Ex-Harare mayoress Masunda laid to rest

FORMER mayoress Fikile Patricia Faith Masunda (nee Phezulu) was laid to rest at Warren Hills Cemetery in Harare today.

Fikile was Alpha Media Holdings (AMH) editorial advisory board chairperson and former Harare mayor, Muchadeyi Masunda's wife.

A memorial service was held at the St Luke's Anglican Church in Rhodesville where hundreds of mourners among them, several former mayors, businessmen, politicians, family members and friends attended.

In honour of her life, the Harare City Council (HCC) facilitated a procession which started from St Luke's Anglican Church in Rhodesville to Warren Hills.

Fikile, who died in Harare on Friday, was buried in the reserved section of the cemetery.

Chamber secretary Warren Chiwawa, who was standing in for acting town clerk Phakamile Moyo, described the late mayoress as a wonderful woman.

"The procession was the least we could do for her," Chiwawa said.

Opposition Citizens Coalition for Change leader Nelson Chamisa said: "The most important thing is that Zimbabweans need to respect former mayors. That is how we are supposed to be as a people. We must always be human, be one people and show that beyond politics, we are one.

"That is the common denominator of being African and being Zimbabwean. She served very well and touched so many lives. She was humble, selfless and professional. She did not divide people in service, but united them. That was leadership."

Harare Metropolitan Affairs and Devolution minister Oliver Chidawu, himself a former mayor for the capital, said:  "I am not talking as minister today, but as Masunda's friend. Fikile was a special person. We loved her kids and I know that Masunda will miss his wife because they were close."

Acting Harare mayor Musarurwa Mutizwa said: "Here goes a humble lady of God. Go well, go in peace. Continue to inspire us and continue to look upon us."

Masunda thanked everyone for attending the burial ceremony of his wife.

"Thank you very much, City of Harare and many other corporates that came…they know themselves and the help they have given us to make our task a lot easier."

AMH board chairman Trevor Ncube and AMH editor-in-chief Wisdom Mdzungairi also attended the funeral.