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NewsDay

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Headman leaves behind 35 children

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BEITBRIDGE headman Judah Kohomela, who died last week, was laid to rest at his homestead 90 kilometres west of Beitbridge town.
Youthful Chief Sitauze (with diary) leads mourners to the late headman’s burial site

BY REX MPHISA

BEITBRIDGE headman Judah Kohomela, who died last week, was laid to rest at his homestead 90 kilometres west of Beitbridge town.

Kohomela (81), died after a short illness during which he was admitted at Mpilo Central Hospital in Bulawayo. He is survived by his three wives, 35 children and 68 grandchildren.

“We have lost a real father in the real sense. He was a man who was keen to teach and a perfectionist. He was a real leader and this is a loss not only to us, but an entire community of Beitbridge,” Rodney Mbedzi, a relative said.

Mbedzi, who is also a councillor in Kohomela’s ward 9 area, said the deceased had 29 kraalheads under his headmanship and had personal relationships with all people.

“The number of mourners here can tell you what type of a man he was. It’s a pity he failed to access health facilities on time,” another relative said pointing to the close to 800 mourners.

Beitbridge West legislator Ruth Maboyi said Kohomela was a unifier and urged people in the ward to take a leaf from his humility and commitment to culture.

Several civil servants led by Beitbridge district administrator Kilibone Ndou Mbedzi attended Kohomela’s funeral where hundreds of villagers braved a chilly weather to send off the elderly headman.

The headman was accorded a government-assisted burial.

Chief Sitauze led mourners to Kohomela’s final resting place.