Luton, England. (News of The South) History was made in the UK on Saturday night on July 18 when popular Zimbabwean Tendayi Masosomere also known as “Mablango” was mourned at Riverley Park in Luton. “Mablango” died in Luton early this week.
Mablango lived in the UK for 20 years, having left his wife and two children in Zimbabwe. He’d not been back to Zimbabwe due to lack of documentation. Mablango passed away in the UK early last week.
Most of the Zimbabweans who attended the bbq wake are working in healthcare but from images and videos it clearly shows they failed to observe UK government guidelines on Coronavirus. People who were doing the bbq were touching the meat with bare hands, no handwashing, passing the meat to eat to others using bare hands, no masks and no social distancing was observed. One of the sisters who lives in Oxford and runs a healthcare agency was also present and made no attempt to keep everyone safe. As it stands one man who attended is complaining of a sore throat and reality has just struck that it might be coronavirus.
Zimbabwean community in Luton teamed up and gathered at Riverley Park just two minutes from Tendayi’s house where they had a BBQ were drinking the night away while blasting music in the park. Luton police dispersed the crowd at 2am after receiving complaints from surrounding neighbours.
This is the first time a Zimbabwean was mourned in a UK park, people travelled to Luton from all over the country.
According to the people who gathered in the park ” Mablango” had many girlfriends including one named Florence who was known to be a high spender spending his money when his business was booming. They were surprised as to why she didnt come to the park to mourn him. Florence was known to frequent Mablango’s house where she stayed for three days per week.
One Zimbabwean man volunteered and bought lots of meat for the bbq. Another lady cooked sadza at her house and brought for people to eat at the park. During the BBQ one man spoke about how Mablango used to frequent the Whitehouse pub in Luton, he was always there buying drinks and beer for people. He became respected and popular because of that and earned himself the name ‘ Mablango”. Mablango was also known for helping fellow Zimbabweans with money and paid rent for people but when he was in time of need not many people were helping him. He would beg for money at the Asda car park in Luton where he would meet Zimbabweans where he told them he needed money for basics but most he had helped in the past would ignore him. A few good samaritans would buy basic commodities for him. Mablango’s fellow Zimbabweans in Luton failed him by failing to signpost him to organisations who could have assisted him in his time of need.
So far £4000 has been raised for ‘Mablango so he can be repatriated back to Zimbabwe. Zimbabweans value their culture and respect that one should be buried back home when they die. Friends are planning to visit the Zimbabwean Embassy in London and process repatriation papers. Max, one of Mablango’s friends is collecting the donations.
One of Mablango’s friends who attended the funeral wake at Riverley park said: ” I wonder why people sre now contributing for his repatriation but when he was alive and needing help they were reluctant to assist. Despite knowing he had financial problems fue to being unable to work, his close friends ignored him. More could have been done for him”
A whatsapp group created specifically for Mablango has about 200 people and they are all chipping in with funds.
“Mablango’” lived in Brooks Street in Luton where his Asian landlord allowed him to stay for free because he understood his problem of not working.
During his hey days when the freight business was booming “Mablango” was a party animal and was seen at almost every party in the UK. He was also a heavy gambler and frequented places like Coral betting shop and many more in Luton as well as Bingo places and casinos. At the Whitehouse bar they appreciated his custom such that they gave him a VIP spot and his table was always swarmed by Zimbabweans wanting a free drink and meal. “Mablango” was well known for filling up people’s car tanks when he sent them to Luton train station to pick up his girlfriend Florence and bring her to Whitehouse.
At one time he had a Zimbabwean girlfriend who was also a Nurse living in watford she was in the picture before Florence. The girlfriend once went to Zimbabwe where she went to find Mablango’s wife and officially introduced herself to the wife showing off that she was now the number woman in Mablango’s life.
“Mablango” was born and bred in Mabvuku. Most people who grew up in Mabvuku are based in luton and they are all coming together in community spirit to support ‘
A close of “Mablango” narrated how he has two sisters living in the UK and that they didn’t get along so didn’t keep in touch that often. The friend sais at least one of the sisters attended the funeral wake in the park.
Many Zimbabweans and other immigtants are struggling in the UK where life is getting tougher everyday. Others are fortunate to get assistance in times of need but others fail to get any support and end up with serious problems. There is a rapid increase in mental health cases and some are caused by hardships when one is so far away from home. – Newsofthesouth