Chronicle Editor
Meluleki Moyo, Sunday News Correspondent
NOT deterred by impaired vision, she applies compensatory strategy, using touch and hand-reading to overcome this diminishing ability.
Flaunting a willing spirit but with weak flesh, she calls them by name – Zokoza, Ngamula, Method and so forth, before breaking into a hymn:
“Jesu Mhlawuli, Ngiphiwe nguwe, Izono zisusiwe, Zenziwa zamhlophe (Jesus paid it all, All to him I owe; Sin had left a crimson stain, He washed it white as snow).”
With a seemingly revived memory, she suddenly pauses and asks, “UMhlawuli umntanomntanami, libuye laye yini?”
That was one of the numerous and often-enlightening encounters with the departed Gogo Muvha Ndlovu, affectionately known as uNaEssie, one of the world’s oldest people at the time of her demise.
From horse-drawn carriages to space exploration and Artificial Intelligence (AI), she recently took a peaceful sleep at a remarkable age of 112.
Born at Sigauke Village koNkosikazi, in Bubi District, Matabeleland North Province on the eve of the First World War, November 11, 1911 to be precise, she saw her youthful years at Gwamba in Nkayi District.
Her marriage to Sikarioti Ndlovu, following their wedding on July 19, 1953, brought to the world, five children, two boys and three girls, with other generations to come.
Taking care of God’s temple through living a life of godliness and virtue, the departed super-centenarian surpassed the expectancy in Psalms 90 verse 10;
“Our days may come to 70 years, or 80, if our strength endures; yet the best of them are but trouble and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away”, resultantly attaining the promise in Proverbs 9 verse 11;
“By wisdom you will live many days, and years will be added to your life”.
In an interview with the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) as she celebrated one of her triple-digit-birthdays in the spring of 2022 and of course, a constructive takeaway for the contemporary Generation Z, which goes synonymous with umjolo, as well as drugs and substance abuse; she remarked:
“UJehova yiso isibane sami, sengifike liminyaka ngokumethemba langokunakekela ithempeli lakhe, elingumzimba wami. Ngidla ukudla okwakha umzimba, njalo lokho ngazalwayo, izidakamizwa aziwazi umzimba wami… Kukanti ukuhlakanipha komuntu yikumesaba uJehova”.
The afforestation specialist who just didn’t grow old but also grew trees during the days of her life, was a devoted member of the Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) Church, having been baptised into that fellowship at Jiba Seventh Day Adventist Church during the Federal decade, in 1957.
With an emotional connection with Hymns 136 and 294 in the Seventh Day Adventist Church Hymnal, as Jesus led her night and day, she was covered with His life, as she witnessed for Christ and fought against false teaching to foster godliness.
Her prolonged life was arguably lived in the ways of the Lord, no wonder why she was blessed to see her grey hairs, as God allowed her to declare His strength and power to her generation and those to come.
Under an Epitaph inscribed, “Awaiting His Second Coming”, her mortal remains lie eMajiji, koNkosikazi in Matabeleland North, as her soul awaits that one-on-one encounter with her maker.
Lest we forget, koNkosikazi resonates with the echoes of history, as it is the custodian to the remains of Queen Lozikeyi, one of the major forces behind the Second Umvukela that culminated in the country’s independence.
As Paul yearns in 2 Timothy 4 verse 7, the hope is, there is in store for okaDawu, the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous and just Judge will award to her on that resurrection morning and not only to her, but also to all who have longed for His second coming.
Kwazise, kuzobongwa lamaqhawe, aphiwe imiqhele, abusenjalonjalo leNkosi yaMakhosi, ikakhulu labo abathi ebutsheni babo, bahlakanipha bamkheth’ uJesu!
Set to live forever, the name Muvha Ndlovu will serve as a testament to the power of faith, resilience and determination. It will forever be a source of inspiration to many who will, through their lifetime, mourn the loss of a true treasure and celebrate that extraordinary life.
With the curtain having come down on her earthly journey, she is survived by three children and leaving behind a progeny of 171 grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.
Meluleki Moyo can be contacted through email, [email protected]
Bongani Ndlovu