Mai Sorobhi honoured . . . buried in Legends section of cemetery Johane Masowe yeChishanu Apostolic Church congregants sing at the burial of actress Rhoda Mtembe, popularly known as Mai Sorobhi, at Warren Hills Cemetery in Harare yesterday. — Picture: Nyasha Chisveto.

Yeukai Karengezeka

Arts Correspondent

Veteran actress, Rhoda Mtembe, known in showbiz as Mai Sorobhi, who was buried yesterday at the Warren Hills Cemetery Hills under the Legends section, received a befitting send-off from fellow colleagues in the arts sector and corporates.

She was accorded an executive send-off by Nyaradzo Funeral Services.

The National Arts Council of Zimbabwe (NACZ) pledged to give the family an amount that is equivalent to US$1 500.

Prominent actors came out in their numbers, including those that acted with her in the popular television series “Paraffin” which thrust her into the limelight. Colleagues in the arts sector described Mai Sorobhi as a person who was humble and hard-working.

Agnes Gwatiringa, producer and scriptwriter of Paraffin, said Mai Sorobhi was her soulmate. “She was very intelligent,” she said. “She was my soulmate and she knew how best to execute my thoughts and my popularity increased because of characters like her and Paraffin.

“Mai Sorobhi was a humorous person and more importantly she was disciplined. Despite her age she worked with the rest of the crew well and some of them were much young than her,” she said.

 Lesley Kagoro who acted as Tirivanhu in the “Paraffin” drama said: “We are deeply saddened by her departure. She used to say she was not educated, but she was very wise and respectful and she would flow in her acting.”

Another veteran actor who worked with Mai Sorobhi, Charles Kapfupi, said she was talented and her death left a huge gap in the arts sector.

“I worked with Mai Sorobhi for a long time,” he said. “I remember she asked me to take her to ZBC where she wanted to meet with the producer and script writer, Agnes Gwatiringa.

“She was very quick to adapt to the story line. It is not easy to find elderly actors who are versatile as she was. That is why the Paraffin production was successful. She is irreplaceable and we have lost a precious jewel.” 

Lovejoy Mwawoneka, who played the role of Mai Sorobhi’s second-born child as Campion in the Parrafin drama, said he will forever miss her.

“We worked together well in our drama and as my mom she always stood by me supporting me to get married to the woman that I wanted who my father (Paraffin) did not like,” he said.

“It was my first time to act on a big role for a television drama and she was always there to help me so that everything comes out perfect. I will forever miss her.”

 Actress Patience Musa aka Mai Azuka said Mai Sorobhi inspired her to work hard as she was someone who earned fame through hard work.

Speaking on behalf of the family, Mai Sorobhi’s grandson comedian Admire ‘Bhutisi’ Kuzhangaira thanked everyone who stood by them during their time of grief.

“We are grateful to God, everything went well and we thank everyone who stood by us,” he said. “People from all walks of life have come in their numbers to pay their last respects to my grandmother.”

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