Webb laid to rest

Kusile Madlela Sports Reporter
BULAWAYO deputy mayor Gift Banda yesterday defended the decision to bury former Highlanders, Masvingo United and Njube Sundowns midfielder Maphias Webb at Lady Stanley Cemetery saying he had dedicated his life to uplifting the lives of people in his community.

Webb, 38, who was buried yesterday, collapsed and died due to suffocation caused by overgrown lungs after playing in a social soccer match at Bango grounds in Mpopoma on Sunday.

The decision to bury him at Lady Stanley ignited controversy as the cemetery is reserved for Bulawayo’s luminaries that have served the city with distinction over a sustained period of time.

One must also embody the spirit of dedication, camaraderie, strength and goodness that residents of Bulawayo want so badly to celebrate to qualify for burial at the shrine.

Critics did not think he merited to be honoured with a civic burial, but Banda said the turnout at the cemetery was testament of Webb’s “good works”.

Former Highlanders’ coaches Rahman Gumbo and Methembe Ndlovu, who is also the Bantu Rovers boss, attended the burial.

“One needs not to look further to see that this young man was there for his community. People have come in their numbers to pay their last respects and they’re certainly saddened by his untimely departure. The young man managed to impact the lives of people he interacted with on a daily basis, regardless of their age,” said Banda in a graveside interview.

He said it was unfortunate that some people sought to use the bereavement to push their own agendas by discrediting the contribution Webb made to the community.

“There are some individuals who would want to raise unnecessary arguments over why he has been laid to rest at Lady Stanley to suit their selfish agendas. If someone means a lot to a certain society and isn’t relevant to the next person, it doesn’t make them less important. We, as a society should respect the contribution Webb made to the people of Mpopoma and elsewhere in the city,” he said.

Banda said the people who attended the burial had a connection with Webb and that alone was enough evidence that he did lots of good works.

“No one can stand here and say this man hasn’t done any good in his community as the number of people who’ve come to bid him farewell would suggest otherwise. There are a lot of youngsters from Mpopoma playing football whom Webb helped and their lives will never be the same because of that attention he gave them. We should fix our sights on the positive things that he left behind and desist from trying to undermine his sacrifices,” Banda said.

At the time of his death, Webb was assistant coach at Bulawayo City, a club sponsored by the local authority of which Banda is deputy mayor.

He also once captained the now defunct Njube Sundowns, which was owned by Banda, during his playing days.

The decision to bury Webb at Lady Stanley appears to have clearly violated longstanding council criterion on bestowing such an honour.

According to recent council minutes, one should have also resided in Bulawayo for a continuous period of 20 years as a ratepayer to be considered for burial at the cemetery.

Webb is hardly known outside the circle of soccer players that rubbed shoulders with him during his playing career and short coaching stint.

Webb joins former Dream Team stars and Highlanders’ greats Mercedes Sibanda, Adam Ndlovu and Benjamin Nkonjera, as well as Melusi Nkiwane and Makheyi Nyathi that lie buried at Lady Stanley.

Other luminaries buried at Lady Stanley Cemetery include former Zipra commander Lookout Masuku, former Matabeleland North governor Welshman Mabhena and former Matabeleland Zambezi Water Project campaigner Arnold Payne, among others.