BEITBRIDGE town yesterday came to a standstill as hundreds of people bade farewell to their local hero, counsellor and education stalwart Sam Siyafa Moyo who died earlier last week.
Moyo, who died aged 80, was an educationist of note.
Moyo succumbed to recent health complications four days after receiving a Beitbridge community champion award for his immense contribution to education in the district.
Speaker after speaker showered the late Moyo with praise.
“Moyo left a great legacy in the development of education in this district. May you be blessed in your coming to lay to rest an education hero,” Matabeleland South provincial education director Beatrice Manjere said.
“We are all gathered here to celebrate a life of service and sacrifice as well as honour an educationist and gentleman who gave his life to the development of education in this district.
“During his tenure of office he encouraged school heads to upgrade themselves professionally, work well with communities and encouraged access to education for all children.”
Manjere said the late Moyo established many schools in Beitbridge during his tenure as district education head.
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“When he became the district education officer there were 10 public secondary schools and 60 primary schools,” she said.
“By the time he retired there were 15 secondary schools and 68 primary schools compared to 19 secondary schools and 71 primary schools currently in the district.
“This is testimony that he was a man who was responding to the social demand of education by the Beitbridge community.”
Moyo also championed the establishment and eventually building of his Church of Christ chapter in Beitbridge district.
Moyo was laid to rest at the Makakavhule Cemetery of Beitbridge and although he was not accorded any hero status, the Beitbridge community declared him one.
