adminThe Herald, May 30, 1988
A PLUMTREE father and his son who had not seen each other since 1976 when the 11-year-old boy left the country to join the liberation struggle were reunited at the weekend at the Zanu (PF) headquarters in Harare.
Mathias Joel Moyo decided he had seen enough of the atrocities committed by the regime’s soldiers so he walked to Botswana to the Zanu (PF) office.
From there he was sent to Zambia then to Mozambique, but he was too young to fight so he joined the other refugee children there.
When he returned to Zimbabwe in 1980, he went to his old home, but the village was no longer there because it had been destroyed by the regime’s soldiers.
He then had someone write letters for him to the old address hoping that someone might forward them to his father or relatives if any of them were still alive.
He never received a reply and meanwhile he was just beginning his Grade One at Chindunduma Primary School in Shamva.
When he completed Grade Seven last year he needed a birth certificate and that is when he approached Zanu (PF) with his problem.
The party contacted the Department of Social Welfare and with the help of the police his father was finally traced to his new home in the Plumtree area.
LESSONS FOR TODAY
Determination drives people to achieve things that may seem impossible. The young man in the story walked all the way to Botswana because he was determined to join the war to end the atrocities committed by the colonial regime.
When confronted with a challenge or a programme, it is important to seek help. The young man was reunited with his father because he sought assistance in getting a birth certificate.
We should not lose hope.
Online Reporter