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The Herald, 23 April, 1984

ONE of the first blacks to operate a bus service in Zimbabwe, Cde Philip Murombe (Chivero) died in Harare on Thursday after a long illness. He was 76.

Cde Murombe, who had been a farmer in recent years, is survived by a wife and 15 children. He was buried on Friday.

In 1945 Cde Murombe bought his first bus which he operated until 1951 when he handed over management of the increasing fleet to Cde Edwards Rutendo.

Cde Rutendo, who knew Cde Murombe since they were at school, said last week his late colleague was “a wonderful person who never held any grudges against anyone, humorous and sensitive”.

Mbare Councillor Cde John Chiweshe, who has known Cde Murombe for a long time, said: “He was a person who used to give us advice when we needed it. We have lost a very important person.”

According to Cde Charles Ndlovu, who knew him, nearly 3 000 people attended the funeral in the Chimbwanda farming area.

Cde Murombe died three weeks after his return from England where his children had invited him to undergo medical treatment.

Lessons For Today

• It is always important to treat other people well so that you will always be remembered in good light even after you are gone. The fact that nearly 3 000 people attended his funeral is testament of the man he was.
• Children need to take care of their parents especially in their old age. Mr Murombe’s children tried to ensure that he got medical attention abroad although this did not yield the desired results.
• Pioneers in many fields should always be honoured and remembered because they are important people who would have played a pivotal role in society.
• It is important to know when to let go. Cde Murombe was not afraid to hand over his legacy and growing his fleet to a friend.