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Auxilia Katongomara Chronicle Reporter
THE late veteran water activist Arnold Payne was yesterday buried at Lady Stanley Cemetery, which is reserved for residents who made a great contribution to the city, with speakers describing him as a principled man who had the poor at heart.Payne, 76, succumbed to a cardiac arrest on Tuesday.

Scores of mourners turned up for the burial.

Among the mourners were Zapu president Dumiso Dabengwa, former minister Samuel Sipepa Nkomo, former Bulawayo mayor Japhet Ndabeni Ncube, former Archbishop Pius Ncube, members of the Ndiweni family, civic society, family and friends.

His young brother Leslie Payne, who is also pastor of Ambassador Baptist Church, described Payne as a “controversial”, but principled man, who would not give up easily on what he wanted and would strive to achieve his goals.

“On the other hand, he was a very humorous man and had the poor at heart.”

Dethroned Archbishop Ncube said Payne was a human rights defender and a God-fearing man.

Councillor Gideon Mangena, who was representing the Mayor of Bulawayo and the Bulawayo City Council, told mourners the local authority was saddened by the untimely death of Payne.

Payne was born on January 8, 1938 in Mtshabezi and attended MacKeurtan Primary and Founders High schools. He worked for the Rhodesia Railways before moving to Kingstons Bookshop in Bulawayo.

He later moved to Edgars Stores before working for the Bulawayo City Council.

He became actively involved in championing the Matabeleland Zambezi Water Project (MZWP). In 1992, Payne pushed a wheelbarrow carrying 210 litres of water from the Zambezi River to Bulawayo and then Gwanda in a lone campaign for the National Matabeleland Zambezi Water Project.

Upon his arrival in Gwanda, he emptied the drum and then continued his journey with an empty wheelbarrow to Parliament in Harare.
Payne’s plates, cups, clothing and vehicle were inscribed with the words Zambezi Water for Matabeleland.

He is survived by five children, 23 grandchildren and one great grandchild.

Meanwhile, former trade unionist and political activist, Leonard Sidlani Ncube, was yesterday buried at West Park Cemetery.

Ncube, 96, suffered a stroke and later died at Mater Dei Hospital where he had been admitted for five days.

Ncube, who worked for the National Railways of Zimbabwe from the 1950s and served for 36 years, was a unionist and political activist who was imprisoned by the Smith regime and incarcerated for five years at Whawha Prison.

Ncube was one of the few surviving senior soldiers of the Salvation Army having joined the church in the 1960s.

Family spokesperson Eliphas Nkatha, described Ncube as a family unifier and a loving father.

“He was a very jovial, loving person who had good quality advice always. He encouraged people to be upright, either to believe in God or ancestors and not both at once, that was his advice time and again,” said Nkatha.

Salvation Army Makokoba church pastor, Major Eleckson Rutanhira described Ncube as a devout and dedicated soldier.

Ncube was born in Filabusi and attended Mkhwabene Primary School before moving to Usher Primary School in Plumtree.

He proceeded to Howard Institute for his secondary education before enrolling at Howard Teachers’ Training College in 1949.

He taught at Dikili Primary School in Tsholotsho before joining the National Railways of Zimbabwe as a station guide and served for 36 years.

After retirement, he concentrated on church and farming.

The burial ceremony was attended by former deputy Mayor, Amen Mpofu, some members of the Bulawayo business community as well as former educationists.

He is survived by wife Marina, 13 children, 35 grandchildren and 33 great-grand children.

In another development, the 10-year-old girl who was found hanging from a tree in Emganwini suburb was also buried at West Park Cemetery yesterday, with the family refusing Press coverage.