By Trevor Ncube
Douglas Tawanda Munatsi was a remarkable human being. It is
difficult, almost impossible to write about him in the past tense. Because Doug
filled every room he walked into with so much life. In this tribute, because it
is more than just an obituary, I would like to reflect on aspects of the Doug I
knew, from the personal to the professional and the public.
I knew Doug for over 30 years. He grew to become more than
just a dear friend, he was my brother. I am godfather to his eldest son. He and
his wife Bindzile are godparents to our daughter Maya. Our families shared many
unforgettable moments over the years. Even as we mourn Doug’s passing, we are
comforted by these moments. We will always cherish the joy he brought into our
lives.
“Mzukulezi how are you and Allbody? You are always in my
prayers” was one of Doug’s many ways of greeting me and checking on my family.
He was my “Sekuru” because he was Nzou, my late mother being Ndlovu. I will
miss Doug on so many levels.
Doug and l joined the Wingate Golf Club at about the same
time. We had lots of fun on the golf course. We would go on to take our shared
passion for golf to many courses around the world. A round of golf takes quite
a few hours to complete, and Doug was the best companion to share that time
with.
He had a great sense of humour. Not only did he have us all
in stitches with his mischievous anecdotes, he would be reduced to tears as he
laughed at his own funny stories. Like all the great conversationalists, many
of Doug’s stories had a great shelf life. He retold some of them so many times
over the past 30 years, yet their punchlines never lost their sting.
One of Doug’s favourite jokes was about my putting routine.
He would demonstrate just how long I stood over the golf ball before putting –
each time he would laugh uproariously. Another favourite of his was the day
Muchadeyi Masunda had a complete sense of humour failure when I accidentally
walked over his putting line.
There was also the time when my caddy told me off for
shanking my shot. What we didn’t know at the time was that my caddy had placed
a bet on the game and had backed me to beat Doug. My caddy wasn’t just berating
me for my weak shot but was actually upset because I had cost him money. Doug’s
personality was so much larger than life that I cannot believe that we will
never see or talk to him again. It is all so surreal.
More than a source of laughter, he was a pillar of support.
When my mother died in July Doug flew down to Bulawayo to attend the funeral and
mourn with us. He was one of the 30 people allowed to be at the graveside under
the tight Covid protocols during the devastating third wave. He was that kind
of friend who stood by his friends in good and bad times. He was generous and
kind.
Our families had a tradition of Friday quality time that
spilled over into the following day. Our last time together was for a dinner to
celebrate Doug and Bindzile’s 30th
wedding anniversary at Wombles in Harare. Time spent with Doug and Bindzile was
intellectually stimulating and a nourishment to the soul.
He was consistent. The same values he lived by as a friend
and a family man governed his business dealings. Doug was a hard worker,
principled and professional – virtues that made him a positive role model to
many young people.
In Doug they saw somebody whose significant wealth could be
traced to the hard work he had put in, and the tangible businesses he had built
from the ground up.
As Managing Director of First Merchant Bank he was
instrumental in the bank financing my acquisition of 100% control of ZimInd
Publishers when my partners Clive Murphy and Clive Wilson disinvested. He also
supported my acquisition of the Mail & Guardian in South Africa. He took a
lot of flak in Zanu PF circles for supporting me.
I am angry. I am hurting. Doug elected to answer the call
to serve his country and temporarily abandon his comfortable life. He did not
need the job as the first Chief Executive Officer of the newly constituted
Zimbabwe Investment and Development Agency (ZIDA). What a thank you to a
patriotic citizen. After this how many will answer the call to serve when the
message is that the price for principled leadership is life itself.
As l write this Doug’s funeral has been postponed to allow
for further investigations into the circumstances surrounding his death. I hope
that the investigation will be a thorough and impartial one, conducted by those
committed to justice.
I am aware that Doug faced resistance from those opposed to
an ethical management style. In my conversations with him, Doug said he wasn’t
afraid of those who wanted a corrupt ZIDA. When I said if they failed to
compromise him, they would come for him, he responded “then they don’t know me
Mzukuru” and dismissed the matter.
Doug did not deserve to die the way he did. From what we’ve
garnered so far it appears as if Doug died a most horrific death. The
circumstances of Doug’s death are disturbingly similar to those of General
Solomon Mujuru.
Difficult to understand like the death of Charles Kuwaza,
former chair of the State Procurement board. Difficult to understand like the
death of Edward Chindori-Chininga former Minister of Mines and Mining
Development.
My prayer is that we get to know what actually happened to
Doug early on the morning of Monday the 29th of November 2021, inside his
penthouse in Harare. I am hoping that if Doug was murdered his death draws the
line in the sand to this impunity. We must bring to an end the assassination
and murder of citizens and the failure to investigate and bring to book the
perpetrators of these barbaric crimes.
Bindzile and the boys have lost a loving husband and
father. Many of us have lost a great friend while Zimbabwe has lost a patriot
who was going to positively impact the future of this country through ZIDA. The
circumstances of Doug’s death speak volumes about the society that we have
become.
The greatest tribute to Doug’s inspirational life is a
speedy investigation of how he died. If his death was a hit, as l believe
strongly, the culprits must be brought to book. That is our debt to this
patriotic and selfless Zimbabwean.
Doug loved God. He attributed his success from very humble
beginnings to the Grace of God. In his wife Bindzile he had a praying warrior.
They raised their three amazing boys in the presence of God. His love for his
wife and family was an inspiration. His legacy will be felt for a long time
across not only Zimbabwe but also in South Africa, Botswana and indeed the
whole continent.
You have done your bit Doug. Go well till we meet again. Zimbabwe
Independent
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