PARLIAMENT this week passed a motion of condolence following the passing on of Member of Parliament for Gokwe-Kabuyuni, Leonard Chikomba.
Chikomba perished in a road accident in his constituency on Saturday, 28 May, 2022.
HourlyHits present below the statement issued by Gokwe Chireya MP Tonderayi Moyo in Parliament while seconding the condolence motion on the late Chikomba.
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By Hon. Tonderayi Moyo
Mr. Speaker. I would like to support the motion raised by Hon. Ngwenya. Mr. Speaker Sir, we were so much troubled by the passing on of our colleague Hon. Chikomba in May.
Hon. Chikomba was a friend to everyone. He did not discriminate against anyone. In this House, he would befriend people from both your right and left sides, regardless of their political affiliation. He did his job well so much that we inherit a lot from his hard work.
He was nicknamed Bhudhi because of his hard work. Bhudhi means brother and may also mean someone who is willing to assist if you are in trouble. It may also mean someone who can stand with people in times of need. He could stand solidly with his constituents in Gokwe-Kabuyuni.
There are several ethnic groups in that constituency but he did not discriminate regardless of whether the person is Tonga, Korekore or Ndebele. He used to work with all of them without discrimination.
From the time I knew Bhudhi, some 10 years ago, he used to be a Member of Parliament of some of the areas under my constituency, areas like Jirivanda, Tengwe, Chireya, Nyemba.
When he passed on, all the people in Gokwe North mourned and were troubled that we have lost one of us, a reliable person that we would go to in times of need.
Bhudhi was a hard worker. At one time he got more than 20 bales of cotton whilst I had only harvested five. After comparing five and 20 that he got, that shows he was a hard worker.
There was a time when people were disgruntled by the cotton prices but he managed to buy a brand new tractor. Bhudhi was well known not only in Zimbabwe. He was someone who was popular in an area and was able to travel out of the country.
He would go to watch Manchester United. He used to communicate with Sir Alex Ferguson. He used to be well received by Sir Alex Ferguson in the United Kingdom.
If Manchester United loses a match, he would directly communicate with Sir Alex Ferguson to find out what the problem was if Manchester United lost.
Considering how popular he was out there in the United Kingdom, he never showed it but was a down to earth person. When I got an opportunity to go to the United Kingdom, I did not even get the opportunity to get close to Sir Alex Ferguson but for him, it was just a phone call away.
He would travel on Friday to the United Kingdom to watch Manchester and came back on Sunday after that match.
If you look closely at how he started, he had humble beginnings. He did not consider his background but he worked hard. He started off as a bus driver and was very popular with people.
He used to play Chitekete, a song by Leonard Dembo. Going to Gokwe from Mberengwa after he started his businesses at a place he named Chitekete. Even if you go today, you will find a place called Chitekete and a lot of his businesses – including butcheries, nightclubs, restaurants and lodges.
He did not have a wish to build in Borrowdale because his house at Chitekete is as good as mansions you find in Borrowdale or Mt. Pleasant. He is one of the Members who would travel back home every weekend to meet his people.
He would celebrate each of his successes and invite people to celebrate with him and would slaughter a cow. Even when he lost elections in 2008, he did not give up and managed to come back in 2013. That shows that he, unlike other people, did not give up and he would have simply retired. That showed how hard working he was.
He also had businesses in Siakobvu. There is a time when we travelled for the Education Amendment Bill in Siakobvu. We found a lot of businesses and restaurants where you would refresh. He also had businesses in Binga and that showed that he built quite a big legacy.
Without wasting time for other Members, I would like to express my deepest sorrow over the loss of Hon. Chikomba or Bhudhi. I wish his son Edie will take over his empire and businesses.
He liked his family so much that he named his grandson after him, Leonard Chikomba, without giving him another name. I wish all MPs would love our families just like he used to. May his soul rest in eternal peace.
- Tonderayi Moyo is Zanu-PF MP for Gokwe Chireya
