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Through my eyes

Through my eyes

Author: Kasia Yoko
Date: 2016-05-06
I have a few fabulous friends, friends that have over the years supported and enriched my life. I am very lucky.

One such friend is Zama Mncwabe. She has been a real beacon in my life, a beacon of hope, growth and sheer raw determination.

Many times I wondered how a girl who has come from such hardships and personal tragedy could become such a powerful and successful individual and this week I found out her secret in a Facebook message she posted not so long ago.

I asked Zama if I could share her story with you and she kindly accepted. Here is Zama’s beautiful story and just one example of human spirit shining through.

“Since this morning I have been thinking a lot about the kind of man that my father was. One story comes to mind that always gives me insight to his character.

You see my father passed away in 1982, 2 months after I had turned 6 years old. The pain of losing him so suddenly lives with us forever and the scars from the sudden way in which he passed on, will forever haunt our family.

One hot summers day, about 10 year’s ago (2006), my eldest sister and I were pottering around in the garden when an elderly man stopped and asked for water. Being the youngest in our family I was summoned to the kitchen.

I came back with a jug of icy cold water served on a tray for the thirsty man. I made a snack for him too. After he gulped down his water and food he then proceeded to ask for our family name, “Bengisacela ukubuza zingane zami, ikwabani laykhaya?”

We responded that “ikwaMncwabe laykhaya baba”.

There was a glimpse in his eye and he continued to ask where we come from and who our father is. We relayed the story of our father’s passing in 1982 and that we are originally from Esikhawini.

What happened thereafter brought tears to my eyes. The elderly man dropped to his knees and bowed down before my sister and I, with tears running down his cheeks mumbling “hawu uMncwabe…ngaze ngajabula ngibona izingane zaMncwabe…”. He told us that he was yet to meet a man like our father.

He stayed with us for a while relaying stories of his good friend and how our father had assisted him in his endeavours to better his life. He spoke about his kindness, humility and his genuine love of people.

The lessons for me in this story are many. They remind me that there are so many ways that we can leave a legacy. Our actions and words impact in a far-reaching manner.

Their effects can ripple through the layers and tides of the soul. Every word and action touches in many ways. The biggest lesson and blessing for me in this story is that we honoured our late father by treating that elderly man with the same respect and kindness that he would have wanted us to.”

This week I want to pay a tribute to Zama and her father, Patrick Mncwabe, and also to all the fathers who have positively shaped us into who we are today.