By Rex Mphisa
BEITBRIDGE town woke up to the sad and devastating news that a cultural stalwart and icon Mia Rumbidzai Libombo had passed on at about 10pm Wenesday night.
According to her first son Lovemore Libombo, she complained briefly about feeling hot.
“She was in the bathroom when she complained about feeling hot. She then weakly waltzed out of the bathroom to sit outside the house. My other brother who was at home then poured some water on her at her request,” said Lovemore.
“After that she is said to have complained of failing most probably to breathe. She is said to have uttered the words ‘atitshakhona, àtitshakhona” before going silent,” he said.
From then she never came to and died at her 483 Dulivhadzimu home from where he remains were picked for preservation ahead of burial.
Arrangements will be in due course, a relative said.
A mother of five who hailed from Musane before getting married at Lutumba, Mia Libombo died hours before the start of her filming of a sample Venda drama called ‘Tshimalo” which was due today.
According to film producer Emmanuel Ncube after the success of “Uhangwela”, her fist drama, Mial Libondo was to do her sample for the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation on Thusday.
“We are devastated, all arrangements had been done and we were to shoot today. Its sad,” said Ncube.
The drama was to be filmed at Tshibhidzanani, at Kiabetso Malutha cultural homestead.
Uhangwela was aired on the now defunct Studio 7 and locally.
In that act, she was “Makhadzi” (aunt), a respected family member who is a sister to a father, a key relative in most African cultures, a role she played in real life.
Mia Libombo was well known in gatherings where she led Venda women to pay respect to delegates and important visitors.
As Makhadzi, she would lead a team of women to lie on their side bowing down to a respected guest, a Venda way women greet dignitaries.
The greeting is regaded a top shelf honour and recipients of the same are expected to release the bowing ladies with a token of acknowledgement, usually cash.
Away from the drama, she was also a member of residents associations of Beitbridge.
She was keen to see Venda traditional ways followed and adhered to on many occassions and gatherings where she sold the traditional apparel.
By Thursday morning messages of condolences were pourng in all Beitbridge social media groups most expressing their loss in the versatile cultural activist who lived “kuma4” in the heart of Dulivhadzimu and is among the pioneer residents of that section.
Cllr Takavingei Mahachi said she was a pillar in the Beitbridge society.
Shadow councillor for Ward 4 Boyd Maphosa said this was a huge loss to the community.
“She was a woman who wanted the best out of Beitbridge and tok part in developmental gatherings. May she rest in peace,” said Bhekimpilo Mbedzi, an outspoken political activist.
She is survived by her five children.