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| Tanda Tavaruva |
TellZim Reporter
The late Tanda Tavaruva, who died
at his Rhodene home yesterday (May 11) had battled diabetes and hypertension
since 2012, a family spokesperson has said.
at his Rhodene home yesterday (May 11) had battled diabetes and hypertension
since 2012, a family spokesperson has said.
In an interview, Nyaradzai Tavaruva
said the late businessman, who ran a successful bus company under the name
Mhunga for close to three decades, had been taking his medication consistently
before disaster finally struck.
said the late businessman, who ran a successful bus company under the name
Mhunga for close to three decades, had been taking his medication consistently
before disaster finally struck.
“He has been unwell for a long
time. Since 2012, he suffered from diabetes and BP. It is unfortunate that he
finally lost the battle and that we as a family have also lost him,” he said.
time. Since 2012, he suffered from diabetes and BP. It is unfortunate that he
finally lost the battle and that we as a family have also lost him,” he said.
He also said soon before his
death, Tavaruva was refused admission into Makurira Memorial Clinic on the
basis of Covid-19.
death, Tavaruva was refused admission into Makurira Memorial Clinic on the
basis of Covid-19.
“He was turned away as they said
they could not admit somebody who had not undergone Covid-19 tests. We then
took him back home and made arrangements that he be tested at home but as we
waited for the testing team to come, he passed on,” he said.
they could not admit somebody who had not undergone Covid-19 tests. We then
took him back home and made arrangements that he be tested at home but as we
waited for the testing team to come, he passed on,” he said.
Tavaruva was born on March 07,
1936 in Gutu.
1936 in Gutu.
He started his bus business in
1983, building himself up to become a household name in the transport sector at
least at provincial level.
1983, building himself up to become a household name in the transport sector at
least at provincial level.
Several misfortunes, however,
dogged the business over the years, with 37 Masvingo Teachers’ College students
being killed in one of the bus accidents along the Harare-Masvingo highway.
dogged the business over the years, with 37 Masvingo Teachers’ College students
being killed in one of the bus accidents along the Harare-Masvingo highway.
Several other disasters followed,
culminating in government deciding to cancel the company’s operating licence in
2009 after then Transport minister Nicholas Goche accused the company of
killing 70 passengers in three months.
culminating in government deciding to cancel the company’s operating licence in
2009 after then Transport minister Nicholas Goche accused the company of
killing 70 passengers in three months.
The company sustained hundreds of
families through direct jobs while a substantial amount of resources were also channeled
towards supporting Masvingo United Football Club.
families through direct jobs while a substantial amount of resources were also channeled
towards supporting Masvingo United Football Club.
Mhunga would consistently top the
list of contributors to the Masvingo Mayor’s Christmas Cheer Fund every year by
donating thousands of dollars to the charitable initiative.
list of contributors to the Masvingo Mayor’s Christmas Cheer Fund every year by
donating thousands of dollars to the charitable initiative.
Tavaruva, who is survived by his
wife, six children and 23 grandchildren, will be buried on Thursday, May 14 at
Mangwandi Cemetery.
wife, six children and 23 grandchildren, will be buried on Thursday, May 14 at
Mangwandi Cemetery.
