Online Reporter
Kudakwashe Mugari
Deputy National Editor
THOUSANDS of mourners thronged Chivi, Masvingo Province, yesterday to pay their last respects to Alice Clever Pote, renowned businesswoman and sister to Pote Holdings founder Anthony Clever Pote, in a grand farewell attended by senior Government officials.
Business came to a standstill as mourners from as far as Dubai gathered in Chivi to pay their last respects.
In honour of her generosity and wish, the family slaughtered 10 beasts, 500 chickens and 50 pigs to feed mourners, who came to celebrate the life of a rural girl who lived her dream and became a model businesswoman.
Despite being born in a family of entrepreneurs, Alice took a gamble and ventured into the male-dominated bus industry and made it to the top.
She died on Monday at the age of 33 due to acute respiratory failure and pulmonary embolism.
The usually quiet Marecha Village in Takavarasha, Chivi, came to a standstill as the funeral attracted the who’s who of Zimbabwe, including dignitaries from abroad.
They included Cde Patrick Mnangagwa, representing the First Family; Owen Ncube, Minister of State for Midlands Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Masvingo Provincial Affairs and Devolution Minister Ezra Chadzamira, Health and Child Care Deputy Minister Sleiman Kwidini, businesspeople from Dubai and South Africa, captains of industry and CEOs of local banks along with other senior Government officials, the business community and Members of Parliament.
Minister Chadzamira said Alice’s death was a bitter pill to swallow.
“Alice had put Masvingo Province on the map with her good deeds. Today we have thousands of people coming here to Chivi, which is a true reflection of how good and generous Alice was towards others. She is truly our heroine. May her soul rest in peace,” he said.
Minister Owen Ncube hailed Alice’s benevolence.
“We are in Iin Chivi because Alice was a good person and we worked with her very well in Midlands. She helped the party and everyone financially. Aitirerutsira mitoro yedu,” he said.
Alice was the founder of Stallion Cruise bus company.
Pote Holdings is a vast business empire spanning transport and logistics, hospitality, mining, retail, construction, earthmoving, micro-finance and agriculture.
Her brother, Anthony, said the death of his sister will continue to haunt him .
“I started this empire you all admire today with Alice. Now it hurts me that she won’t be here with me to see our business flourish. It is like Moses who did everything with the Israelites, but failed to enter Canaan,” he said.
Alice is survived by three children.
