06/10/2020

Rev Vusumuzi Samuel Sifelani who died on the 29th of September in Bulawayo was laid to rest in his rural home in Lower Gweru yesterday.

Rev Sifelani, the Zimbabwe Council of Churches (ZCC) Ecumenical Liaison Officer’s week long funeral was attended by people from all walks of life-a clear testimony of the character of Samuel.

From Wednesday last week to Saturday, the 3th of October, hundreds joined the Sifelani family in mourning a man who has been hugely described as humble, friendly, intelligent, eloquent and likeable. Those who attended the daily evening church services at the late’s residence in Greendale, Harare, continued to hear of a man whose legacy has already influenced the physical and spiritual lives of many in Zimbabwe and beyond.

In Bulawayo a church service had also been held at the ZCC offices in preparation for the transfer of Rev Sif’s body to Harare. ZCC President, Bishop Khanye led the service.

The final church service in Harare was held on Sunday at the Anglican Cathedral in Harare. Over 700 people attended the service. These included ZCC’s Supervisory Council members, Advisory Board, Local Ecumenical Felloships(LEFs), ecumenical partners (including the World Council of Churches representatives in Zimbabwe), civil society, embassies, development partners, politicians, academia, business, arts and individuals who worked and associated with the late clergyman.

Yet the Requiem Mass for Rev Sif, as he was widely known, was held later in the day at his home congregation, St Mathews Anglican in Gweru.

The service was attended by nearly 800 people who included serving and retired Bishops of the Anglican Church ( Retired Bishop Mukwanda, Bishop Mutamiri and Bishop Makumbe) and representatives from other sectors of the society. This was an emotionally filled session. Rev Sif grew up and was educated in Gweru.

He always boasted of being a Gweru man. He loved his town and indeed, his town men and women thronged the St Mathews church to pay their last respect to The Sif. By the way he once led the youth wing of the church as its President-Sam was a presidential material.

The Sif’s body passed through his Ascot home on it’s way to his rural home in Dimbamiwa Village in Lower Gweru for burial on the following day.

A traditionally very quiet Dimbamiwa village was marred with thousands of mourners who had travelled from across the country. Here was a funeral befitting the character of The Sif. He was a man of the people and the people responded in their numbers when the word spread that the Giant had fallen.

Rev Sif clearly deserved what happened at his home on Monday. Speaker after speaker shared his or her unique experience with Samuel. Some shared how he cultivated the spirit of environmentalism and ecumenism within the church.

Some shared how The Sif would drive all the way from Greendale only to buy a plate of mazondo in Warren Park.

Others talked of a man who popularised the Zimbabwean proverb ‘Mira nditange ndanzwa madam’. Yet others talked of a humble man who did not want to be praised on anything he did.

If you praised him he would simply say ‘Ko zvopweregwa here? Ndozvoga here…’ Each person who attended the burial had a story to tell. Over a thousand and five hundred people gathered at the Sifelani homestead to bid fare well to a man who had only lived a very short but fruitful life.

Thus, a big tree has fallen. It has however, left fruits for us to feed from, said his former boss, Rev Dr Kenneth Mtata in his sermon at the burial site. The Sif was an environmentalist, a theologian of note, an all rounder-one who always had an example to share with his audience on any subject under discussion.

Appreciation goes to the church in Harare, Gweru and Lower Gweru for the support rendered through out the week as people were celebrating a well lived life by The Sif.

The ZCC Bishops in Harare, Gweru and Bulawayo, thank you. The ZCC Advisory Board Chair, Amai Vimbai Nyemba, thank you. Dr Mtata, and your team thank you. The ZCC LEFs you stood with one of your own. The Sif’s networks from various sectors, thank you. Dimbamiwa community, siyabonga.

The Sifelani and Mapolisa families, we continue to pray for you as you recover from this big loss. The Sif is survived by his wife and four children, two of whom are only a month and half old.

Tinashe Gumho
( Zimbabwe Council of Churches )