The Sunday News
Bruce Ndlovu, Sunday News Reporter
THE family of the late liberation war fighter and Cool Crooners music band member Cde Timothy Sekane (84), who passed away on Thursday, is struggling to bury him, with the body of the struggle icon languishing in the mortuary four days after he passed on as his family cannot afford to move him from Mpilo Central Hospital’s morgue.
Cde Sekani was one of the first cadres to be deployed by Zapu, getting his training in Zambia. Cde Sekani joined the liberation struggle in 1961, crossing the border to join the liberation war effort in Zambia, a country he made his second home, even settling there for 17 years after the country’s liberation.
Despite his illustrious struggle history and legendary status as a musician, his daughter Sheilar Sibve (64), revealed that they were struggling to bury her father, as they did not have sufficient funds to first take him from the mortuary and deliver him to a suitable funeral parlour.
She said that Cde Sekani, who had severe head burns from his time in the war, had died because of chronic anaemia and severe dehydration which necessitated a blood transfusion. The liberation fighter and musician had fallen ill last month after performing at a show with his beloved Cool Crooners band.
“Last month they had a musical show and people had a great time again. I did not expect that after that show he would get sick and die. After that show he came back and started not feeling well. I had sent my son to get him but he refused and said that he could not leave his wife because there was no one to look after her. When I was told that he was seriously ill last Saturday we came to Mpilo Hospital to look at his condition and he was very sick. He also had ulcers in the lungs because he could not even swallow anything. The doctor said the burns from the war also impacted his health,” she said.
Ms Sibve said the family was struggling to bury her father as they did not have sufficient funds to do so.
“We are coming from a funeral parlour and the situation now is not very pleasing. We have no money and I as a widow alongside his wife, who is now also a widow, are struggling to put together the money to send this hero off. There’s nothing we can do. We are on pensions and there’s nowhere to get money.
“The other members of the Cool Crooners went to seek help for us to give him a befitting send-off but no one was forthcoming. Instead they got a quotation for him to be buried at the Provincial Heroes Acre in Nkulumane. Unfortunately because of the cost of those things we have no official date when he will be buried. We really need help.”
For the late liberation fighter to be buried at the Provincial Heroes Acre, the family will have to purchase 10 bags of pit sand, eight bags of river sand, concrete stones, 215 building bricks, 12 iron bars and five bags of cement. They are also supposed to employ their own builder.
“He was really a good dad. We will really miss him. Ever since I lost my mother he had been a pillar that we can rely on and now he had been taken away from us. He was a very lively character, very sociable and could get along with almost anyone,” she said. Cde Sekani is survived by a wife and two children. Mourners are gathered at N45 in Mzilikazi.
A member of the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association, speaking on condition of anonymity as he is not authorised to talk to the Press, however, said the association was consulting on the matter.
“We are making consultations on the matter and I’m sure a way forward will be found soon. We are putting our heads together to see how we can assist the family to bury one of us,” he said.
