News / National
Professor Moyo had special bond with Zanele
27 Oct 2015 at 21:56hrs | Views
HIGHER Education minister, Professor Jonathan Moyo, had a very special bond with her late daughter, Zanele, who was laid to rest on Friday at Glen Forest Cemetery.
During his graveside speech, Professor Moyo told mourners and senior government officials who converged for his daughter's burial that he once took care of his 'angel' daughter on his own when she was still a little baby.
"I had a very special relationship with Zanele from the day she was born," said Professor Moyo.
"I flew with her from Nairobi to Lusaka, without her mother, when she was six months old and spent a month in Zambia with her.
"And as she was growing up, in many ways she would give me alternating impressions. Sometimes it will be like she wants to be exactly like me. Most of the times it was like she wants to be the exact opposite of me."
Zanele was a first year Political Science, International Relations and Gender Studies student at the University of Cape Town (UCT).
Professor Moyo, on the other hand, studied Public Policy and Public Administration but used to lecture in Political Science.
Zanele was the only member of their family who accompanied her father for the swearing in ceremony in 2013 at State House when he was reappointed minister.
Professor Moyo added, "Unlike others, I am unable to pick one out of the anecdotal experiences I shared with my 'angel' daughter, save to appreciate that after the 2013 general elections, when I was called to State House......... After the President had appointed a cabinet following that election.
"The swearing in, we were told, was to be the next day- the 10th of September 2013.
"And as we were being advised how to prepare for that, we were told to bring with us not more than three members, or so, of our family.
"The only member of our family who was available, who went with me for that swearing in ceremony, was Zanele."
The two last saw each other on the 19th of July, the day she returned to UCT for her second semester.
He laid a wreath that had the shape of a love heart at her grave whilst her mother laid a wreath with the shape of a star.
Professor Moyo bid farewell to her special daughter by singing a song drawn from bible scriptures before breaking down towards the end of the song.
During his graveside speech, Professor Moyo told mourners and senior government officials who converged for his daughter's burial that he once took care of his 'angel' daughter on his own when she was still a little baby.
"I had a very special relationship with Zanele from the day she was born," said Professor Moyo.
"I flew with her from Nairobi to Lusaka, without her mother, when she was six months old and spent a month in Zambia with her.
"And as she was growing up, in many ways she would give me alternating impressions. Sometimes it will be like she wants to be exactly like me. Most of the times it was like she wants to be the exact opposite of me."
Zanele was a first year Political Science, International Relations and Gender Studies student at the University of Cape Town (UCT).
Professor Moyo, on the other hand, studied Public Policy and Public Administration but used to lecture in Political Science.
Zanele was the only member of their family who accompanied her father for the swearing in ceremony in 2013 at State House when he was reappointed minister.
Professor Moyo added, "Unlike others, I am unable to pick one out of the anecdotal experiences I shared with my 'angel' daughter, save to appreciate that after the 2013 general elections, when I was called to State House......... After the President had appointed a cabinet following that election.
"The swearing in, we were told, was to be the next day- the 10th of September 2013.
"And as we were being advised how to prepare for that, we were told to bring with us not more than three members, or so, of our family.
"The only member of our family who was available, who went with me for that swearing in ceremony, was Zanele."
The two last saw each other on the 19th of July, the day she returned to UCT for her second semester.
He laid a wreath that had the shape of a love heart at her grave whilst her mother laid a wreath with the shape of a star.
Professor Moyo bid farewell to her special daughter by singing a song drawn from bible scriptures before breaking down towards the end of the song.
Source - Virimayi Nzira
