Caroline Mutsawu, Sunday News Reporter
ONE hundred and one years have come by and he still soldiers on, being witness to the lives of three generations.
The lines on his body especially his face, are vivid, serving as evidence of his endless wisdom. His tortoise-like pace is aided by a walking stick, which while helping him, somehow symbolises how vulnerable he has become. As he sits comfortably on a sofa, he speaks softly, lowly and slowly, each word uttered with caution.
While most people his age would wear spectacles due to poor eyesight, he wears none. As the American author Hellen Keller puts it, “the only thing worse than being blind is having sight and no vision.” But he has both, clear sight and a vision. It is through his vision that the large family has gathered, some who have not set eyes on each other for years, joined together on this day to celebrate his long life.
What secret lies in clocking 101 years? There must be something that enables a man to live so long and be among his daughters and sons, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Mr Makoli Philimon Dube Sikapila (Nekatambe), born on 1 April 1922 is the sixth child in a family of eight children comprising four sons and four daughters. He resides at Chibmbipo homestead, Chief Nekatambe in Dinde, Matabeleland North province.
Mr Siakpila remembers the rule of the white settlers and how they even contributed to the naming of some of his grandchildren. Although the old events do not clearly stand out, he recalls how Zimbabwe became free and how the indigenous people rejoiced to be free from colonial oppression. He witnessed the years go by and is thankful to God for keeping him going.
An elderly person in a family may become problematic for some who might resort to putting them in an old people’s home. As people grow, so do responsibilities and looking after them may be a challenge. However, it has not been so for Nekatambe’s grandson, a cousin to the late Chief Nekatambe in Hwange. He has been amid his family who have taken it upon themselves to love and care for him, especially now that he is advanced in age.
His beaming smile in the presence of his large family proved his joy at the colourful birthday celebrations recently.
His birthday, which came as a surprise to him, was well co-ordinated with a beautiful cake that had a black and white suit and bow tie. He grinned at the sight of the size of the cake as he sat before it facing a large crowd comprising his family and friends.
The large crowd rejoiced, dancing to Lovemore Majaivana’s songs as he cut the cake. The crowd also sang some of his favourite church songs which made him even more excited.
Of interest, his razor sharp mind allows him to remember his primary school days when grades were called subs, “Sub A” instead of “Grade One.” But times have changed.
“We once resided in Mbala where we would do our hunting, but relocated to pave way for the Hwange National Park. It was in Mbala that I did my Sub A at BB (Bhambanhinga) primary school and later we settled in Dinde,” he said.
He proceeded to Sub B at Dinde Primary School which was a Methodist school then.
“I also did Standard One at Dinde before moving to a boarding mission school called St Mary’s Mission School and ended at Standard 5.”
He remembers some of the people he grew up with including “Rendo” a former Wankie football player as well as the late Chief Nekatambe. Sikapila said he was a herdboy and his brother acknowledged that he even named his cattle and taught him a lot about animals.
“He taught me a lot. I remember calling our cattle by names and they would obey. He taught me how to milk a cow and to even drink milk directly from the cow. At the beginning, I was terrified because I thought the cow would bite me, but he told me to bury that fear,” said his younger brother.
Sikapila began work in 1951 as a prisons officer at Hwange prison and later moved to Grey Street prison in Bulawayo. He worked there for years and was later moved to Woodville Airport Camp.
During that time Zimbabwe had not attained independence and Sikapila said some of the freedom fighters were his friends.
“Those children (freedom fighters) were fearless and it is through them that we are free today. I was friends with some of the freedom fighters and even bought cigarettes for them,” he added, beaming once more.
Sikapila fellowships at the Roman Catholic Church although at some point he worshipped at the Methodist Church. His children gave him a middle name “ Hamundizivi” a statement he enjoyed saying every now and then, thereby attaining the title.
However, with the coming of the new generation, there has been alterations to his middle name hence his grandchildren call him “Hamundijozi.”
He is also a linguist, speaking nine languages which are Shona, Ndebele, Nambya, Tonga, English, Lozi, Kalanga, Nyanja and Sotho.
While each generation carries with it watershed moments, Sikapila however, does not know much about the recent Covid-19 pandemic, instead, he remembers the influenza virus which he says during his youthful times, was deadly.
The three generations make up his 11 children, five whom his first wife bore and six whom his second wife bore. Both his wives are now late. He has 19 grandchildren and five great grandchildren.
“There is no harm in being a good person so God becomes good to you as well. God gives life, but I am surprised to have lived this long. At 30, I never knew I would one-day clock 60 years, let alone 101. It’s God,” he said.
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