Raymond Jaravaza in Daluka, Lupane
HUNDREDS of mourners, including family, friends, church members, neighbours and Daluka villagers, gave the late Ms Saneliswe Magagula a befitting send-off during her burial on Monday afternoon in Lupane.
Ms Magagula passed away in a helicopter crash that also claimed the lives of businessman and philanthropist Mr Wicknell Chivayo, his wife Lucy Muteke Chivayo and two pilots after the helicopter they were travelling in crashed in Marondera last Wednesday.
She is survived by a 12-year-old daughter.
Some of the mourners, a majority of them members of the apostolic sect Johanne Masowe Chishanu, travelled from Marondera and Harare for the burial in Lupane.
Madzibaba Stanely Kazingizi described Ms Magagula as a devoted member of the church.
“She was so dedicated to the church that she travelled for conventions in Kenya, Botswana and South Africa, among other places. Her passing away is a loss to the church and her family. She was a breadwinner who made sure that her relatives of school-going age have their school fees paid and uniforms are bought on time,” said Madzibaba Kazingizi.
He said the church had made provisions for the upkeep of Ms Magagula’s daughter.
On Sunday afternoon, the body of the late former Zimbabwe National Army member made a brief stopover at her family home in Entumbane, where other neighbours and family members joined the rest of the mourners for the trip to Lupane.
Speaker after speaker described the late Magagula as a jovial and generous woman who took care of her extended family.
Mr Lamulani Ncube, the family spokesperson, said they were at a loss for words following the untimely death of Ms Magagula.
“We are at a loss for words, the whole family is devastated. Sanelisiwe was 32 years of age and was born in a family of two boys and two girls. She was the last born,” said Mr Ncube.
“It’s hard for us to accept that she is gone and for me it’s the hardest because I was the first to receive the news that Sanelisiwe is no more and I had to inform the other family members,” he said.
