“Sad news, we have a big loss, Mai Mugoro no longer with us. May her soul rest in eternal peace” Those were the words just posted on one of the followed social network service sites, the Face Book. When Munya Mazere posted this unexpected and perturbing message, the author of this encomium was far away in the west of Africa, at the backdrop of Nigeria Presidential Elections. A vast pentagon of pain gripped him, a feeling of pensive sadness with realization that distance cannot be a measure of pain, but can further embed the pain. Few minutes later, WhatsApp messages started to trickle in, a sad confirmation of the reality and a taste of melancholia.
Amai Mugoro as affectionately and she was popularly
known in Mashonaland West Province, left a big void not only to the place of
origin; Zvipani, but to the entire populace that had the opportunity within her
vicinity of life; having interacted with her. Soft spoken, prayerful and
motivator can not only describe her life virtues and rectitude, but also
epitomized with love and mother-ship.
As a piously-devout
Catholic, a prolific Choir Conductor and a singer, with an art of directing
musical performances. I remember during our childhood, she was a primary school
teacher at Matau, she could lead in church Service and Mass at Holy Cross Catholic
Church among other dedicated missions of pilgrimage, with a melodious voice
that rains the congregants to a prayerful and introspective church sessions.
Her life was sanctimonious.
Mai Mugoro did not
wait until death in order to pass on the legacy-baton of leadership, as
evidenced by her children’s participation in the body of Christ and community
work, a lesson every individual must embrace. Legacy is not imposed but it is
created.
The connection with Mugoro family is not only relational and
propinquity, but also spiritual. During my childhood at St Boniface Catholic
Mission, it is the Mugoro family that carried the spiritual thesis to be my God
parents upon my holy baptism, a commitment in the Catholic Church that comes
with responsibility to always pray, guide and mentor the newly born in Christ.
Indeed, it is a desolate moment that has engulfed our land,
with this level of pain, what of the children and Mr. Jacob Mugoro the husband.
However, we can only throw ourselves in the comfort of the Lord, by reflecting
on the scripture: “but our commonwealth is in heaven, and from it we await a
Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will change our lowly body to be like his
glorious body, by the power which enables him even to subject all things to
himself” (Philippians 3:20-21).
“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I
am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my
righteous right hand.” (Isaiah 41:10)
May the Lord, our God the redeemer of human race comforts the
Mugoro family, church members, friends and the entire community for this
woebegone loss.
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither
angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither
height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate
us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:38-39)
May her soul rest in eternal peace!
Eulogy by
Misheck Gondo
Published at https://one-voiceour-voice.blogspot.com
