Loveness Bepete
AT 100 years, Gogo Sigcono Dube has seen it all, from the oppressive Ian Smith regime to a free Zimbabwe led by the legendary leader, President Robert Mugabe. Gogo Dube said in a recent interview she still recalls the butchering and torturing of indigenous people during the Smith era. She said the memories still haunt her.

Gogo Dube, who is still in charge of her faculties, said independence brought a lot of joy in her life.

“I had four children, three boys and a girl. It was difficult for me to raise and protect them during the war. I’m grateful to the Lord who protected my family. People were being butchered by the white man in front of my eyes.

“I praise the lord we finally got independent. Now we’re living without fear at all knowing that all is well. During the liberation struggle one could hardly sleep but today we enjoy peaceful sleep and lovely days. We don’t have to fear the thundering and tormenting sounds of guns,” Gogo Dube said.

She said during the liberation struggle, she helped cook for the guerrillas who dedicated their lives to liberate the country.

Despite her advanced age, Gogo Dube can still bath and conduct all household chores by herself.

She resides in Nkunzi area, in Tsholotsho with her granddaughter.

Gogo Dube’s advice to people who wish to live longer is that they should eat traditional foods which she says are highly nutritious.

The centenarian said she has 16 grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren and six great-great-grandchildren.

Another 89-year-old grandmother, Idah Ntini, narrated how hard it was to get documents during the Rhodesian days.

Gogo Ntini said the country’s erstwhile colonisers oppressed indigenous people to the extent of living without proper national documents.

She said many people had their names misspelt; their age altered or were at times totally denied access to registration facilities.

“Look at me now, I don’t have any birth record or national identity registration number. If it wasn’t for my daughter Evelyn, who once saw my birth certificate before it got burnt during the liberation struggle, I would be stuck,” Gogo Ntini said.

She said the Rhodesians were so oppressive and used to push black people to barren lands.

Gogo Ntini said the settlers allocated themselves all the fertile land while crowding locals in infertile, tsetse fly-infested areas which became known as reserves.

“It remains a puzzle to me as to why they were so cruel to us. They acted as if they owned the land. We had to suffer to bring food on the table toiling in infertile soils while some greedy persons grabbed all the land to themselves,” Gogo Ntini said.

She said when locals decided to sell their cattle, the Rhodesians would offer ridiculous prices.

Gogo Ntini who had nine children, said she had to allow three of her boys to join the liberation struggle.

She said that she witnessed her daughter being shot dead. “It wasn’t easy for me to release my children because I knew the consequences of war but fortunately they were determined to fight the oppressors.

We were on our way from the grinding mill in Lower Gweru and we saw a white man approaching us. Before I knew it, my daughter was lying in a pool of blood and I had to run away. I later went back to collect her,” Ntini said.

She said that during the liberation struggle, she also used to cook for the freedom fighters.

Gogo Ntini said independence brought freedom.

“I make a living from farming. I’m making money from selling my farm produce. I sell vegetables and maize if I get surplus. Zimbabwe has become the most peaceful country in the world which is just wonderful,” she said.

The country celebrates 35 years of Independence today under the theme: “Zimbabwe at 35: Consolidating Unity, Peace and Economic Sovereignty”.

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