The Vimbai I knew

The Vimbai I knew

Vimbai Matekaire Hungwe - Describing the Vimbai I knew for 21 years is no small task. Where to start? We were together in college, worked in the same institution for five years; he and family were my neighbors for four years. A week before he was promoted to Glory, he was my best man at my wedding on 29 May, 2010. His wife was the maid of hour. I thus here try to capture the stream of thought as I crawl out of the shock of his tragic passing on.

How does one describe Vimbai? How does one make others understand who he was, what he was? I do not know where to start? Do I describe him through his work, as the family man husband/father, as a friend, a brother, a son, an uncle or a nephew that he was? How does one do this without looking at all aspects of life – the life he lived, gave and so generously shared.

Each one of us had an encounter with Vimbai and you’ll all agree – what a great human being he was, what an Angel God had sent to us all. Upon meeting Vimbai for the first time, be it through work, or on a friendly note, I guess his warm welcome was most obvious, comfortable and right at home with him – some times when he was at a loss of welcome words he would grin and physically show he was there for you. He had no limitations, everyone was a friend and with this he was honest at all times. He was never short of making you all laugh with stories from across Africa through his many travels or yes indeed through his life journeys. Vimbai was always ready to assist, give a helping hand, at any time you could count on him – he never thought twice about helping another.

Vimbai as a husband and father – what a great example he was. For five years as an immediate neighbor and friend I watched him Shepard his family. He lived to the expectations of what is expected as a husband and father. No one I know can question Vimbai’s love for Anna. Anna was his pride and joy. His Kids were his life. He talked about the and configured them in almost all the things he did – be it work, recreational time, study, relations – any time, any where – he has them at the core of his heart. When you were around him and his children were around, they just were all over him and you could see joy on him. His daughter Tafadzwa was his princess. He was a very proud man over his princess and the boys.

Vimbai as a son, brother and relative – Now sons like him come once in a life time. What a jewel he is, for it’s hard to say he was – for his legend lives on – so let’s keep him in our memories. He never fail short to be there for his dear parents. He always shared how what he is today comes from the love, dedication and sacrifices both his parents made for him. He believed in family and even if he was living in South Africa, he never forgot home, he never forgot mum and dad. As a brother he was always at hand to give full support and love at all times. Vimbai believed in education and the importance it had on an individual. Ensuring that his sisters, brothers, nephews and nieces got their education and excelled was important. Vimbai did not believe in being called “an in-law”. To Anna’s mum and dad, they were mum and dad. To Anna’s sisters and brothers they were his sisters and brothers meaning he took on the role of being an elder brother. He is one person who did not segregate – to him everyone was family, his home open to everyone as most know. Whether you were a friend, a brother, sister, uncle, niece or nephew his home was open, ready to receive you with both hands. He ensured that everyone kept in touch and respected, valued family.

Vimbai as a friend – We have lost a friend. We are in shock for a true friend is no more. We hurt beyond words can express right now because we know that one we could truly honestly call a friend is no more. Vimbai excelled in all he did even in friendship. He believed that friendship was to be of value, sharing of ideas, encouraging one another to be better with work, family, business etc he believed in that. Vimbai was a smart person, in dressing and intellectually. He believed in thinking smart, sharp and he was smart himself in all fronts. Many will agree with me that even when he walked, he walked with such confidence, head high and looked good always. Depending on how long you had known him, he would tell you when you didn’t coordinate your colours or didn’t dress right….He was frank, true, honest and forthright all the time. This was Vimbai….

Vimbai at work – He was dedicated to work, always very professional, passionate and was hungry to ensure that what he delivered was always better than his previous work. I worked with Vimbai at Africa University, where he was not only a Librarian but an unofficial coach and a staff workers representative to management. Vimbai was working for ITOCA at the time of his passing on. His success at ITOCA can be seen in the footmarks he left in over 20 countries where he criss-crossed to train a new crop of African leadership. As the Senior Training Officer of ITOCA he travelled a lot especially right through Africa and to some countries in Europe. Am sure it will be safe to say he visited over 20 countries. I shall need someone to list these countries for me. His passion saw him build relationships, friends’ right across the Continent. Little wonder when he was laid to rest among his friends where some who journeyed from Philippines, South Africa, Kenya and I from Uganda. As his friend, I looked up to in many areas for he gave no less than 100% when ever he focused on anything. But much as he traveled a lot he still managed to be a great husband and father at the same time. In this current world of ours, with the demands that are needed for us in our companies, it’s very difficult to find a balance such as this but Vimbai did it so well. The Continent and the rest of the World who worked with him lost a great man!

In a nut-shell this is the Vimbai I knew – a really nut shell to the giant person I am writing about.

It is hard to face up to the reality that he passed on, never to be seen again or talked to. What shall we do? We need to live on honoring who and what Vimbai believed and stood for.

To the families (Hungwes & Muzofas) – you need to carry on being united as he united you all. You need to ensure that you are stronger together more than ever before. To the sisters and brothers of both families, you need to continue to support both mothers and fathers. The most important part to you the families on both sides is to ensure that you continue to support, love, and care and help Anna through this trying hard time. She is left with three beautiful young children. She more than anymore will feel his absence deeper for she was his partner, friend and wife. You will now need to be the ones to support her in ensuring that the children grow up as Vimbai would have wanted them to. You will need to help make Anna’s burden lighter with more love as her journey only begins now, you all now need to take care of Anna and the kids

To us the friends – this is were we will need to show our true friendship to Vimbai. We are already back to our respective lives but we need to keep Anna in prayers, and frequently call her. Vimbai left us but Anna and the kids are here. Let us all continue to call her as much as we did even when Vimbai was still here, let’s help her without waiting on her to ask us for help. Lets Honor Vimbai this way and ensure that his wife and kids still find the comfort in knowing that he truly had a great circle of friends he helped at one time, touched and was there for them as well. He had project, why can be join our hand to help Anna finish some of the projects. It maybe time on a holiday with them – anything you know Vimbai had a passion for – so – DO IT, DO IT NOW!

To ITOCA – we thank you for your great support and having given the world the greatest gift of knowing a great man Vimbai Hungwe. We thank you for your trust you had in him. We thank you most sincerely for all you did on his final journey.

To everyone else – please let us learn from the great ways Vimbai touched each one of us, let us continue to raise his name, carry his memory high, let us walk in his footsteps and ensure that he is remembered forever.

Vimbai we will always love you, you will always be in our hearts and we miss you so much. Your friend truly, David Manyonga