Chronicle Editor
Flora Fadzai Sibanda, [email protected]
HEART-WRENCHING sobs filled a local funeral parlour as the family and friends of the late Khulu Thomas Ndlovu (104) bid him farewell.
His bereaved church members sang and danced as if it were their last day on earth as a way of honouring his memory.
Speaker after speaker spoke glowingly about Khulu Ndlovu while others cracked jokes they would share with him.
Some sang his favourite songs and referred to him using his nickname, “Mavirinka”.
His nephew Mr Stephen Nxumalo (72) said they had lost a great member of the family as they all looked up to him for advice.
“We used to call him Mavirinka because of the way one would coil their body and move around after a beating from Khulu. He didn’t like people who were wayward so he would beat the nonsensical attitude out of your body whenever people complained about you.
“But we still loved him despite his tendency of beating us up and we would joke with him and play with him whenever we got the chance to be with him,” said Mr Nxumalo.
He said Khulu Ndlovu loved preaching at his church and would always advise anyone facing challenges to turn to the Lord and seek His refuge.
“We’re all going to miss him because not only was he our father but he was also a mother to most of the children in the family.
“He always put the family first before anyone else and would tell us about the importance of loving each other as family and having each other’s back,” said Mr Nxumalo.
He said his uncle was hardworking and a jack of all trades.
Khulu Ndlovu, he said, enjoyed fixing things at his home on his own as he believed that was the only way to achieve perfection.
“If there’s anyone who wasn’t picky when it came to food, it was him. He would eat everything that’s edible and wouldn’t complain. But of course his favourite was meat and he would always ask where his meat was when a plate without meat was presented to him,” said Mr Nxumalo.
He said Khulu Ndlovu would be sorely missed.
Khulu Ndlovu was born on April 1, 1919 in Bubi District and was the only surviving sibling in his family.
He died last week in Victoria Falls where he was now staying with one of his grandchildren after battling with illnesses related to old age.
Khulu Ndlovu is survived by 12 children, 24 grandchildren, 17 great grandchildren and six great great grandchildren.
Online Reporter