Trust launched in honour of Richard Rugube

Richard was electrocuted on Febru­ary 3, 2011. He was 17 at the time of his death.
Speaking during the launch of the trust at St George’s College in Harare last Saturday, Mutemererwa said the trust would focus on advancing Richard’s interests that were in wildlife conservation, the preserva­tion of nature and history.

“Richard was a nature loving per­son and had a lot of interest in his­tory. He was always in the library research­ing on wildlife, nature and history.
“Here at school, he was a member of the Wildlife Club and the Interna­tional Climate Champions Club,” she said.

The launch of the trust was pre­ceded by the planting of a tree — the red mahogany, which incidentally is the tree of the year.
Last Saturday was also the National Tree Planting Day so the launch of the trust coincided with the impor­tant national day.
Mutemererwa is the chairperson of the trust while her deputy is Florence Ziumbe, a legal expert.

Other board members are Pastor Tommy Deuschle of the Celebration Church, financial advisor Wadzanai Mutemererwa, communator Semuke­lisiwe Mapetere, communica­tor Stu­art Ingram, Environmentalist Ngoni Mararike, management and IT con­sultant Winston Makamure, sen­ior journalist Victoria Ruzvidzo, and administrator and communicator Madrine Chiku.

Richard was accepted at St Georges College in 2008 and had immediately distinguished himself as a nature lov­ing individual with an outgoing per­sonality and had visited prominent local, regional and international his­torical sites such as the famous Robben Island where Nelson Man­dela was incarcerated for 27 years.

Locally, his trip to Mana Pools in Mashonaland Central where they had a time of their life with other mem­bers of the St George’s wildlife club has remained a painful reminder of the nature loving individual he was to his club and classmates.

This was corroborated by their tes­timonies during the launch of the trust.
Richard was also involved with the rugby and cricket teams where he was a valuable player.
Mutemererwa implored Richard’s colleagues to take care of the tree just as Richard would have loved and to remember him for his love for nature.