T H Z Simbi

##NjanjaChronicles #TheHomecoming #TheKingIsAround Saturday 11 April will sit firmly in my history books ,one of the most memorable, emotional and deeply satisfying days, all wrapped up in a small bag of love. After a full year of planning, 35 grandchildren travelled from across the globe and gathered at the village in Redhill, Njanja, to honour and celebrate the lives and legacy of our dearly departed grandparents, Joseph Mackenzie Magende Pfende (15/10/1910 – 30/06/1988) and Helen Brooks (06/11/1918 – 17/08/1991). My grandfather settled in Redhill around 1940, where he established the first store in the area. A man of few words, but decisive in action. His story deserves more than a single post. My grandmother, Helen, was the daughter of Ambuya Chitema of Chihota and a Scottish immigrant who left soon after her birth. She was strong, hardworking, and deeply rooted in tradition. Despite standing out , light-skinned, with flowing hair , she became part of the community in a way that mattered. She worked the land tirelessly, alongside workers and, at times, us grandchildren during school holidays, while Granddad worked as a chauffeur for the MD of African Distillers in the 1970s. We also took time to remember our uncles. Roger Brooks-Pfende (10/03/1949 – 21/04/1981), whose life was tragically cut short after unknowingly drinking traditional beer laced with poison at a community function , an incident that shook the entire Denhere community. Onias George “Mapepa” Mackenzie Pfende (20/08/1947 – 20/06/1998) , a surveyor par excellence, a storyteller, and a man full of compassion. His work helped shape places like New Ardbennie Industrial area and Rufaro Stadium. Newton Brooks (10/01/1951 – 07/07/2024) , “the philosopher.” A wise, gentle man, a great listener, and one of those uncles I could run to for advice back in my dating days 😆 And Martin Brooks-Pfende (16/03/1942 – 22/10/2001) , a fighter and a brawler, loved his fast cars and everything that came with being the OG in the hood of Kong 😆 He worked at Salisbury Municipality, later Harare City Council. Worked hard. Played hard. For many of us, it was a remembrance and a reunion. Some cousins I hadn’t seen in 25 years. Some meeting for the very first time. There was laughter. There were stories. Drinks flowed, music carried through the night, and a strong team of murooras made sure no one went hungry. We sat around the fire until the early hours, reconnecting, remembering, and restoring something that time had quietly stretched. It was waaaay more than a gathering, it was a homecoming. And to say I need a recharge is an understatement. I’m off the grid Monday and Tuesday 😆