Alois Makonese, baba vaTakunda, aive murume ange ave nemakore 56 ekuberekwa akange akurira kuWedza, kwaRuzane, padyo nezvitoro paMukamba, vaindogeza nekuchera mvura murwizi Mhare.
He was the first born in a family of 7 boys and a girl. In his childhood and youthful years, he was a hard worker, a pride to his parents and siblings. Paakanyora Form 2, ane 15 years, mazuva iwayo ichiri yeCambridge, akabva asiya chikoro nekuti mari dzaisakwana kuti mhuri yese iende kuchikoro nekuti amai vavo vakange vazvara sembudzi, gore mwana gore mwana chaiyo.
Chekudya chaicho chaitonetsa pamusha apa, zvekuti amai vake pese pavaisununguka mwana,kunyanya kutanga pane wetatu apo, hama dzavo dzakange dzotadza kuti makorokoto nemwoyo wese, nekuti yaive nhamo, ndemumwe muromo waida dura rezviyo pagore rese.
Mumwe muzukuru wababa Makonese aityaira magonyeti eZambia akabva atorana naAlois paakapedza ZJC vombonotsvaga chekubata beyond the boaders. It was the most difficult 6 months of his life, doing menial jobs which he could have done in Harare or Chitungwiza nearer home, aingowana kwacha rekudya chete, so he decided to move again. Akabva aenda mhiri kwaLimpopo in Durban kwaakandoshanda at a transport Company achitumira vabereki vake mari yekuti vaendese vanin’ina vake kuchikoro. Akadzidza motor mechanics dzese zvekuti pamakore 13 aakashandapo akange oziva engine yemota semaziviro aaiita ruoko rwake.
Chekudya chaicho chaitonetsa pamusha apa, zvekuti amai vake pese pavaisununguka mwana,kunyanya kutanga pane wetatu apo, hama dzavo dzakange dzotadza kuti makorokoto nemwoyo wese, nekuti yaive nhamo, ndemumwe muromo waida dura rezviyo pagore rese.
Mumwe muzukuru wababa Makonese aityaira magonyeti eZambia akabva atorana naAlois paakapedza ZJC vombonotsvaga chekubata beyond the boaders. It was the most difficult 6 months of his life, doing menial jobs which he could have done in Harare or Chitungwiza nearer home, aingowana kwacha rekudya chete, so he decided to move again. Akabva aenda mhiri kwaLimpopo in Durban kwaakandoshanda at a transport Company achitumira vabereki vake mari yekuti vaendese vanin’ina vake kuchikoro. Akadzidza motor mechanics dzese zvekuti pamakore 13 aakashandapo akange oziva engine yemota semaziviro aaiita ruoko rwake.
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| Train Up A Child - Stories By Lovely Rutendo Nzira - (Chapter 2A) |
Pakangopedza hanzvadzi yake, last born, tete Caroline, A’Level, akabva adzoka ave nemacombi ake maviri, ndokutanga business iroro. Ndopaakasangana naMonica Chindedza ari police officer kuVID. Vakawirirana vakaroorana zvakafadza vabereki vavo vese. Monica akabva asiya chipurisa vobatsirana business uye aida kuve amai mumba achirera vana vavo nababa vaisweroshingairira mhuri yavo.
Mwedzi mitatu yekutanga ambuya Makonese vakange vogara vachishanya kuMarimba Park, kuzoona kuti muroora haasati osvipa svipa here nekufinyama finyama. Alois was their hero, they were all waiting impatiently for his children, they all felt he deserved better and more. After sending all his siblings to school, up to degree levels, and building the family mansion, they all wanted to see his home full of his children. His brothers and sister would jokingly say, “mukoma itai vana venyu even 10 they are our responsibility, it’s now your time to rest”, yes they loved and appreciated their brother that much. They all were grateful for how he had sacrificed his education, his life crossing boaders alone for their sake, and each of them felt obliged to give back to him. Amai vavo ndo gospero she would preach to all of them vachingongodzera kuti mukoma Alois is and will always be the man of the Makonese match.
After 4 months, vakawana Monica achingofamba pasina chaainacho. The old lady was not impressed at all, however she decided to be patient and gave her more time.
At the end of 12 months, mhuri yese yekwaMakonese vange vatsamwa and they did not hide their disappointment, mukoma Alois vaitambisirwa nguva nemukadzi waange akaroora aisada kukudza rudzi. His business was extraordinarily flourishing, mari yese iyoyo yaifanira kudyiwa nani? Iye Monica ndiye ange oita seanogeza nemukaka ozora chocolate nekudya mari yamukoma Alois akarara zvake musabhabha.
Izvi zvaitaurwa kwavari vese vachinzwa, insensitively.
Pagore retatu, hapana chakachinja, kusekererana kwavamwene nemuroora kwange kusisipo, vamwene vaisatombonyara zvavo kana kunyepera, she decided to do it the feminine way, frustrate her till she packs her bags and go. Kana pavaishanya kuMarimba Park vaisadya chinhu kuti azvione kuti havanei naye.
Nerimwe zuva Monica akashanyira vamwene vake kuWedza, paakavatambidza groceries she had brought for her, vakaramba kutambira ndokumuti;
“Ndave broiler here rinongounzirwa chikafu zuva nezuva, ndodawo muzukuru wekubereka, wekutuma, wekufambawo naye. Kurwizi kwatinoenda uku twana tunenge twakati farara pese twuchitamba. Ndoshaya kuti wangu munyama rudzii kuti chero vana vane 15years vanotamba pasi pemuti vanongomitisana, asi wangu muroora anorara pamuzvambarara weLuxaire mubhedha asi chabuda hapana. Musanditorera vanhu vemaricho ekumenya nzungu gore rino, imi usiku hwese munenge muchiitei, huyai muzomenya nzungu dzangu kuno. Kusanyara mukadzi mukuru akaita sewe kufamba wega senyoka, chero Dorika mupengo anofamba nevana vake wani…..”
Monica akabaiwa chaizvo nemanzwi aya, akaridza mhere sepafiwa, manheru acho akadzokera kumba kwake kuHarare, haanazve kuzotsika gumbo rake pamusha pasekuru naambuya Makonese. Akasviba moyo akashaya kuti mhosva yake yaive yei kana vana vari zvipo zvinobva kuna Mwari. Akati kana Mwari vaida kuti adzokere kundoitawo muroora anofarirwa neremekedzwa vaizomupawo mwana.
Gore iri ndopaakatanga kuenda kumaChiremba ese ese seriously, akambosiya zvekuti we are waiting for God’s time, akaenda kundovhenekwa kuti vaone kuti chii chaimutadzisa kuitawo mwana wake. Kwese kwaakafamba vaingoti hapana chakaipa paari. Monica akatanga achaita Rosary zuva nezuva, nekunamata maNovena of all Saints aaiziva as shared in the Catholic church, katatu pagore aienda kuMutemwa Leper Camp kundorara mugomo rainamatira St John Bradburne, akaneta akambosiya chitendero cheRoma.
Akatanga kuverera usiku kuti mafata, masister nemadzimai eNzanga yaAnna Musande vaainamata navo vasaziva kuti pane kumwe kwaaimboenda. Aienda kumapostori; akaenda kune vemazuda akambosunga mutimwi wered newhite akaneta akaudambura akavasiya. Akaenda kumagemenzi ewhite anosungwa nemabhande matsvuku, akaendazve kune asingasungwi akaona sekutambisa nguva akaramwa. Akaenda kunguwo tsvuku dzine bhande regreen akatizazve. Asi bheriya ange otamba zvemhando yepa top.
Akaenda kuDefe Dopota kuZion akambotevera zveko kusvika atizazve. Asi akabva odzana chaizvo aitamba zvine rhythm waiyeverwa makumbo achiita seane magetsi achiimba ndire ndire. Akageza nekunwa miteuro neinoyera, midzi yekun’anga akanwa neimwe yaizomurarisa akagara hana ichirova, dzese dzaive shungu dzekuti abatewo mwana wake mumaoko. Asi chibereko chakaramba chakavhara, apa makore aifamba.
Kana Nigeria-SCOAN kwaTBJ akandosvika akandoudzwa kuti “God has heard your prayer you shall surely have a son at God’s own time.” Asi pakaita dzimwe 5 years mwana wechipikirwa asina kuuya, God’s own time yacho yaive kachana kure kure kusina anosvika, kana yaizosvika. Zvokwadi when was God’s time? Pane anoiziva here nguva yaMwari kana kuti kungomirira murima, dai maporofita aiziva aitaura zuva mwedzi negore kwete kuti God’s time, Monica aiita hasha achifunga prophecy yakadai.
Pavange vasvika 7 years vari vese asi mwana pasina, ambuya Makonese vakadaidza mwana wavo kumusha ndokuti;
“Chionaka iwe mwanangu Shumba, zvekuti ufe usina mwana nekuti wakaroora mukadzi ngomwa aiwa. Saka ndakutsvagira mumwe mukadzi kubva Buhera kwedu. Ari pano anonzi Chengeto anogara muraini rimwe chete nesu kwana sekuru vako uko. Akaita mwana wake kare atove Grade 2 izvozvi. Saka iwe ndiye achave mudzimai wako wekuno kumusha, uyo waunoda mogara mese Harare.”
Alois asati apindura, amai vakasimuka pasi pemumvuri pavaive vakagara, ndokundopinda mumba ndokudzoka nemukadzi wemakore 24.
“Muroora Chengeto, ndiye murume wako uyu.” Ambuya vakataura vakasekerera chaizvo vachigutsikana nehurongwa hwavo. Alois akaramba akanyarara akatarisa mudzimai akange apfugama mberi kwake kuti amukwazise, akagutsikana kuti paive nemukadzi akasvika. Asi attraction naye paive pasina hapo, upenyu hwake Monica ndiye waaida. Vakazokwazisana nekubvunzana upenyu, Chengeto ndokutumwa kundobikira “murume wake”. Ambuya Makonese ndokusara vachiti;
“Uyu anozvara ari pano tichimuchengeta nevazukuru vangu. Kana vakura wovatengera imba kuHarare vogarawo semagariro anoita mvandara yaunogara nayo.” Vaitoda kuti kana asvotwa nazvo ngaaende asi vaiziva kuti mwanakomana wavo haazvide. Akange amboita mwedzi wese asingataure navo pavakambosimbirira kuti Monica adzokere kumusha kwake.
Alois akaramba akanyarara ave kungotura befu nekupukuta dikita achifunga zvese zvaitaurwa nezvaiitwa namai vake.
Zvisinei masikati aya akaenda kuHoward Mission Hospital kwavakandoitwa all necessary tests, Alois ainyanya kuda kuve nechokwadi pazvinhu zviviri. Aida kuziva HIV status yaChengeto kana zvimwe zvirwere zvepabonde and most importantly, aida kuziva kuti Chengeto haana nhumbu here nechekare. Zvakaramba zvichimunetsa kuti sei Chengeto ange abvuma kupfimbwa nechembere iyi kusvika pakutouya kumba kwavo vasati vaonana, akangoti ndozvinoita nhamo paruzevha.
Nevertheless, Alois akazogara kumusha kwemavhiki maviri akatevera, naChengeto semudzimai wake. Vakamboenda kuHarare kwaakandomutengera boxes of clothes and shoes, maternity dresses, and also groceries. Akazondomusiya kumusha odzokera kuHarare, ainzwa kuve young and newly wed.
Paakasvika kuMarimba Park akawana mudzimai wake achinge anorwara chaiko nedepression and serious stress. Pane kuti afarire kudzoka kwemurume wake akangochema achizvidemba kushaya mwana kwake.
Alois akabwaira bwaira achishaya zvekunyatsotsanangura kumudzimai wake, iye Monica aida mhinduro;
“Ko kana waive kumusha muchigadzira about our problem, why was I not invited, handiti mwana anoitwa nevanhu vaviri here?”
“Sorry shamwari zvaiitika zvacho ndiamai vakazvironga, and zvaisaita kuti uvepo, ndiwe mukadzi wangu nyangwe ndikaita mwana nemumwe mukadzi anenge achingopfuurawo nepano. But tinodawo mwana mumba muno Monica.” Akapedzisira nekumutaurira nezveurongwa hwaChengeto, akaedza kutaura zvishoma kuti Monica asanyanye kurwadziwa. Asi Monica aisave benzi aiziva kuti chii chinoitika pakati pemukadzi nemurume vabvumirana kuita mwana vese. She did not comment anything, but shed bitter tears of heartbreak and hopelessness.
Vakazoita vhiki yakanyarara , Monica achifa nekufunga, and a long list of unanswered questions which she would not dare ask Alois due to fear of facing the truth and further heartbreak.
Alois wacho, aitaura kuti anoda Monica wake asi anxiety and excitement yekutarisira mwana wake naChengeto got the better of him. He was always on the phone asking how the mother of his child was doing, taking orders from both his mother and amai vevana vake. All weekends ainge ave kuWedza, achitandara nemudzimai wake, nekusimbisa mwana aiumbika mudumbu maChengeto….
Pamwedzi wakatevera Chengeto akatanga kurutsa, kurwadziwa rwadziwa kusingapere, mbuya Makonese vange votonzi mbuya vaKudzai, vange vatove musikana chaiye vachibikira Chengeto tea nemazai zuva nezuva vachimupa ari mumagumbeze asina nekugeza kumeso. Musha wese wakafara, kufara kwavo vese vakabva vakanganwa kuti kuna Monica aivewo mudzimai wavo. The smart and knowledgeable mother in law had everything under control. There was no hurry of going to the hospital for tests, they were waiting for sometime, of no menstrual flow to be sure and then go to the hospital. Uye kugadzirira kundobvisa danga reNzou chairo kuvabereki vake.
Mwedzi miviri yakave yekusimbisa pamuviri pakauya pakatarisirwa nemaziso matsvuku. In the fourth month, Chengeto was shocked to wake up one morning with spoiled undies, was she having her menstrual flow or was it a miscarriage?
Mwedzi mitatu yekutanga ambuya Makonese vakange vogara vachishanya kuMarimba Park, kuzoona kuti muroora haasati osvipa svipa here nekufinyama finyama. Alois was their hero, they were all waiting impatiently for his children, they all felt he deserved better and more. After sending all his siblings to school, up to degree levels, and building the family mansion, they all wanted to see his home full of his children. His brothers and sister would jokingly say, “mukoma itai vana venyu even 10 they are our responsibility, it’s now your time to rest”, yes they loved and appreciated their brother that much. They all were grateful for how he had sacrificed his education, his life crossing boaders alone for their sake, and each of them felt obliged to give back to him. Amai vavo ndo gospero she would preach to all of them vachingongodzera kuti mukoma Alois is and will always be the man of the Makonese match.
After 4 months, vakawana Monica achingofamba pasina chaainacho. The old lady was not impressed at all, however she decided to be patient and gave her more time.
At the end of 12 months, mhuri yese yekwaMakonese vange vatsamwa and they did not hide their disappointment, mukoma Alois vaitambisirwa nguva nemukadzi waange akaroora aisada kukudza rudzi. His business was extraordinarily flourishing, mari yese iyoyo yaifanira kudyiwa nani? Iye Monica ndiye ange oita seanogeza nemukaka ozora chocolate nekudya mari yamukoma Alois akarara zvake musabhabha.
Izvi zvaitaurwa kwavari vese vachinzwa, insensitively.
Pagore retatu, hapana chakachinja, kusekererana kwavamwene nemuroora kwange kusisipo, vamwene vaisatombonyara zvavo kana kunyepera, she decided to do it the feminine way, frustrate her till she packs her bags and go. Kana pavaishanya kuMarimba Park vaisadya chinhu kuti azvione kuti havanei naye.
Nerimwe zuva Monica akashanyira vamwene vake kuWedza, paakavatambidza groceries she had brought for her, vakaramba kutambira ndokumuti;
“Ndave broiler here rinongounzirwa chikafu zuva nezuva, ndodawo muzukuru wekubereka, wekutuma, wekufambawo naye. Kurwizi kwatinoenda uku twana tunenge twakati farara pese twuchitamba. Ndoshaya kuti wangu munyama rudzii kuti chero vana vane 15years vanotamba pasi pemuti vanongomitisana, asi wangu muroora anorara pamuzvambarara weLuxaire mubhedha asi chabuda hapana. Musanditorera vanhu vemaricho ekumenya nzungu gore rino, imi usiku hwese munenge muchiitei, huyai muzomenya nzungu dzangu kuno. Kusanyara mukadzi mukuru akaita sewe kufamba wega senyoka, chero Dorika mupengo anofamba nevana vake wani…..”
Monica akabaiwa chaizvo nemanzwi aya, akaridza mhere sepafiwa, manheru acho akadzokera kumba kwake kuHarare, haanazve kuzotsika gumbo rake pamusha pasekuru naambuya Makonese. Akasviba moyo akashaya kuti mhosva yake yaive yei kana vana vari zvipo zvinobva kuna Mwari. Akati kana Mwari vaida kuti adzokere kundoitawo muroora anofarirwa neremekedzwa vaizomupawo mwana.
Gore iri ndopaakatanga kuenda kumaChiremba ese ese seriously, akambosiya zvekuti we are waiting for God’s time, akaenda kundovhenekwa kuti vaone kuti chii chaimutadzisa kuitawo mwana wake. Kwese kwaakafamba vaingoti hapana chakaipa paari. Monica akatanga achaita Rosary zuva nezuva, nekunamata maNovena of all Saints aaiziva as shared in the Catholic church, katatu pagore aienda kuMutemwa Leper Camp kundorara mugomo rainamatira St John Bradburne, akaneta akambosiya chitendero cheRoma.
Akatanga kuverera usiku kuti mafata, masister nemadzimai eNzanga yaAnna Musande vaainamata navo vasaziva kuti pane kumwe kwaaimboenda. Aienda kumapostori; akaenda kune vemazuda akambosunga mutimwi wered newhite akaneta akaudambura akavasiya. Akaenda kumagemenzi ewhite anosungwa nemabhande matsvuku, akaendazve kune asingasungwi akaona sekutambisa nguva akaramwa. Akaenda kunguwo tsvuku dzine bhande regreen akatizazve. Asi bheriya ange otamba zvemhando yepa top.
Akaenda kuDefe Dopota kuZion akambotevera zveko kusvika atizazve. Asi akabva odzana chaizvo aitamba zvine rhythm waiyeverwa makumbo achiita seane magetsi achiimba ndire ndire. Akageza nekunwa miteuro neinoyera, midzi yekun’anga akanwa neimwe yaizomurarisa akagara hana ichirova, dzese dzaive shungu dzekuti abatewo mwana wake mumaoko. Asi chibereko chakaramba chakavhara, apa makore aifamba.
Kana Nigeria-SCOAN kwaTBJ akandosvika akandoudzwa kuti “God has heard your prayer you shall surely have a son at God’s own time.” Asi pakaita dzimwe 5 years mwana wechipikirwa asina kuuya, God’s own time yacho yaive kachana kure kure kusina anosvika, kana yaizosvika. Zvokwadi when was God’s time? Pane anoiziva here nguva yaMwari kana kuti kungomirira murima, dai maporofita aiziva aitaura zuva mwedzi negore kwete kuti God’s time, Monica aiita hasha achifunga prophecy yakadai.
Pavange vasvika 7 years vari vese asi mwana pasina, ambuya Makonese vakadaidza mwana wavo kumusha ndokuti;
“Chionaka iwe mwanangu Shumba, zvekuti ufe usina mwana nekuti wakaroora mukadzi ngomwa aiwa. Saka ndakutsvagira mumwe mukadzi kubva Buhera kwedu. Ari pano anonzi Chengeto anogara muraini rimwe chete nesu kwana sekuru vako uko. Akaita mwana wake kare atove Grade 2 izvozvi. Saka iwe ndiye achave mudzimai wako wekuno kumusha, uyo waunoda mogara mese Harare.”
Alois asati apindura, amai vakasimuka pasi pemumvuri pavaive vakagara, ndokundopinda mumba ndokudzoka nemukadzi wemakore 24.
“Muroora Chengeto, ndiye murume wako uyu.” Ambuya vakataura vakasekerera chaizvo vachigutsikana nehurongwa hwavo. Alois akaramba akanyarara akatarisa mudzimai akange apfugama mberi kwake kuti amukwazise, akagutsikana kuti paive nemukadzi akasvika. Asi attraction naye paive pasina hapo, upenyu hwake Monica ndiye waaida. Vakazokwazisana nekubvunzana upenyu, Chengeto ndokutumwa kundobikira “murume wake”. Ambuya Makonese ndokusara vachiti;
“Uyu anozvara ari pano tichimuchengeta nevazukuru vangu. Kana vakura wovatengera imba kuHarare vogarawo semagariro anoita mvandara yaunogara nayo.” Vaitoda kuti kana asvotwa nazvo ngaaende asi vaiziva kuti mwanakomana wavo haazvide. Akange amboita mwedzi wese asingataure navo pavakambosimbirira kuti Monica adzokere kumusha kwake.
Alois akaramba akanyarara ave kungotura befu nekupukuta dikita achifunga zvese zvaitaurwa nezvaiitwa namai vake.
Zvisinei masikati aya akaenda kuHoward Mission Hospital kwavakandoitwa all necessary tests, Alois ainyanya kuda kuve nechokwadi pazvinhu zviviri. Aida kuziva HIV status yaChengeto kana zvimwe zvirwere zvepabonde and most importantly, aida kuziva kuti Chengeto haana nhumbu here nechekare. Zvakaramba zvichimunetsa kuti sei Chengeto ange abvuma kupfimbwa nechembere iyi kusvika pakutouya kumba kwavo vasati vaonana, akangoti ndozvinoita nhamo paruzevha.
Nevertheless, Alois akazogara kumusha kwemavhiki maviri akatevera, naChengeto semudzimai wake. Vakamboenda kuHarare kwaakandomutengera boxes of clothes and shoes, maternity dresses, and also groceries. Akazondomusiya kumusha odzokera kuHarare, ainzwa kuve young and newly wed.
Paakasvika kuMarimba Park akawana mudzimai wake achinge anorwara chaiko nedepression and serious stress. Pane kuti afarire kudzoka kwemurume wake akangochema achizvidemba kushaya mwana kwake.
Alois akabwaira bwaira achishaya zvekunyatsotsanangura kumudzimai wake, iye Monica aida mhinduro;
“Ko kana waive kumusha muchigadzira about our problem, why was I not invited, handiti mwana anoitwa nevanhu vaviri here?”
“Sorry shamwari zvaiitika zvacho ndiamai vakazvironga, and zvaisaita kuti uvepo, ndiwe mukadzi wangu nyangwe ndikaita mwana nemumwe mukadzi anenge achingopfuurawo nepano. But tinodawo mwana mumba muno Monica.” Akapedzisira nekumutaurira nezveurongwa hwaChengeto, akaedza kutaura zvishoma kuti Monica asanyanye kurwadziwa. Asi Monica aisave benzi aiziva kuti chii chinoitika pakati pemukadzi nemurume vabvumirana kuita mwana vese. She did not comment anything, but shed bitter tears of heartbreak and hopelessness.
Vakazoita vhiki yakanyarara , Monica achifa nekufunga, and a long list of unanswered questions which she would not dare ask Alois due to fear of facing the truth and further heartbreak.
Alois wacho, aitaura kuti anoda Monica wake asi anxiety and excitement yekutarisira mwana wake naChengeto got the better of him. He was always on the phone asking how the mother of his child was doing, taking orders from both his mother and amai vevana vake. All weekends ainge ave kuWedza, achitandara nemudzimai wake, nekusimbisa mwana aiumbika mudumbu maChengeto….
Pamwedzi wakatevera Chengeto akatanga kurutsa, kurwadziwa rwadziwa kusingapere, mbuya Makonese vange votonzi mbuya vaKudzai, vange vatove musikana chaiye vachibikira Chengeto tea nemazai zuva nezuva vachimupa ari mumagumbeze asina nekugeza kumeso. Musha wese wakafara, kufara kwavo vese vakabva vakanganwa kuti kuna Monica aivewo mudzimai wavo. The smart and knowledgeable mother in law had everything under control. There was no hurry of going to the hospital for tests, they were waiting for sometime, of no menstrual flow to be sure and then go to the hospital. Uye kugadzirira kundobvisa danga reNzou chairo kuvabereki vake.
Mwedzi miviri yakave yekusimbisa pamuviri pakauya pakatarisirwa nemaziso matsvuku. In the fourth month, Chengeto was shocked to wake up one morning with spoiled undies, was she having her menstrual flow or was it a miscarriage?