Too old to die? 122-year-old Sekuru Banda denied funeral cover due to age

He has lived through the colonial era, both World Wars, and multiple global pandemics - yet for 122-year-old Sekuru Anuloisa Banda, a peaceful farewell remains an uncertain privilege.

Yes, you read that right - he is 122 years old.

Born on December 12, 1903, in Tukuyu, a small town on the border between Malawi and Tanzania, Sekuru Banda is not only the pride of Ward 8 in Bulilima District, Matabeleland South, but he may very well be the oldest living person on Earth.

His Zimbabwean national ID confirms his age - and if independently verified, Sekuru Banda could eclipse the current confirmed record of Ethel Caterham of the UK, who is a sprightly 115, and even the legendary Jeanne Louise Calment of France, who holds the Guinness World Record for the longest verified human lifespan: 122 years and 164 days.

But despite his extraordinary longevity, Sekuru Banda is facing an all-too-ordinary struggle - he can't get funeral insurance.

Four funeral policy providers - two in South Africa and two in Zimbabwe - have turned him away, citing his age and the "high risk" he poses to their business.

“My daughter in South Africa tried to register uKhulu with two Zimbabwean-run funeral policy companies there," said his daughter-in-law, Mrs Judith Maphosa. “They just said, 'He's too old, he might die anytime.' Just like that. Cold and clinical."

Undeterred, the family tried again back home in Zimbabwe, only to be met with the same response.

“We know he won't live forever," Mrs Maphosa continued. “But it's cruel to treat him like he's expired milk. He's a human being who deserves dignity, even in death."

Despite his advanced age, Sekuru Banda remains mentally sharp. He vividly recalls historical details from his life, such as leaving home at 18 to work in Dar es Salaam, before migrating south around 1923 to then-Rhodesia in search of work. He spent years toiling in the Mhangura, Bindura, and Shamva mines, alongside other migrants recruited through the Wenela (Witwatersrand Native Labour Association).

He later settled in Filabusi, where he met and married the late Mrs Xotshiwe Maphosa, raising five children - three of whom have since passed away.

“My mother-in-law died in 2008, and I couldn't let uKhulu live alone," Mrs Maphosa explained. “He needs help with everything now - walking, going outside, using the toilet. But his memory is better than some people half his age."

The family is now appealing for help in acquiring a wheelchair to make his final years more comfortable.
Anyone willing to assist can contact Mrs Maphosa at 0775 894 249.

An official from a local funeral policy provider, speaking on condition of anonymity, acknowledged that most companies won't accept new clients over the age of 70.

“They're simply not profitable," the official said. “But there are once-off packages - you pay up front, around US$500 to US$1,000, depending on whether you want basic or premium services."

For now, Sekuru Banda remains without cover - but with a life story that reads like a living history book, his dignity in life, and in death, deserves more than rejection.

His case is now raising broader questions about elderly care, funeral policy access, and human dignity, particularly for the often-overlooked centenarians in Southern Africa.

After all, if anyone has earned the right to a dignified exit, it is surely Sekuru Banda - 122 years and still counting.