Veteran Doctor Msimanga to be laid to rest today at Lady Stanley Cemetery

VETERAN medical practitioner Dr Barbatus Msimanga, who died last Friday after a long illness, will be buried at Lady Stanley Cemetery today.

He was 83 and is survived by his wife, Goodness, three children and several grandchildren.
“My father’s body will lie in State at the family home in Hillside. A morning service will be held at St Mary’s Basilica tomorrow morning (today) before we bury him at the Lady Stanley Cemetery,” his son and family spokesperson, Mr Dumezweni Msimanga, said.

Messages of condolence have continued to pour in on social media platforms following the death of the veteran medical doctor.

“This is very sad. He was my family doctor. He would not rush through his consultations. He would take his time with his clients and one would always feel better after a consultation with him. ‘Go well Doc, you served your community well and you will surely be missed,’” wrote Nomalanga Moyo on Facebook.

Lutho Mthimkhulu said: “So sad. Dr Msimanga was such a good medical practitioner, particularly with the elderly. He would listen and explain abadala baze bazwisise (until his elderly patients understood him). What a loss. Kalale ngokuthula (may his soul rest in peace).

“He served Bulawayo and the greater Matabeleland region well. He will always be remembered.”
Josephine Mnkandla said she will miss the long conversations she had with the late Dr Msimanga during consultations.

“He was our family doctor. I will miss those chats when I went to his office for consultations. He was more than just a doctor and cared for his patients,” said Mnkandla.

Highlanders Football Club committee member Kindman Ndlovu also paid tribute, saying: “Lala ngoxolo (rest in peace) Dr Msimanga. You were not only a great doctor to our people but also a caring father and torch bearer to us abasakhulayo (the youth) in the healthcare sector.”

Sibonile Madoda described Dr Msimanga as a champion in medical health service delivery.
“Sleep well my doctor. You listened and solved my health challenges. Lala ngoxolo (rest in peace). Bulawayo will greatly miss you and your patience in the health services,” said Madoda.

Zimpapers human resources officer Mr Mbonisi Sibanda described Dr Msimanga, who for a long time served as the company’s doctor, as compassionate healer who went far beyond the consulting room.

“He cared for our staff, our families, and our souls offering medical expertise with a humanity that was rare and remarkable,” said Mr Sibanda.

“His legacy lives not in records or prescriptions, but in the countless lives he quietly transformed. We are forever grateful. Rest in peace, Doctor Msimanga.”

Veteran journalist Lenox Mhlanga also shared insights into the late Dr Msimanga’s life and background.

“This is particularly sad for me because he was our son’s doctor of choice. Very patient and knowledgeable. Msimanga’s father was a traditional healer, so was his great-grandfather, famous for being part of Mzilikazi’s close advisors. He came from a long line of healers,” said Mhlanga.