Paul Mkondo Dies
9 May 2013
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One of Zimbabwe’s most prominent property, insurance personality and businessman, Mr Paul Mkondo has died.  He was 68.
Mkondo died on Thursday afternoon at the Avenues Clinic after battling with cancer for  a brief period. The cancer had been diagnosed three weeks earlier.
Many Zimbabweans of the seventies and eighties generation will remember him for his radio commercials on life insurance. He broke the ground and set pace as one of the early Zimbabweans to make it into the insurance industry at a broader scale. His name became a household one through his entertaining and appealing insurance program, “Mari Nehupenyu Hwevanhu” which used to be aired on the then Radio 2 from 1970 to 1989.
“Hama itai cent cent, Kana usina mari hauna shamwari” ( Please contribute a penny a time because if you are broke, friends run away) were part of his commercial song of an early morning brief talk show that covered the advantages of having life insurance. The company that he worked for, Southampton did not disappoint either. Many working class people felt persuaded to buy insurance and the company grew in leaps and bounds.
Mkondo’s son Nhamo confirmed the death, adding that funeral arrangements will be announced in due course.
At the time of his death he was the owner of PMA real Estate Agent, Paul Mkondo Insurance Brokers and Paul Mkondo Life Assurance. He was also the vice president of the Real Estate Council of Zimbabwe and the chairman of Danhiko project whose Patron is the First lady Amai Grace Mugabe. He is survived by two sons, two daughters and seven grand children.
Mr. Mkondo is survived by his wife and four children and mourners are gathered at Number 184 Marimba Park, in Harare.

22 Replies to “Paul Mkondo Dies”

  1. May his soul rest in peace. He tried and managed to insure ourselves. Come 2006 our insurance policies were now worthless after contributing real money Thank you for you opened our minds to investment.

  2. I have lived a charmed life. Not many of my fellow broadcasters can lay claim to have over the years worked with as many of some of Zimbabwe’s talents as I’ve been privileged to. For a start,how many can lay claim to having co-presented television shows with the late Jordan Chataika, or been technical/recording engineer and producer for Mukoma Safirio Madzikatire’s radio shows, Mhuri Ya Va Mukadota, for years? Nothing comes close though to having co-presented and hosted Money and Life/Mari NeHupenyu Hwevanhu probably the longest (1975 – 1991), with Mukoma Paul Mkondo, and also hosted his Club Hide Out 99 radio show then.
    If these shows sounded fun to the dear listener, it is not a patch on the amount of fun we had putting these shows together and shared laughter with these genii in the studio. One day and hopefully soon, an opportunity will arise for me to write up a long and deserving obituary to these fallen heroes.
    These shows were a team effort, and there is a rich tapestry of history woven behind them, which includes the sterling and magnanimous talents of Elisha Josaam & the New Tutenkhamen Band, Cde Webster Shamu, Patrick Bajilla, Yunus Bhura, Sisi Joy Khoza, Hilton Mambo, Kay Cee (Cecil Kannermeyer),and many others. Nothing will ever take these cherished memories away, nor re-write them. Not even in death. Am sure I speak for all my surviving colleagues that your untimely death is so unfair. As in life, where you lead, we will follow. I shall ever miss your wise counsel, your sheer zest for life, and not forgetting your zest for Volvos! Zvandirwadza so… To Mukoma Paul, “Nhasi uno, Rufu Rwenyu iDambudziko remwoyo wangu”!
    Ndini muningina wenyu…
    John Matinde, UK.
    Jon-Jon.
    “For the strength in my right arm, and for always protecting me from harm, thank you Lord!”

  3. “Mangwanani baba Matinde….nhasi ndirikuda kutaura nyaya yemudyandigere…MARI YEKUDUDUNYA”
    The man is a legend.
    RIP baba MUKONDO

  4. @Ndumiso I care, @ Tete vaneshanje Nhamo was a war name, it was a commentary on what was happening in Zimbabwe when he was born.@ Mavambo regular check ups don’t insure that Doctors will find everything wrong with u. Daddy was fine until he was in hospital. Thank u to everboby who sends their condolences to our family. @ George am impressed that you know so much bout ma old man. I loved that man, and I am proud of who he was and the legacy he left behind. May his soul rest in peace.

  5. @Ndumiso I care, @ Tete vaneshanje Nhamo was a war name, it was a commentary on what was happening in Zimbabwe when he was born.

  6. A True People’s NATIONAL HERO, A Nationalist. He was a humble hard working man, who had the nation of Zimbabwe at heart. Most people do not know that we worked with him during the Liberation struggle for Zimbabwe. Vice President Muzenda, VaHerbert Chitepo, Gen. Tongogara, VaEdgar ‘2-Boy’ Tekere, Gen. Nhongo, Gen. Zvinavashe & Air Marshall Tungamirai, if they were alive today would testify, how Paul Mkondo, sacrificed his Financial & Logistical resources to ship supplies to the Frontline, & help with transporting the new recruits. He also risked his life by allowing his nightclub to be used as a secret meeting point for the freedom fighters leadership to meet without any suspicion, as Paul Mkondo was a well known businessman across all different communities back them. He was also instrumental in communicating information between the imprisoned Nationalist Leadership in Gonakudzingwa & the DARE ReChimurenga in the bush. He also spear headed the indigenisation program, for socio-economic emancipation of the people of Zimbabwe, whom he truly loved, as a Nationalist. We console The Mkondo family in their bereavement. Paul Mkondo, R.I.P. The struggle for economic emancipation must continue. Pamberi Ne Hondo! Aluta Continua!

  7. Thanking those who have posted sweet messages as this difficult time.I wish people would be mindful of what they post he was our father,grandfather,uncle at the end of the day. l respect people expressing themselves but l was always taught to think of others spare us a thought in this difficult period please .

  8. Hupenyu wenyu Idambudziko rangu.I remember his adverts on Radio back in the day.This man was light years ahead in the business.Rest in peace.

  9. Only thing I don’t understand—- why an intelligent guy like Mkondo would name his son Nhamo. So?

  10. These are the words to the advert song—-“Itai penny penny vakomana inini ndachona, vakomana inini ndashaya chekuita, kanausina mari hauna shamwari. Upenyu hwangu hwandipandukira ndasara ndega ndisina shamwari etc—and I was only a titchy little thing yet I recall this guy. He must have been doing sumtin’ good—RIP. So?

  11. R.I.P Paul Mkondo. The man did business when people were still businessmen and not busyconmen! You legacy will live for ever!
    On another note, what happened to regular medical check-ups? Diagnosed of cancer 3 weeks ago? Why can’t we learn from the President in order to live longer? Now we have lost another very good business mind, father, grandfather, etc.

  12. Itai sendi sendi mundibatsirrewo vakomana ini ndachona vakomana urombo huroyi kana usina mari hauna shamwari.
    zororai murugare Mr PTM

  13. ya mudhara vakandipa insight ye business ndichiri mudiki,rest in peace ka jingle kako ndotombokaimba hangu kuwenera kuno.

  14. Anouncement of the death of the late, Paul Mkondo,
    May yo soul rest in peace.

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