JIM MASINDI – After 42 years of faithful, unbroken teaching service, a prominent local educator and choir conductor has finally called it a day. Hundreds of people celebrated Mrs Muthuhavhonali Nemukongwe’s contribution to the educational development of the country, at a glittering function held at Jim Masindi Primary School, near Khubvi, last Friday.

The farewell function resembled a marathon of speeches, as speaker after speaker described the 62-year-old Muthuhavhonali as a dedicated community builder, who used education as a weapon to fight illiteracy and poverty. She will always be remembered for her choral music expertise, which enabled her to collect more than 65 trophies for the different schools where she taught.

Muthuhavhonali told Mirror that it was difficult to say goodbye to the teaching profession because of her love for children. With tears of joy and sadness rolling down her face, she said: “I’m happy because I have done so much in the education of this country, but I feel sad because I am going to miss the children, whom I love so much. Children need to be nurtured with love because they are the future leaders of our country. Teaching was just a calling to me and I enjoyed every school day for the past 42 years. I would like to thank all the people who gave me the courage to work tirelessly until I reach at my retirement age.”

Muthuhavhonali started her teaching career on January 1, 1963, at Nzhelele, Tshithuthuni Primary School.

She explained: “My first salary was R24 and it was a lot of money at that time. Teaching was our first love and money was just a second reward.”

In 1965, Muthuhavhonali joined Muhuyu Primary School where she taught until 1975. “I then proceeded to Makonde Primary School where I worked for 13 years. In 1998, I joined hands with Victoria Shirindi and we were the first two founding teachers of Jim Masindi Primary School.”

Muthuhavhonali said her recipe for success was hard work, dedication and the ability to work under pressure. She advised young teachers to follow in her footsteps if they want to succeed in their profession.

The principal of Jim Masindi Primary School, Mrs Victoria Shirindi, did not have enough words to describe Muthuhavhonali’s exceptional educational contribution in society. “She has all the qualities of a productive educator. We are surely going to miss her, but we thank God for giving us a wonderful gift in her. She was everything in our school and her works will remain to be seen forever.”

School kids danced and sang throughout the function although they were sad to miss their educational role model.