Bulawayo centenarians reminisce birthdays
GOGO Magutshwa often reminisces on what she believes were simpler times, when it was taboo for a woman to serve her husband food while standing upright or to mix isitshwala and relish all in one plate.
Born Aniya Magutshwa at Mzinyathini in Umzingwane District on 13 July 1919, Gogo Magutshwa is a stickler for tradition who even disapproves of the practise of serving meals on metal plates which, to her disgust, often come in a rainbow of colours.
“I don’t know why young wives serve food to their husbands all piled up in one plate. In our day this was simply not done. You had to serve isitshwala in a separate plate from the relish but these days they pile up their food in one plate. They don’t even kneel in front of their husbands. The plates are made of metal and they have funny colours as well,” she said.
Yesterday, Gogo Magutshwa celebrated her 103rd birthday at Emganwini suburb, with the Mashaba Family Trust, led by Zanu-PF Bulawayo official Elifas Mashaba, making a handsome donation of a celebratory cake and groceries to her family as part of festivities that marked the occasion.
While some were eager to learn the secret to long life from her during the celebration, she said she did not have much to share as the only thing she had an affinity for throughout her life were bread and sugar. She added that chicken feet were another select part of her diet that she believed was responsible for her long life.
Making the donation to Gogo Magutshwa, Mr Eric Mashaba said that the Mashaba Trust always kept constant tabs on one of Bulawayo’s senior citizens.
“We are proud as a Trust to honour the city’s senior citizens and we have always been close to Gogo Magutshwa so this is not a once-off donation. For us it is an honour to put a smile on her face during her special day and we are determined to do more, not only for her but other residents in the constituency,” he said.
Meanwhile, Gogo Atalia Ndlovu was all smiles and elegantly dressed as she walked in a room of about 50 plus people at Bulawayo’s Khumalo Hotel. Among them were some of her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and great great grandchildren who had come to help her celebrate 100 years of life.
The centenarian also known as Velaphi nick named Gogo Mangilazi (glasses granny) born on 22 May 1922 has eight children, 44 grandchildren, 85 great grandchildren and 23 great great children with more yet to come. As in the family genes, Gogo Ndlovu’s mother is said to have died at the age of 104 and the grandmother at about 115. Her first child (daughter) is 77 years old, the first grandchild 59, the first great grandchild 40 and the first great great grandchild 16.
Her nephew, Mr Albert Ndlovu said her aunt has always played a pivotal role in the lives of her siblings’ children. He said she has taught them principles, discipline, self-respect and brought them up very well as if her own.
Gogo Ndlovu said she was happy to have lived this long, not only did she see her grandchildren but great grandchildren and great great grandchildren. Described as a hard worker by her children, she said in life cleanliness, discipline, respect, caring and self-love were some of the key principles to living a long life.