Nyaradzo boss, Philip Mataranyika, says he could not delegate undertaking duties at Tuku’s funeral “given the many years of our friendship...
Nyaradzo boss, Philip Mataranyika, says he could not delegate undertaking
duties at Tuku’s funeral “given the many years of our friendship and
brotherhood in which I was privileged to tap into his wisdom, inspiration and
rare talent.”
He said :”I must admit though that it was not easy, I felt
like an undertaker son presiding over the burial of his father.
Tuku had a unique relationship with Nyaradzo, built on our
firm foundation of friendship, brotherly love and mutual respect dating back to
our days as boys’ dzeku Fiyo.
On many occasions, Tuku performed at Nyaradzo Group
corporate functions, with his last performance being in 2016 when we celebrated
our 15th anniversary at Mudziyashe Lodge in Glen Lorne.
At a deeper level, Tuku and I shared a very strong passion
for the environment. Wherever he found an open space, Tuku would plant trees.
For those who went to pay their last respects at his homestead in Norton, they
would have seen the many trees him and Maiguru Daisy have planted and preserved
over the years.
It was however at his Pakare Paya arts centre that our
passion in matters environment found expression as we took time out on his 60th
birthday to plant a good number of the trees that make the place look like a
semi-forest today.
Death has robbed us of Mukoma Oliver, who knew that you
would be gone so soon when we had started talking about producing and launching
a musical album to promote environmental awareness. Nonetheless, be comforted
Samanyanga knowing that the project will be realised and dedicated in your
honour. It’s a promise I will keep.
For us at Nyaradzo,
Tuku's Chapel service was done at our Willowvale Road branch which took its
name from the road. Now that the road has been renamed to Oliver Mtukudzi Road,
it follows that our branch will from now on be known as Oliver Mtukudzi Road branch,
isn’t that amazing? It is both an honour and privilege to us.
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