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Yolanda Mlilo, Sunday News Reporter
IT was a remarkable milestone for Granny Severina Mbano, affectionately known as MaMliswa as she celebrated her 100th birthday last Saturday amid pomp and fanfare characterised by merry-making.
The décor too was splendid and so was the cake as relatives and friends gathered to honour a life well lived and the contributions to society that MaMliswa has wrought.
Born on January 11, 1925, in Bulawayo, Granny MaMliswa has lived a life of profound wisdom, excellence and love.
Granny MaMliswa’s family, neighbours, and church members gathered at Isilwane Youth Centre in Old Pumula, Bulawayo to celebrate this momentous occasion. She still has remarkable vision although huge gaps could be observed in her mouth while she now has problems talking and walking.
With ten children, 45 grandchildren and 65 great-grandchildren MaMliswa is not only blessed with a large and loving family but has been gifted with a long life.
Her first-born, Mrs Gladys Chemere, who is 79 years old shared her mother’s inspiring story with Sunday News.
“She taught us love as family members and as a community. She took care of her siblings’ children who were orphans and raised us with lots of love,” Mrs Chemere said, commending her mother’s loving, caring, and hardworking nature.
Despite being unemployed, Granny MaMliswa was able to fend for her family through her various entrepreneurial ventures.
“MaMliswa was self-employed and a jack of all trades. Growing up, she used to sew clothes, which she sold to take care of us and she was also a farmer,” Mrs Chemere added.
Mrs Chemere urged youngsters to work hard to achieve their heart’s desires, echoing her mother’s teachings.
“She taught us the importance of hard work and in difficult times, she taught us to work extremely hard because hard work pays. I urge all youngsters to work hard,” she said.
Granny MaMliswa attributes her long life to her faith in God.
“The recipe to a long life is putting God first and listening to advice from elders. God gives life and health, but we were taught to abide by the elders’ rules. We were taught to become disciplined and God-fearing children at a young age,” she noted.
Mrs Chemere also expressed concern about the lack of wisdom and discipline among younger generations, saying, “Nowadays, children do not listen to the elders’ teachings because youngsters tend to think they know better. We were church-goers and we lived according to the Bible and followed the principles in the Bible.”
Dorcas Ndlovu, a church friend of Granny MaMliswa, described her as a loving person who persevered until she achieved her goals.
“I know her very well from church. She is a loving person and someone who pushes until she gets what she wants,” she said.
Granny MaMliswa is also remembered for her role in championing the building of the Pumula South Methodist Church of Zimbabwe.
“Initially, we used to worship at a mountain, but through her hard work and others, they championed the building of a church, Pumula Methodist Church of Zimbabwe,” she said.
Mrs Ndlovu commended Granny MaMliswa for teaching people the importance of unity in achieving their goals.
“She emphasised the spirit of unity among the church members because when people are united, everything is possible. She championed women’s groups,” she added.
