Stephen Chadenga
State security agents last weekend attempted to stop a birthday bash prepared for the grandmother of August 2023 parliamentary opposition Chirumanzu South candidate Patrick Cheza leaving the local community questioning government’s commitment to respect the privacy of individuals.
Last Saturday Cheza held a birthday celebration at his homestead for his maternal grandmother, Gogo Taruza Maruwana who turned 112 years but despite it being a private function police officers and members of the central intelligence organization (CIO) could be seen milling outside the perimeters of the homestead’s fence.
Cheza said the day before the birthday (last Friday) he had received a phone call from the police that the event could not proceed as they (police) “feared the gathering could be turned into a political rally.”
“It’s quite shocking that in an expected democracy police visit people’s homes and attempt to stop private functions like birthdays,”he said.
“Besides assuring them that this was purely a private function the state security agents came again on the day of the birthday. I had to let them in and explain that l was honouring my grandmother and that is when they left.”
Speaking at Gogo Maruwana’s 112th anniversary Cheza called for unity and development among the local community.
“All who came today for my grandmother’s birthday are welcome. This is not a political gathering but a celebration for a long life lived,”Cheza said.
“My maternal grandmother is the one who looked after me from a tender age. I am who l am because of her and would like to thank God for giving her such a long life.”
The opposition activist’s wife, Cynthia echoed the same sentiments and said Gogo Marumwa was a community leader and unifier.
“Gogo Maruwana is a prayer warrior and has always been a development oriented person and we are blessed to have her not only in the family but the community as a whole,”she said.
Gogo Maruwana said since it was her day she had few words but just to thank her family and the community for honouring her.
“I feel very humbled and would just want to say thank you my children for honouring me,”she said.
A devout Catholic Gogo Maruwana was born just before the first world war on June 14 1913. Before the birthday bash the Roman Catholic church held a church service to honour her.