The Sunday News
Robin Muchetu, Senior Life Reporter
GOGO Rita Zondi Ndlovu, a nonagenarian fondly known as MaZambe from St Joseph’s area in Kezi died at the age of 97 last week and was buried on Saturday in the same area.
According to her grandson Father Innocent Makawule Ndlovu the parish priest at St Anne’s Brunapeg Mission in Plumtree, she left behind a legacy of selflessness as she sent her children to the liberation struggle to fight for the country.
“Gogo was passionate about the struggle, she allowed her sons to go and fight for the country. Two of them died in combat, one in Lupane another one in Zambia,” he said.
Gogo MaZambe was born to Mganyulwa Kumile Ndlovu and Matamana Tjimba Ncube in 1920 in Silokwe. She got married to Mafika Makawule in 1940 under Headman Mpamadzi under Chief Malaba.
Gogo MaZambe was jailed for 30 days at Kezi Police Station for resisting colonial policies as demanded by the Native Commissioner commonly known as Nkomo’hlaba.
Fr Ndlovu said her release from detention only came unexpectedly when she was told to accompany another fellow female prisoner who happened to be a close relative of Gogo MaZambe that had given birth while in police custody.
Mr Mafika Makawule Ndlovu, the husband of the late Gogo MaZambe died in South Africa in 1961 attempting to stop a fight involving Amambaca and the Zulu people.
Fr Ndlovu said Gogo MaZambe will forever be remembered for her hard work in making sure that her family did not starve as she was a keen farmer.
She was confirmed by the Bishop of Bulawayo The Right Reverend Adolph Schmdit CMM, in 1957. She later became a full member of St Anne’s
Women’s Association and surprised many as she could still read the Holy Bible at old age.
She is survived by four children, 36 grandchildren and 30 great-grandchildren.
