The Sunday Mail
Veronica Gwaze
WOMEN are appreciated every day of our lives but a special day, Mother’s Day, has been set aside to acknowledge their importance.
The Sunday Mail Society caught up with some of the World Cup-bound Zimbabwe senior netball team players and their mothers, who shared plans for today (Mother’s Day).
The Gems have gone into camp in preparation for the prestigious global tournament that is scheduled to run between July 28 and August 6 in Cape Town, South Africa.
Felisitus Kwangwa (captain)
Although she is currently at her England base, the Gems skipper, who will soon be joining the rest of the team in camp at Prince Edward School, has a special surprise for her mother, Peggy Kwangwa.
“I do not want to blow the surprise but every year, I make sure I do something, just to appreciate her as my mother and top fan, who stands by me, even when I am down,” she said.
From her netball gains, Felisitus has assisted her parents in building their seven-room Phelandaba home. She bought them a car and new household property as surprise gifts.
However, Mrs Kwangwa feels earning her celebrity status is the best Mother’s Day gift her daughter has given her for years to come.
“We used to live in a cocoon, until Feli (Felisitus) changed all that, so, what other gift can one ever ask for?” she said.
“Yes, I am celebrating Mother’s Day but I cannot wait to watch my daughter in action at the World Cup. It has always been my dream.”
Claris Kwaramba (vice captain)
The Gems winger, who also turns out for Platinum Queens, wants to pamper her mother, Petronella, with gifts today.
Since 2018, when she made her debut in the Gems squad that qualified for the 2019 Netball World Cup, which was held in Liverpool, Claris makes every edition of Mothers’ Day a special one for her mother.
“She has been supportive from way back, when I could not even see potential in myself. I take every opportunity I have to honour her,” she said.
Mrs Kwaramba described her daughter as a blessing.
“She has transformed our family’s life. It has always been my dream to see her (Claris) play at the World Cup. This could be her moment. My prayer is that she is spotted to go and live her dream in the English league. Today is a reminder of all the good things she has brought into my life,” said Mrs Kwaramba.
“South Africa is just next door. My Mother’s Day wish is for me to be in the arena when she plays at the World Cup.”
Tanaka Makusha
The national netball team goalkeeper Tanaka Makusha will be spending time with her family in Zvishavane before travelling to Harare to join camp.
The process involves her leaving her husband in Zvishavane and dropping off her two-year-old baby at her mother’s place in Norton.
“We are going for a two-month-long camp, so I need to spend such days with my family. Soon, I will be saying emotional goodbyes, going on national duty,” she said.
Tanaka said she has organised a special gift for her mother.
“She deserves all the good things that Heaven can give because she goes out of her way to make sure that I am happy and that my daughter is safe,” she added.
Sharon Bwanali
Gems’ trusted goal-shooter is taking her mother for lunch before organising a beauty spa treatment, among other things.
Due to a knee injury, she missed some key international assignments over the past months and feels today is the appropriate time to thank her mother for being her pillar of strength.
“It was my first time in years to miss a tournament due to injury and mentally I was affected. It was a roller coaster of emotions because I was not sure if I would be able to bounce back or not,” she said.
“My mother was there to give me the hope that I needed. It was quite a journey and we made it. She deserves to be treated like a queen today.”
Being a mother herself, Sharon will spend time with her family in the evening.
Like her counterparts, Mrs Kwaramba hopes to make it to South Africa for the global netball showpiece.
“In the last World Cup, she had been eyed by some clubs but due to reasons beyond us, she failed to travel. But God has presented her with yet another chance.
“There is a special reason for that. From today, we will be praying, asking God to make this contest her breakthrough. I know she will spoil me today. I am a proud mother,” said Sharon’s mother.
Nicole Muzanenhamo
For the youngest Gem, Nicole Muzanenhamo, this is a different Mother’s Day.
Her mother, Connie, is now based in South Africa and she will have to connect with her through messages and video calls.
But the Gems utility plans to spoil her sister, instead.
“My sister is my biggest fan and more of a mother to me. She is my inspiration and plays the sister’s keeper role with ease, so she deserves to be spoiled,” said Nicole.
Locally, Nicole plays for Chisumbanje-based side Green Fuel, alongside her sister Mitchelle.
“There is so much we wish to do for our mother through our earnings because of what she went through to make us happy,” said Mitchelle.
“Our plan is to establish a netball academy in her (mother) honour and it will be fully funded by our netball proceeds. The academy will also help communities by taking young girls off the streets.”
