Thanks to my joining the Chigwada Patrons facebook group, I received this story from one of its members. It is a wonderful story, well told. I have edited only a very little, the vast majority is in Agatha’s own words, and she provided the pictures. Read on….
“Hello sir. My name is Agatha Joramu Fombo. I am from Chigwada Village and am 46 years old. I did my primary education at Pakati Primary School. I started in 1980 and it was not easy for a young girl like me walking more than 5km every morning and the same after school.
I remember very much the way I cried every morning as I tried to run and catch up with the likes of Davy Chigwada, Petty Sapprinyu, Betty Mutanga etc. These were far older than me but they had been delayed by the second chimurenga (liberation war in Zimbabwe) and they re enrolled in 1980 back to school.
My grade 1 and 2 teacher was Ms Zonke, my grade 3 and 4 teacher was Ms Mwenye and my grade 5 and 6 teacher was Mr Maenzanise. Our headmaster was formerly Mr Chihaka senior then we had Mr Chirapa when I was in grade 6. I remember very well how good Ms Zonke was, she had a great passion and affectionate for pupils. Ms Mwenye was also good but she used to punish us hard for any wrong that we did.
Then Mr Maenzanise (his wife is last week’s Saturday Star – see http://friendsofpakati.com/2020/03/07/saturday-star-mrs-maenzanise-former-teacher-at-pakati-primary-school/ ) was a very quiet and humble man. He loved music and playing his guitar for us and one song he taught us was” AS I WAS WALKING ONE MORNING FOR PLEASURE.. I SAW A CHIMPANZEE COME RIDING ALONG”. Also to remember was headmaster Chirapa and his enforcement on singing the then national anthem” Nkosi Sikeleli Africa” (in the local Shona language “Ishe Komborerai Africa” to the same tune one of the Authors abiding memories is the beautiful singing of this every week at school assemblies)
I used to do athletics so much and was a fan of soccer and netball and used to go with the school teams to sing and support. I moved to Harare where I did all my later part of education.
Now I am a married woman with 2 daughters and 3 grandchildren. I became a pastor when I was in South Africa (SA) in 2016.
I moved back to Zimbabwe last year in December and am staying in Mutare where I and my husband are pastoring. We also started a preschool in February to the underprivilledged children at a farm in Old Mutare.”
I am very grateful to the Pastor for her story, another tale to inspire students at both Pakati schools, by showing what can be achieved with dedication regardless of your origins.