
Tendai Chara
ON Friday, July 5, the country and the rest of the world woke up to the sad news that Susan Chenjerai, a veteran actor and musician, had passed away.
Chenjerai acted as Mai Rwizi, who was the wife of Mukadota (Baba Rwizi) in the comedy “Mhuri yaVaMukadota (Mukadota Family)”.
The artiste’s funeral divided public opinion, with a section of fans arguing the events that marked her demise should not be viewed as sad occasions, but joyful celebrations of a life well-lived. Conversely, members of the New Gospel Church of God, which the late legend was leading, felt her death was a great loss.
Mai Rwizi, who grew up in Mbare, Harare, was accorded a State-assisted funeral and was buried at Warren Hills in Harare on Friday.
Nicholas Moyo, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture, said Mai Rwizi’s life is worth celebrating.
“For us in the arts industry, she was our legend and entertainer par excellence. Today, we are not mourning but celebrating the life of a person who gave her all to society. Mai Rwizi’s life was well-lived,” said Moyo.
Pastor Christopher Simawu, whom Mai Rwizi appointed to lead the church when she was not feeling well, said her death has plunged the church into mourning.
“I am trying to be brave but to be honest, her death is a great loss. Personally, I knew her since 1983, when she took me and looked after me as if I was her biological son.
“She was a humble character, who visited remote and isolated places to minister and plant churches,” said Pastor Simawu.
Legacy
Napoleon Nyanhi, the director of the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe, urged the Chenjerai family to safeguard her legacy.
“It is important for the family members to continue her legacy. The family can do this by being involved in the production of short stories, films and books that portray her life. It is the family members who knew her better,” said Nyanhi.
Mai Rwizi’s legacy should be in safe hands.
Three of her daughters are musicians, while her grandson, Simbarashe Kanenungo, is determined to keep his grandmother’s legacy alive.
Mai Rwizi’s eldest daughter Jane (70) is in the process of recording an album.
“I was inspired by my mother and I would want to keep her legacy safe. I am going to remix some of the songs that she released in the early 60s and late 70s so that the younger generation can also sample and appreciate her music,” Jane said.
Mai Rwizi’s second-born daughter Lydia (68) has roped in his son Simbarashe Kanenungo to record the songs that were written by her mother shortly before her death.
“When our mother died, she had written songs that she intended to record with the church choir. We are soon going to record the songs as she directed,” said Lydia.
Daisy (63) recently recorded an album that was heavily influenced by her mother’s 1960s’ productions.
“My mother influenced and inspired me to become a musician. In the past, I did songs with the help of the late Cephas Mashakada and Fanyana Dube. It was my mother who introduced me to these musicians,” she said.
One of the late actress’ daughters, Martha, wants to make sure her mother’s church remains alive.
“The church meant everything to her. Her wish was for the church to acquire a stand. As a family, we are going to make sure that her wish will one day be granted,” Martha, who is based in the United States, said.
Jane and Daisy acted alongside their mother in the “Mhuri yaVaMukadota” comedy, with the former playing the “Chimbwido” part. A then-young Daisy was featured in the popular drama series as “Chenzira”.
A lively character during her heyday, the late artiste was a woman of many talents.
Apart from being an actress and musician, Amai Rwizi, who was married to the late cleric, Apostle Lovemore Mobate, was also a marriage counsellor.
“She was against divorce. She did all she could to make sure that she saved marriages. I know countless couples that were reunited after my mother’s intervention,” said Jane.
She had six daughters, namely Jane, Lydia, Jacqueline, Martha, Patricia and Daisy.
Of the six children, Jacqueline and Patricia are now late. Chenjerai left behind 21 grandchildren, 36 great-great-grandchildren and two great-great-great-grandchildren.
Career
Early in her career, Chenjerai was a member of the Bantu Actors in 1958, before joining the Marandellas Bush Babies in 1958. She joined Mukadota’s band, the Safe Brothers, in 1969.
During her long career, she also worked with the Wagon Wheels, where she met the late national hero Dr Oliver Mtukudzi.
She also recorded with Jordan Chataika.
Chenjerai became a pastor in the 1970s, left showbiz and started ministering with her husband. According to her children, Mai Rwizi remained an entertainer until she breathed her last.
“Even in hospital, where she stayed for five days, she was always joking and entertaining the medical staff. She was born an entertainer, lived as an entertainer and died whilst entertaining.”