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Sydney Kawadza Senior Writer
PRESIDENT Mugabe’s former teacher, Sekuru Oscar Munyoro Katsukunya has died, aged 120 years. Sekuru Katsukunya, arguably one of the world’s oldest living people, died in his sleep yesterday morning at his son Emmanuel Munyoro Katsukunya’s house in Chitungwiza. Confirming the death, Emmanuel said his father succumbed to old age. “He died today around 5 o’clock in the morning. He was bed-ridden for the past year and we believe his death is due to old age.

“He complained of other ailments such as headaches or pain in his legs, but at his advanced age we believe he has finally taken his place with God. He has rested.”

Sekuru Katsukunya, whose exact age was a topic for debate when his story hit the newspapers, is one of President Mugabe’s former teachers. In March last year, the centenarian educator realised his dream of meeting his iconic pupil, President Mugabe, during the St Xavier Kutama Mission Centenary Celebrations.

According to Sekuru Katsukunya’s national identity card, he was born on November 12, 1907, making his official age 109.

However, his children have disputed the official age based on some of the events Sekuru Katsukunya recalled and the colonial injustices that characterised his era especially on birth registrations.

Sekuru Katsukunya’s national identification card (48-011432-Z-48) was registered in 1959 under the colonial regime. The colonial system actually made it difficult for black people to register their births during that era.

In an interview last year, Sekuru Katsukunya recalled incidents related to the Ndebele raids of the Mashonaland regions.

The raids ended in the early 1890s with the Anglo-Ndebele war of 1893. Sekuru Katsukunya also started school (Sub A) at St Benedict’s School in Mutoko when he was already a teen.

He had worked on a farm two years earlier. He subsequently enrolled for a teaching course at Kutama Catholic Mission in 1928 before graduating two years later.

The centenarian taught President Mugabe in 1931. He tied the knot with his wife Marian in 1932.

The couple had 12 children before the wife died in 2005.

Sekuru Katsukunya retired as a teacher in 1967 after teaching for 36 years.

Emmanuel said although burial arrangements were still being planned, Sekuru Katsukunya’s burial is provisionally set for Friday in Mutoko.

Mourners are gathered at No. 1244 Unit A, Chitungwiza.

Sekuru Katsukunya is survived by 10 children, several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.