Online Reporter
Trust Khosa
Zimpapers Arts, Entertainment Hub
A SOMBRE atmosphere enveloped Moonlight Funeral Assurance and Service Parlour along Herbert Chitepo Avenue in Harare yesterday as mourners gathered to bid farewell to Eddymore Mafuwe Junior, a devoted fan of Jah Prayzah.
At 23, Junior was beloved by many, and the chapel overflowed with mourners who came to pay their respects. Tragically, he lost his life last month while travelling to a Jah Prayzah concert in Canada with his friend, Anotida Kimberly Maziriri.
The two were en route to Edmonton to experience the live performance as part of Jah Prayzah’s widely celebrated “Ndini Mukudzei Tour.” While their remains have finally returned home, the pain of their loss deepened this week when Jah Prayzah delivered a heartfelt eulogy in memory of both fans.
On Tuesday night, he visited the Maziriri family and poured out his heart. He also extended the same favour to Junior’s family.
At the Moonlight Funeral Assurance and Service parlour, the grief was palpable, with mourners struggling to cope with the profound loss. The youngsters broke down, while the pain of the elderly was strongly felt.
“I can’t believe he is gone; he was young and had a bright future,” wailed a mourner who was touched by Junior’s death. Another mourner, who collapsed after body viewing, stated, “We have been robbed of this youngster. I can’t believe he is gone just like that.”
Family friend and counsellor, Pastor Albert of Glory Days International Ministries, where Junior was a member, urged the family to find comfort in the Lord. “He was a fine young man who has been taken away from us. His death is a loss to Glory Days International Ministries, where he was an active member.
“Such times are hard to bear for the family, and we pray that the Lord comforts them. He will be remembered for being a God-fearing son who always worshipped the Lord wherever he was,” he stated.
The pastor, who had known Junior closely since his days back home, noted that the boy was also intelligent. “We have lost a bright son, but as I said earlier, the Lord will comfort us. We are to find healing from the Lord who brought us together,” he added.
With Junior’s body set to be buried today in Mhondoro, fellow students, relatives and parents who were visibly distraught were still grieving. The same applies to Maziriri, who was also adored by many of her peers, as judged by the massive feedback they garnered online. Following the intervention of the Office of the President, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Social Affairs, Zimbabwe Embassy staff in Canada, Simon Masaka, Permanent Secretary for Social Affairs, Nyaradzo Funeral Services, ZIMRA, the Ministry of Health and Child Care and the Registrar’s Office, the two bodies were finally repatriated home. A fundraising initiative was also held online by the friends of the Mafuwe and Maziriri families.
The diaspora community also commiserated with the two families, as they went out of their way to mobilise fans for the repatriation of the remains back home.
As a true influencer, Jah Prayzah went out of his way and showed maturity beyond his years by comforting both families.
He will be best remembered as a caring and responsible celebrity who respects his fans in both hard and trying times.
