangadura had died, ndakarwadziwa kusvika pabhonzo. He was a man of the people. Mr Mutangadura was a humble man who treated everyone with respect”, said Kudzai Ndlovu from Goromonzi.
Another Goromonzi resident said Mr Mutangadura took care of many vulnerable people.
“He even paid fees for a lot of children at our local primary school. We also have a netball team here and whenever we needed assistance and approach him, we would be helped. We have lost our pillar as Goromonzi and we are hurt. We only say rest in peace Musoni,” said Mrs Locardia Banda.
Youth Empowerment, Development and Vocational Training Minister Tinoda Machakaire said the nation is mourning.
“He is my relative and his death is huge loss to us. Mutangadura had a heart of gold. He helped everyone. He was always ready to help.
“We always spent time together. What I am and have today is because of this man who is sleeping here and I am thankful and humbled. Now let me say, there are a lot who are saying things that they do not know in relation to his death.
“All I can say to the late Mr Mutangadura is this, ‘you are the one who knows who did this to you, please lead us to them’. They should be arrested in no time.
“To the bereaved family, please remain calm and peaceful, those who did this to Mr Mutangadura will be brought to book and they will tell us why they killed him,” he said.
Mr Mutangadura was killed at his home at Lisheen Farm on Sunday August 17, 2025 during the night.
Preliminary investigations revealed that seven heavily armed people broke into his house and went to his bedroom where they broke his bedroom door to gain access.
It is said Mr Mutangadura was sleeping in his bedroom when the attackers came in and shot him in the stomach.
The suspects then ransacked the house before they fled the scene.
Mr Mutangadura was rushed to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead.
The suspects are still at large and police have since launched a manhunt to bring them to book.
