By Rex Mphisa
VETERAN teacher and societal hero in his own right Isaac Noko who died this week has been praised for his contributions towards education, religion and moral uprightness.
Noko was 87.
His death has created large volumes of social media traffic as Beitbridge residents showered him with praise with many taking the opportunity to announce his influence in their lives.
Family spokesperson Lekang Sijiye said they were compiling his history and would come back with all detail about the late Noko who has already been declared a Hero by his community.
“We will come back with details when we sit as a family,” he told Ziyah News Network.
But Beitbridge residents profusely poured out their hearts about the loved Noko who passed on in Bulawayo soon after the announcement of his death in Bulawayo.
At 12:03pm on Wednesday MC Patience Moyo on the Beitbridge Progressive Group announced the passing of elder Noko.
“We have lost a community legend,” she said and signalled her feeling with a broken heart emoji opening floodgates of touching, loving yet sorrowful condolences’ messages.
Said Beji Muleya: “RIP taima yaka. Till we meet again.”
Tshakalisa Jnr said: “Senior educationist, may he rest in peace.”
Douglas Martin Siphuma weighed in and said “Very sad indeed, MHSRIP.”
Another unidentified resident said: “My condolences may God comfort the family and may his soul rest in peace.”
Simon Ndlovu who is also a member of the group Simon Ndlovu also gave his condolence message just like Zanu PF Ward 4 Shadow Councillor Boyd Maphosa.
“Ahhh eish this old man, a cool guy he was, Greeted all,” said Maphosa.
Another unidentified member of the group said in Ndebele and Sotho: “Eish lumhlaba kawunoni, riri harobale ka kgotso mmirwa.”
Several groups were highly active with condolence messages for the veteran teacher who was blesses with a long colourful religious life.
He is known to have built a church while his devotion to teaching saw him follow pupils to their homes to encourage them.
Funeral arrangements were still being made.
He will however be laid to rest at Makakavhule and family members and those in political circles were said to have sought his hero status from President Emmerson Mnangagwa.