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Bongani Ndlovu, Chronicle Reporter
HUNDREDS of people gathered at Brethren in Christ Church in Bulawayo to pay their last respects to the late renowned novelist Mr Isaac Nyandeni Mpofu, who was described as a loving man and a moving library.

The writer of the classic isiNdebele novel, Wangithembisa Lami succumbed to renal failure last Friday at United Bulawayo Hospitals (UBH) at the age of 90.

Mr Mpofu was buried at his farm in Worringham, along the Bulawayo-Beitbridge highway on the outskirts of Bulawayo, next to his late wife Martha Nhliziyo yesterday afternoon.

His casket was draped in Nguni cow hide (ixaba), during a service where speaker after speaker revealed different layers of Mr Mpofu’s life.

He was not only a novelist, but was a devout Christian, choir master, elder in the Brethren in Christ Church, educationist, grandfather and traditionalist.

Mr Mpofu was described by many speakers as a very intelligent man, who had an eye to see what the common man could not and expressed his observations with great aplomb through rich isiNdebele language in his novels.

While his wife, Ms Loiuser Nyathi was looking on along with hundreds in the church, a close colleague who worked with Mr Mpofu, renowned writer and novelist Mrs Barbara Nkala, spoke highly of him chronicling the books he wrote.

“Apart from the commonly known book, Wangithembisa Lami, Ubaba uMpofu wrote other books such as Akusoka lingela sici, Izenzo zabantu: Amaqalingana ezindaba, Mawe.

These books he wrote in the 80s and this I believe was the time that he was most inspired and he wrote a lot,” said Mrs Nkala.

“He also wrote Izithelo that chronicles the history of the Brethren in Christ Church.

I worked with him at Longman, especially books for both primary and secondary education.

He was a writer that we trusted as his writing prowess was rich and enjoyable to read,” said Mrs Nkala.

Mrs Nkala said Mr Mpofu translated both the first and second editions of the Holy Bible from isiZulu to isiNdebele.

“The Bible that was released in 1978, by the Bible Society, he was one of the translators that worked on it from isiZulu to isiNdebele.

When we worked together at the International Bible Society of Zimbabwe he was one of first to be called by Pius Wakatamwa to translate it.

He had deep knowledge of the isiNdebele language and he was the person we looked up to during the process of translating,” Mrs Nkala said.

She said Mr Mpofu has left a legacy for generations to come.

His last-born daughter, Mrs Nokuthula Gayizano was full of praise for her father, describing him as a unifier and the family’s pillar.

“I remember my father for his boundless love that overflowed for everyone.

He was compassionate, he related to everyone, be it a child or an adult, he could bring himself to their level,” said Mrs Gayizano.

Opening up on what caused Mr Mpofu’s death, Mrs Gayizano, said her father was ill for a long time and towards the end he was in pain.

“He would not want to show that he was in pain or was ill.

But as the last days drew near, it was clear that it was time for him to be with the Lord and He made it so,” said Mrs Gayizano.

She said doctors at Premier Hospital in Hillside where he was taken said Mr Mpofu was being transferred to United Bulawayo Hospitals for specialist treatment.

A close friend to the late Mr Mpofu, Mr Maccabees Bailey Poyah, said they met at Goromonzi Secondary School in 1956 when the two were in Form Three and were friends ever since.

He said he would sorely miss his dear friend.

“It’s difficult for me to speak in front of you about my late friend, Isaac Mpofu.

I find strength that it’s not only my loss but his death is a loss to many. We were the best of friends and he could teach his peers at school, he was compassionate, and had leadership qualities,” said Mr Poyah.

His funeral was attended by Chief designate of Filabusi, Insiza in Matabeleland South province, Mr Dambisamahubo Maduna Mafu who said it was a sad day for the area, popularly known as koGodlwayo.

Mr Mafu, who is the son of the late Chief Vezi Maduna said Mr Mpofu was a hero of the area and urged people to follow in his footsteps.

A friend and writing colleague, Mr Amon Dube Nyamambi said Mr Mpofu had found that his actual surname was Nyandeni and wished that he had traced his roots before his death.

Mr Mpofu’s son in law, Mr Nicholas Sikhonjwa, the father of comedian and radio presenter Babongile was the director of ceremonies.

The funeral service started at 8AM and ended after midday, before burial at Mr Mpofu’s farm ended at around 2.30PM.

Mr Mpofu was born on April 2, 1932 at Malole in Filabusi, Matabeleland South.

He started schooling at the age of 10.

A devout Brethren in Christ (BICC) member and music conductor Mr Mpofu completed teacher training in 1949 at Matopo Mission.

He taught at Filabusi School before proceeding to Goromonzi Secondary School where he passed Form Four in 1953 and was then appointed headmaster in charge of 18 teachers at Mzinyathini School in Mzingwane district until 1957.

He started writing and his first novel was Akusoka Lingelasici which won the first literary prize at that time.

Mr Mpofu completed A-levels studies through distance learning before embarking on BA degree studies with Unisa,

later going to the University of Zululand, South Africa for a year to complete his BA degree.

Besides being an accomplished teacher, Mr Mpofu held several top positions in the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education including being Education Officer and later Regional Director of Education in Matabeleland South and Bulawayo before going into retirement.

Mr Mpofu and his late wife were blessed with three children.

Some of the books that were penned by Mr Mpofu include, Izenzo Zabantu: Amaqalingana Ezindaba (1985) with Wangithembisa Lami being a set book for the Ndebele language in high school.

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