NKULUMANI MLAMBO
GWERU-Veteran marketer, Tafadzwa Edwin Zvaraya popularly known as Doc by colleagues was laid to rest at Destiny Memorial Cemetery in Gweru last week on Saturday.
Tens of people including his former classmates, workmates and neighbours thronged the cemetery to pay their last respects to the ever smiling Doc.
He was 43.
Zvaraya succumbed to injuries he sustained when his vehicle hit a stary cattle and overturned several times at the 10km peg from Masvingo along the Harare Highway three weeks ago.
He was coming from Harare to Masvingo on September 14 when he was involved in the road traffic accident.
He died on September 28 in the morning at a Harare Private Hospital where he had had been transferred to from Masvingo.
“Tafadzwa was initially treated at a hospital in Masvingo and later transferred to Harare for further medical care due to the injuries sustained in the accident. Unfortunately, despite the efforts made, he did not recover and succumbed to his injuries, Rest easy Doc,” said Premier Service Medical Aid Society public relations manager, Paidamoyo Chipunza.
Zvaraya was born in Gweru, where he attended Cecil John Rhodes Primary School and Fletcher High School.
After completing his secondary education, he enrolled at Gweru Polytechnic for his tertiary education, where he graduated with a Higher National Diploma in Marketing.
He later on studied for a degree in Business Management with the Midlands State University in Gweru.
Doc joined PSMAS in 2006 as a clerk and rose through the ranks to the position of marketing officer in charge of Masvingo Province, a position he held until his death.
“During his tenure in Masvingo, Tafadzwa left an indelible mark, reaching out to every corner of the Province to assist PSMAS members and potential beneficiaries with crucial information on medical coverage.
“The PSMAS family, friends, and colleagues will remember him for his cheerful, gentle, and humble character,” said Chipunza.
Zvaraya is survived by his wife Rumbidzai and their children Raymond and Raylee.
The Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe (TSCZ) expressed concern over the presence of stray animals on the highways as they have contributed to many fatal accidents.
“As motorists use the highways, we urge them to always be mindful of stray animals and livestock. We have noted with concern the increasing number of road traffic accidents that are caused by livestock on our major highways hence we are pleading to farmers and villagers to restrict their livestock from roaming around highways.
“We also want to reiterate that it is against the Law and it is a punishable offense to leave livestock unattended to.
“Let us all save lives by restricting these animals from roaming around highways,” said Lucy Kuwandira – Mapfumo, TSCZ media and corporate communications officer.
Fletcher Old Students Association (FOSA), Masvingo Chapter chairman, Ignatius Mazambani expressed shock at the untimely death of one of the active members.
“We join the Zvaraya family, FOSA family, close friends and workmates in mourning the untimely death of this fine young man who was one of us. We are really saddened by Mr Zvaraya’s death,” said Mazambani.
Prominent Masvingo business executive and FOSA member, Tsungirirai Mapuvire also expressed shock at the news of Zvaraya’s death.
“I am so sorry for what happened, he was a good young man. Last month I also hit a some stray cattle on the same road just after the Mushagashe toll gate and my vehicle was damaged beyond repair. Thank God we escaped together with my family unscathed.
“These stray animals are a menace on our roads, as for the Bulawayo Road, one needs to carry a weep (thlava) in the car to drive the stray animals especially cattle roaming around the main road, they are just too many,” said Mapuvire.
