Ndebele novelist burial on today

Bongani Ndlovu, Chronicle Reporter
RENOWNED writer and novelist Isaac Mpofu, who died last week, will be buried today at his farm in Worringham on the outskirts of Bulawayo.

Mpofu (90), the writer of the 1972 classic Ndebele novel Wangithembisa Lami died last Friday after a long illness.

Recently Mpofu penned Sithini IsiNdebele, which is about the IsiNdebele language and usage which was published by Radiant Publishing and the Barbra Clara Makhalisa Literary Trust (BCMNLT).

Family spokesperson Thenjiwe Ndlovu said a service will be held in the morning at Brethren in Christ Church, Bulawayo.

“The family is gathered at his house in Sunninghill suburb.

This is where the procession will start off tomorrow (today) morning at around 7AM.

The service will be held at the Brethren in Christ Church along Masotsha Ndlovu

Avenue and Fort Street.

After the service, as a family we shall go and bury him at his farm in Warrigham,” said Ms Ndlovu.

Mpofu was born on April 2, 1932 at Malole in Filabusi, Matabeleland South.

He started schooling at the age of 10.

A devout Brethren in Christ (BICC) member and music conductor Mr Mpofu completed teacher training in 1949 at Matopo Mission.

He taught at Filabusi School before proceeding to Goromonzi Secondary School where he passed Form Four in 1953 and was then appointed headmaster in charge of 18 teachers at Mzinyathini School in Mzingwane district until 1957.

He started writing and his first novel was Akusoka Lingelasici which won first literary prize at that time.

Mr Mpofu completed A-levels studies through distance learning before embarking on BA degree studies with Unisa, later going to the University of Zululand, South Africa for a year to complete his BA degree.

Besides being an accomplished teacher, Mr Mpofu held several top positions in the Ministry of Education including being Education Officer and later Regional Director of Education in Matabeleland South and Bulawayo before going into retirement.

Mr Mpofu and his late wife were blessed with three children.

Some of the books that were penned by Mr Mpofu include, Izenzo Zabantu: Amaqalingana Ezindaba (1985) with Wangithembisa Lami being a set book for the Ndebele language in high school.

– @bonganinkunzi