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Ashley Phiri, [email protected] 

IN the calmness of her twilight years, Gogo Liva Moyo, a remarkable 107-year-old, carries the weight of a century’s history. 

Her mind, though fading, still vividly recalls a harrowing chapter in her life, a period etched into the collective memory of her generation as “Fraser.”

A virulent strain of influenza, known as Fraser, swept across the world, claiming millions of lives. In the heart of Africa, the pandemic’s impact was equally devastating. For Moyo, it was a time of fear, uncertainty, and profound loss.

The names of some of her children bear witness to the tumultuous era. Sikhangele, meaning “we are observing to see what happens,” was given amid the growing anxiety. As the pandemic raged, the name Sibonile, meaning “we have seen,” arrived — a testimony to the harsh realities of the times. And then, a name that carries the weight of tragedy, Sonakele, meaning “we have perished,” serves as a sombre reminder of the lives lost.

Born on March 17, 1917 in Matobo, she is the only survivor from a family of eight. For a woman who has lived through the Spanish Flu, the Second World War, the country’s war of independence, natural disasters, and droughts, Moyo remains of sound mind and body.

Gogo Liva Moyo

Chronicle caught up with Moyo in Bulawayo’s Cowdray Park suburb, where she now resides. 

She fondly reminisced about her childhood in the hills of Matobo, where she witnessed technology evolve from using simple hand-held hoes for farming to the introduction of the plough driven by cattle, a change brought by the white man.

“When I was growing up in Matobo, we used to work hard in the fields. We would dig our holes for planting using hand-held hoes, but as time went on, the white man introduced us to the cattle-drawn plough. I remember when I first used it, trying so hard to keep the lines straight. Those were truly some of the best days of my life because I was so carefree,” she said.

She speaks of the traditional ceremony, ukuchinsa, which marked the beginning of the harvest season, a time filled with joy and communal spirit. Moyo also reflects on the traditional medicines they took to strengthen their bodies and resist disease. Although she can’t recall the specific herbs used, she believes in their potency.

“I used to look forward to the harvesting season because of the ukuchinsa ceremony. That was a time when the whole community would gather together to taste the first crop of the season. We would be given medicine so that the food would not make us sick and to generally make us stronger. I don’t know exactly what kind of herbs were used in that concoction, but after taking the mixture, one would feel stronger. Even when hospital medicine was introduced, I still preferred traditional medicines,” she said.

Gogo Liva Moyo

Her memories turn sombre as she recalls the liberation war when she hid in the mountains with her children, fearing they might be recruited and lost to her forever.

“The liberation war was a very hard time for me. Sometimes we would sleep in the bush with my children. My biggest worry then was that I would never see my children if they joined the war. I’m glad they all survived that ordeal,” she said.

Out of her nine children, five have survived, with the oldest now 80 years old. Moyo is blessed with 32 grandchildren and 35 great-grandchildren, a legacy of resilience and survival. She has no problem remembering the people she sees often by name; for those she rarely interacts with, they have to introduce themselves so she can recall.

When asked about her secret to a long life, she gives all credit to God and being obedient to the elders.

“I can only credit my long life to God. He is the giver of life and has allowed me to survive for this long. I think it’s the reward for my obedience and respect I had for my elders. I also stay away from food that I do not understand and stick to traditional foods,” she said.

Moyo is not plagued by some of the diseases that affect the elderly, like hypertension and diabetes. She is still very healthy.

Nowadays, she spends her days weaving baskets and reed mats while looking forward to attending church meetings with her peers, where they gather to share stories of the good old days.