The Sunday News
Sifelani Tsiko
Zimbabwe presidential spokesman George Charamba’s most poignant moments were touching thank yous to people who had gathered to bid farewell to his wife — Idaishe Olivia recently in Mutorashanga, about 100km north — west of the capital.
As he took to the stage and gave a solemn eulogy to his wife, thanking all for supporting the Charamba and Chengu families, he oozed out a strong presence of mind to put things, tributes and gratitude in the proper African tradition perspective.
There was outpouring of grief following the death of his wife, but as he stood to thank people who had come to support him, the Charamba and Chengu families, it was his rare ability to blend his speech with totemism that collapsed the weightiest emotion into a single note.
His speech sprinkled with mitupo/izitemo — totenism drew one of the biggest roars on the day as this connected people with a unifying tone.
Mitupo refers to an animal, part of the animal, bird or snake that a person is connected to, according to veteran cultural writer Pathisa Nyathi.
Says Nyathi: “It defines and identifies one’s family line. Mitupo/Izitemo describes one’s spiritual identity. It is some kind of spiritual code. It defines one’s ancestry, blood or genetic line. It thus can be said to be one’s spiritual DNA or ID.
“Mitupo, Izitemo are underpinned by some philosophy which posits that there is some unity within nature. Human beings, in their evolving form, are intrinsically linked to the earth and its flora and fauna. African philosophy perceives humans as comprising both material and spiritual components, with the latter being more potent.”
As Charamba spoke in a kind, thoughtful and passionate way, thanking people who had come to grieve with his family, the use of mitupo/izitemo resonated well with the mourners and this ticked almost all the boxes of the personality’s touch with the history and traditions of his country.
It gave him an extended ovation and exhibited certain attributes uncommon with people who hold senior positions in our clime. This made a significant difference for me.
“I’m truly humbled by the overwhelming support we have got from the senior and high ranking members of the defence forces,” he said. “Idaishe was saluted by all generals. She was a good woman, she was a great mother. This is the love that she radiated around her.”
“Shoko, Mukanya (Zimbabwe Defence Forces Commander General Constantino Chiwenga) tinokutendai zvikuru norubetsero rwamakatipa…ndinotenda Mhofu, mukoma wangu vaChihuri (Commissioner General of the Zimbabwe Republic Police — Augustine Chihuri), ndotendawo mukoma wangu muyera Moyo — Perrence Shiri (Air Force of Zimbabwe commander Air Marshall) ndozotenda maMbeva — vaBonyongwe (Central Intelligence Organisation director-general Retired Major-General Happyton Bonyongwe navaZimondi (Commissioner-General of Prisons and Correctional Services of Zimbabwe, Retired Major General Paradzai Zimondi.”
Charamba even recalled how Air Marshall Shiri would recall his Mhofu totem praises in a poetic way.
At any given point, his expression of gratitude was punctuated by totemic praises to all who rendered support to him and the bereaving families. Journalists from across all platforms all came to mourn with him and his family.
At the funeral, I felt strongly that it was the best vote of thanks I have ever had from PS Charamba in years. He was quite alert and sensitive to the political leadership that all came to the funeral.
The presidential spokesman delivered his core message in a way that showed someone who has recognised that you must place the system above yourself and use power cautiously and only for the advancement human dignity and the interest of Zimbabwe. I can attest that these attributes indeed defined the essential George Charamba. He was honest as he was humble.
His humility was particularly telling when he thanked everyone from President Mugabe and his entire leadership, the party, the people, the Chengu and Charamba family, friends, the media, the legal and medical fraternity, business sector, parastatals to even his children, and all who grieved with the family.
He fused his address with humour. And very few people have the temperament to absorb pain and gloss it over with humour like him. Another area where Charamba’s distinction shone through was his abiding faith to have his wife buried at his in-laws place.
He stated boldly that it was his personal choice and that he did it for sake of his children — both for his wife’s child Tonderai and the ones he sired with Idaishe. It’s not an easy issue, but he handled it well and even openly told the media to write about it. He said, if he had laid his wife in Buhera — his rural home, it will be difficult for Tonderai to pay homage to his mother whenever he felt like.
“I really wanted to maintain the unity of the family,” he said. “It was my personal decision.”
“I see Tonde as my first born. He is my son,” he said as he drew one of the biggest roars for his extended tribute to his wife.
Another aspect I got to see at the funeral was his down-to-earth brutally frank disposition to issues.
His unwavering support for President Mugabe and his leadership, unflagging stand on the land reform issue and national interest. PS is unapologetic about his stand on the land issue, his respect for the leadership and hierarchy and for all who put the Zimbabwe interest first.
“I want to thank my brother from Ghana Baffour Ankomah and his wife for coming here to mourn with us. He was the first editor to stand for our cause when the rest of the international media was very hostile to us when we took our land back,” he said.
“Baffour was the first to say ‘Mugabe is Right’ on the front cover of the New African magazine. This became our rallying cry for Zanu-PF and Zimbabwe in defence of the land reform. His wife is the one who sew the African clothing designs both for me and my wife. I love African print and I want to say thank you to you my brother and your wife.”
PS Charamba also poured glowing praise to SARDC founding director Phyllis Johnson for his unwavering support to the African liberation struggle and for working closely with his wife Idaishe in the last few months before her death.
“I want to thank this Canadian girl who has an African heart. There has been great relations between Phyllis and the struggle processes . . . I want to thank you.”
The list of takeaways from Charamba’s speech is quite long.
His commitment to his family, his drive to support the less fortunate and his ability to interact with people from all rank and file, shows the softer and unusually inspirational side of Mhofu.
The outpouring of remembrances that went well beyond normal courtesies and the scores of people that attended the funeral all show, that PS Charamba fully connects with the people despite the sharp differences that exist with comrades in the information and media fraternity.
I respect the conviction and self-determination he has displayed throughout his remarkable life as he broke barriers, defied expectations and stood firmly for what he believes in. He is a repository of knowledge and likes bantering with the Queen’s language and yet he remains undivorced from his mother tongue.
Whenever, he interacts with people, he teaches research, encourages eloquence and respect for the views of others. Anyone who gets the chance to argue and debate with him, can benefit immensely from the positive impact of his debating skills.
A wordsmith with passion for detail. His passion lights up to new ideas. Ideas are the buzz words of his life. If anything, his wife’s funeral had so many life lessons.
From Charamba’s speech and testimonies given by people from all walks of life, the little but enduring takeaways from the funeral are — Let us learn to like each other, to be friends, to celebrate and enjoy our differences and to do so on the basis of common sense, respect and tolerance for each other and everyone else, as equals.
But above everything else, the love of ourselves as Zimbabweans and as Africans is key to our survival.
This was a funeral of a sister, a mother, a wife, an aunt and a mentor and our first thoughts are inevitably with you, Charamba on the loss of your dear wife. His wife had a big heart that enabled her to reach out in quite unexpected ways to both to her children, relatives and friends.
Idaishe has bequeathed to us a better place to live. For those around her, she created space to live in relationship and not out of relationship. And, in memory of the woman who helped transform his life, Charamba says he will always treasure Idaishe and pledged to keep on doing what she was doing to bind the Charamba and Chengu families together. He said he has confidence that her sterling record of accomplishment will inspire future generations. May God bless the memory of Idaishe Olivia Chengu Charamba.
– Zimpapers Syndication
