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Topic: Write a Coming OF AGE short story (11/20/14)
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TITLE: Mr | Previous Challenge Entry
By Bheka Dube
11/25/14 -
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During the southern African migrations known as mfecane, the Nguni peoples spread across a large part of southern Africa, absorbing, conquering or displacing many other peoples.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nguni_people
My tribe originated from the Zulu Kingdom. My ancestors are believed that are some of those brave warriors who defiled the orders from the Great Shaka. With minimum reordered history, my people entered Rhodesia via Bechuanaland now known as Botswana and settled in the heartland of the Bakalanga tribe in the province of Bulilimamagwe. My Paternal grandmother originated from the Basarwa Tribe, according to history and evidence found these are the original inhabitants of Southern Africa.
In 1980, just after the Zimbabwe’s independence, my parents separated. My mother moved to Botswana and my father remained in Zimbabwe as a teacher in Binga, a village not very far from the great Zambezi River near Zambia. The next best thing given the circumstances was that we stay with our paternal grandmother. The year our mother left I was only four years old and my young brother was only one year old. My grandmother was a well travelled lady, classy and very elegant. Above all she loved God with everything that she had and she never compromised even a single day. The only day that I know for a fact that we never went to church was Thursdays, this day was dedicated to all Christian women, and they held their church services and meetings on that day nonstop.
The mid 90’ rolled out new beginnings and experiences. These were my teenager years, natural I rebelled against church or doing any house chores. Just after my GCE Senior Exams, I left the country for South Africa, by then my mother had moved there as well around 1988. The civilization of the South left my mouth ajar. This was on the start, Johannesburg the City that knows no sleep became the University of Life Education. I first tasted alcohol and promiscuity in those days. My roots and begging forever tortured my conscious ceaselessly. My grandmother’s teachings and religious beliefs could not part from me. I remember in 1998, I once worked with one very doggy guy called, “Lovermore”, he was older than me by six years. During our tea break, he told me that he had a present for me, with bewilderment and fear his gift was 9mm parabellum. That very day it became apparent that our priorities and directions were parallel.
My defining moments of my life was the fatherhood and the peak of my career. Both these moments are truly dedicated to my grandmother mother’s teachings and guidance. Now it was the time for me to reflect these teachings to my children. In short after nine years with two kids my wife left me. As I was just thinking that this was a temporal situation, after a much deserved third promotion during a four career broke the record. The presence of the living word changes everything. What is known and of value becomes immaterial and of no value. My destiny was never defined by the numerical value of human minds but designed by God. After many years of playing Jonah the Ship amidst the sea could not be ignored. When God is present men becomes absent.
Today as I type this story, I have embarked on a journey less familiar to men. The value of a salary and the prestige of Sandton mansions remains honey in my mouth but a not a meal to survive. From 1999 to date, my people have suffered immensely; it is because people like me who believe in the might God ran away from the problems of once known bread of Africa, “Zimbabwe”. The Pharisees of our day have gained much popularity simple because the eleven disciples are not available. With God, today, tomorrow or day after tomorrow the people of Zimbabwe will grace true freedom and joy from God. I will not become a politician but student of truth and God’s teachings.
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