Our Memories of Hope
THOUGHTS ON MUMMY HOPE
I would like to share a few words that for me described Mummy Hope, Granny Hope, my Mother in Law, my friend. These were qualities that demonstrated the person that she was in my eyes and I believe perceived the same way in the eyes of many.
Granny Hope was an Institution of leaning. Many who were privileged to be around her learned something from her life and I believe many people desired to be a part of her circle, just so that they could glean something from her.
Mummy Hope was an Institution of life and wisdom. She shared freely her wisdom on how to run a home, to cook, to make your home beautiful both inside and out. She loved gardening, and won trophies on best groomed plants, which were coveted by many women at the Lusaka Garden Club. She collected rare and exotic plants and knew their proper names.
She made some wonderful dishes and desserts, and could put together a three course meal at the drop of a hat. Her lasagnas were absolutely delicious. For 35 years I have tried to make one like hers, but settled in the realization that, that will never happen and instead just savour the memory of that indescribable mix of flavours. I think what made it special was not so much the physical ingredients but more the joy mixed with love patience and excellence that went into making this special dish and others. If she was a good cook, she was an even better. She gracefully hosted and entertained would be Presidents, freedom fighters, the rich poor and famous.
Granny Hope was an institution of generosity. She was generous with her time and knowledge. Her home was always open to people from all walks of life. Each was given the attention that was due. You went away feeling happy and cared for and ministered to, if you happen to have gone there with a problem. You felt appreciated and of course fed.
She was an institution of wisdom. She was so wise. Her wisdom was shaped through her love and fear of God. Through her life experience, her travels, her knowledge of cultures, her appetite for reading and learning new things. Because of her wisdom she was a pivotal support to her husband who was a respected political figure and unbeknown to her grooming the 4th President of the Republic of Zambia.
She was definitely an institution of elegance and beauty. She was always elegantly put together, and this elegance permeated through everything she did, including packing a suitcase.!!!!
Mummy Hope and I did not have the typical mother in law, daughter in law relationship. She was my friend. We dined and laughed and gossiped just a little at the Swiss center when in London and spent many hours talking about everything when she visited in Ndola where we lived for a time. She was an institution of joy and fun. She loved to laugh and be happy.
A story I will always remember was during one Nenani and Leah’s wedding. Mummy and Hope and I arrived at St Ignatius Church almost at the same time. As I got out of the car, Mum looked at me and said ‘Bana Sarah’….. as she addressed me after our daughter Sarah was born. She looked at my shoes and handbag and then looked at hers. We were wearing exactly the same shoes and carrying the same bag.!!!!! There was no way I could have known. We did not go shopping together and neither did I know that she liked that same shop. She smiled and I knew what I had to do. I immediately got back into my car and went home to change my shoes and bag. I still have those shoes and they will remind me of her always. The style is timeless and I can still wear them and look elegant.(there is a picture attached of me in those shoes a few days ago).
An institution of gratitude was Granny Hope. She never forgot her thank you. She often wrote thank you notes or just called to say thank you or appreciate you. Neither did she ever forget the other cardinal words……please and of course sorry!!!!
To you all who call her Granny, I would just like to say that your Granny was blessed primarily because she was wise. In the book of proverbs in the Bible, specifically Proverbs 3: 13-18 paraphrased says, Blessed is the woman who has found wisdom. She has found something more precious than gold. None of her desires can compare with wisdom for wisdom brings life, wealth, honor and peace. Wisdom is a tree of life to be greatly embraced. So both Grandsons and Grandaughters follow after the example of this great Institution of Learning called Hope and you will rarely go wrong.
Bridget Banda
For me my aunty Hope's name is synonymous with the words Home and Hospitality. A lot of my school
holidays as a child were spent in her home. I remember there were always several of us there and we
were so free, as though it were our own home. Now that I'm an adult I realise just how amazing aunty
Hope was because hosting isn't as effortless and seamless as she made it seem. I mean my cousin
Monique and I at the age of about 8 or so started a "restaurant" in her kitchen where we would charge
anyone who wanted a meal using aunty Hope's ingredients from her kitchen! - and I don't ever
remember her stopping or scolding us for it. We also would host talk shows where we would charge the
adults for entry and sit them down in the living room as we discussed how "smoking is bad for your
health". Both Monique and I in our adulthood work in audience capturing vocations and I think aunty
Hope's home allowed us to dream, to create and to be ourselves. She often took us to a plant nursery
place and we would get a pie and drink from there each time - I always looked forward to it!
Another amazing thing I remember about aunty Hope is she always had a suitcase of gifts. Once she
gave me a pack of new underwear which she didn't go out to buy but it was there in her supplies. How
she had my exact size who even knows!
Before her death my aunty Hope and uncle Rupiah treated myself and a whole lot of my cousins to a
holiday of a lifetime at a resort in Magaliesburg South Africa. She was ill and she could have been
preoccupied with her own issues and sadness but even at a difficult time like that she was pouring
herself out to us.
I always loved it when her and uncle Rupiah visited Zimbabwe because it entailed a lot of goodies for
me.
In my short time of life with my aunt I only saw her upset once - and that one time showed me that
behind the kind and selfless her was a fireball who shouldn't be rubbed up the wrong way.
I remember receiving news of her death. What pained me was I couldn't travel for the funeral because I
was in the middle of writing my Grade 7 exams. I cried.
Today I cherish the memories I have of her including that she loved flowers and gardening and made
things beautiful including my own life. Sometimes I've been told I look a bit lke her and that's an honour
because she was so beautiful inside and out. I often wish I could speak to her on this side of heaven
now that I'm an adult but what gives me Hope is that she was a believer in Jesus and so I will reunite
with her on the eternal side of heaven.
Henrica Makulu
HOPE MWANSA BANDA
ON RELIGION:
We only read KJV. To this day I am happy with my thee’s and my thou’s. Call me old fashioned but it is what it is and I am what I am, thanks to her love and guidance. She knew her bible and she loved it. I specifically remember a small black leatherbound one and a white one. One or the other was always by her bedside at home or in travel. It was well-worn. It was well-used. It was well-loved. And each moment I hold my white leather-bound bible, I imagine she would be proud that mine is also well-worn, well-used and well-loved.
Much of the Bible reminds me of her but 3 Books keep her alive in my life:
Phillipians 4: Truth Honesty Moderation Virtue Prayer Thanksgiving
The whole chapter reminds me of beauty personified, inside and out. I can never read Philippians 4 without remembering her fondly. The whole chapter personifies her life but specifically Verse 4-8
4 Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice.
5 Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.
6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
Matthew 5: The Beatitudes
In her last days, she often asked me to read this out loud as she lay on her side of the bed. She would sometimes ask if I knew what that scripture meant. She would aske me if I felt that I was living by the beatitudes which I believe was her way of pleading for me to live the beatitudes….th jury is out 😊
1 And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him:
2 And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying,
3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
13 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.
14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.
16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
Proverbs 3: Wisdom and Trust in the Lord
1My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments:
2For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.
3Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart:
4So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man.
5Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
6In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
7Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.
8It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.
9Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:
10So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.
11My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction:
12For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.
Blessed is He who Finds Wisdom
13Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.
14For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold.
15She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her.
16Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honour.
17Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.
18She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her.
19The LORD by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath he established the heavens.
20By his knowledge the depths are broken up, and the clouds drop down the dew.
21My son, let not them depart from thine eyes: keep sound wisdom and discretion:
22So shall they be life unto thy soul, and grace to thy neck.
23Then shalt thou walk in thy way safely, and thy foot shall not stumble.
24When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet.
25Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh.
26For the LORD shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken.
27Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it.
28Say not unto thy neighbour, Go, and come again, and to morrow I will give; when thou hast it by thee.
29Devise not evil against thy neighbour, seeing he dwelleth securely by thee.
30Strive not with a man without cause, if he have done thee no harm.
31Envy thou not the oppressor, and choose none of his ways.
32For the froward is abomination to the LORD: but his secret is with the righteous.
33The curse of the LORD is in the house of the wicked: but he blesseth the habitation of the just.
34Surely he scorneth the scorners: but he giveth grace unto the lowly.
35The wise shall inherit glory: but shame shall be the promotion of fools
ON WOMANHOOD, TRADITION & CULTURAL HERITAGE:
My mother was the epitomy of a graceful lady. An African Queen. She accepted and celebrated both her “English” heritage and her “Bemba” ancestry as well as her “Ngoni/Chewa” marital tribe. She introduced me to the value of family and relationships and the role of the woman as the fibre that binds all. Through her guidance and nurturing, I learnt early in life the values of what we today call, “diversity”.
I had great years as a teenager but my teenage years were also marked with great wisdom. I had the joy of having a Mother who happily hosted parties. She herself would prepare and spice and marinade a serious cook up for a bunch of teenagers. She would instruct our dear “Aunty Sally” to make sure the sausage rolls were just right, the scones and cakes were fluffy and the roasts moist and most importantly…..that the cutlery, crockery and glasses were set on the verandah. She was not one for paper cupping and paper plating!
But there was a trade-off 😊. Mine was to accompany her and as soon as I could, to drive her to the homes of aunties and grannies and friends in need. It was not always a needs-based visit. Sometimes she would be the one in need…in need of a little laughter with an old granny, or of artisanal chikanda for a celebration or pupwe(not my favourite) for a luncheon.
I grew up commonly known as “Umwana wa kwa Hope umu Ngoni” (Bemba Clan) or Mwana wa mu Bemba (Ngoni/Chewa Clan). And so my family remains today. My strength comes from both clans. They celebrate when I celebrate; they weep when I weep and they dance when I dance…..And THEY come from all corners of Zambia because she embraced all from everywhere.
ON FAIRNESS & INCLUSION:
Widows, widowers and orphans she defended. Mummy Hope embraced all. More importantly, she embraced my biological Mother A-Thandiwe as her older sister. She called her “Asisi” and treated her with due respect as her elder sister. It was a beautiful relationship to watch – these two beautiful women from opposing backgrounds in every sense of the word and yet watching them – it would be hard to believe that they had not know each other all their lives. To prove the point, when A-Thandiwe passed away, A-Hope cleared her house in a nano second telling everyone who tried to opine…..Asisi amwalila ku England – malilo yoyenelo’nkala pananda pangu” (my elder sister has passed away in England – her funeral has to be held in my home).
This is the woman who embraced my family after my Father passed away. She married off my sister and my two brothers. To me, she became my Mother – so intertwined with my biological Mother such that I can never and will never be able to think of one without the other simultaneously. I have had two Mothers. Plain and simple.
Dolika Banda
Good evening. Our late Hope was a great queen by nature and a great family unifier. I remember Kabwe's wedding. At that wedding we met family members from the Chimba family, the Kasase family, the family from late Bishop Mabula's family and indeed the Makulu family. Lombe Jiri (my daughter) was chosen to be one of the brides maids when someone from the Makulu family could have easily been found. Our dear Hope took care of all Lombe's needs at this wedding including travel to and from Kitwe. Her beautiful home was open to all of us. Hope was a great gardener, my interest in gardening started from admiring her garden. She had some unique plants arranged very attractive order. MHSRIEP
Mrs Ethel Jiri
I REMEMBER OUR DEAR SISTER MRS HOPE MWANSA BANDA FOR HER WISDOM.HUMILITY, EMPATHY,GENEROSITY AND LOYALTY TO FAMILY AND FRIENDS.
I ALSO REMEMBER HER FOR HER DISARMING SMILE AND ENGAGING SENSE OF HUMOUR..
MAY POSTERITY JUDGE HER MOST GRACIOUSLY.SHE WAS SUCH A WONDERFUL,DEPENDABLE AND INSPIRING HUMAN BEING.A VIRTUOUS LADY.A LADY WORTHY OF OUR UNFETTERED GRATITUDE.
GLORY AND HONOR BE TO GOD MOST HIGH FOR THE GIFT OF MRS HOPE MWANSA BANDA TO THE MAKULU AND BANDA FAMILIES AND TO SOCIETY AT LARGE.
Brian Mwaba
The greatest gift my mother-in-law Hope Mwansa Banda - better known as Granny Hope - ever gave to me was our first-anniversary present - the Bible and ‘rules for a happy marriage’. These gifts have been the foundation of my 24 years of marriage to her son Nenani A Banda. These are the gifts I cherish the most and that will be passed onto her grandchildren Soneni and Nanito
The greatest gift my mother-in-law Hope Mwansa Banda - better known as Granny Hope - ever gave to me was our first-anniversary present - the Bible and ‘rules for a happy marriage’. These gifts have been the foundation of my 24 years of marriage to her son Nenani A Banda. These are the gifts I cherish the most and that will be passed onto her grandchildren Soneni and Nanito
Leah Banda
GRANNY HOPE
In loving memory of my sister, my friend
I am dedicating this, especially to my sister's grandchildren, in an effort to give them a glimpse of this beautiful, generous, kind, selfless loving woman who touched so many lives in a quiet and humble way but with incredible dignity.
Hope Mwansa was born on the 29th of August 1941 to Henry Fairley Mulenga Makulu and Monica Mulenga Makulu in Lusaka Zambia (then Northern Rhodesia). As all young couples are excited when their first child is about to come, Henry and Monica were no exception. Various names were discussed including 'Tomorow' but after long deliberations, they settled for 'Hope Mwansa. Hope for tomorrow and Mwansa the name of Henry's Mother, Miriam Mwansa Makulu.
Hope at the age of 4 was left in the care of her paternal grandparents together with her younger brother Stanley while Mum and Dad pursued further studies in South Africa. Whilst with her grandparents Hope started her primary schooling at Mbereshi Girls School now known as Mable Shaw School for girls.
When her parents returned she attended primary school at the old Munali where Dad was the Headmaster.
In 1947 the Makulus were on the move again, this time Dad had been offered a job at Hopefountain Mission near Bulawayo, Zimbabwe (then Southern Rhodesia) as a lecturer at the teacher training college. In 1948 the Makulus were blessed with another child, a baby sister for Hope and Stanley named Joy which is me. I remember spending a lot of time under my big sister Hope's gentle and loving care. One memory that comes to mind is that we would walk down from our house to the Mission farm to collect fresh milk. One notorious cow that would be milked was called November. Yes, all the cows had names. This was our daily chore and I looked forward to the walk with my sister, we would sing, pick flowers and wonder what tricks November would be up to, trying to run away from being milked.
Hope continued her primary education at Hopefountain Mission Primary School.
The London Missionary Society offered our parents scholarships to study in England. Stanley and I were left in the care of uncle Ibrahim and aunty Jessie. Aunty Jessie was our mum's younger sister. Uncle and aunty Nkonde were at the time living in Kabwe in Northern Rhodesia. Hope was left in boarding school at Hopefountain to complete her primary education.The dormitories were round thatched huts with cow dung floors. Hope although not used to such living conditions, adjusted quickly and and settled down to this new life without complaint. She visited us in Kabwe a couple of times. Oh how excited we would be to see our big sister.
Mum and Dad came back from England after a year and the family was reunited again and
moved to Mindolo Mission in Kitwe.
Hope had completed her standard six and was now at Goromonzi Secondary school, in the Ruwa area, just outside Harare which was known as Salisbury back then, still in Southern Rhodesia now known as Zimbabwe. She was a steady quiet student who enjoyed cookery lessons and played netball for the school team.
Hope travelled to and from Kitwe in Northern Rhodesia by train which would take three days one way meaning one week was taken up by travel. Some of the short holidays she would not come home but stayed with family friends, such as the Malumos in Bulawayo and the Mutepukas in Salisbury now Harare, who would generously offer to take her in to their homes.
Later on Stanley also went to Goromonzi for his secondary school and he would always be introduced as ''Hope, the netballer's little brother.'
Hope and Stanley bonded as they spent days travelling to and from school by train. When they came on holiday they would reminisce about school and chat in shona a language that was so strange to me. When they would realise that I felt left out they would teach me a few words or sing me shona songs that I would later sing without knowing their meaning. When the holidays were over I remember mum preparing what was called "provisions "in those days which would consist of a roast chicken a bottle of Mazoe orange drink, bread and packets of 'eat sum more' biscuits. That would be for the trip on the train because in those days black people would not be allowed to eat in the restaurant wagon of the train.
Oh how I looked forward to growing up and also going to Goromonzi so that mum would prepare provisions for me too, but life happened and I never went to Goromonzi.
After Goromonzi, Hope enrolled for nursing at Chikankata Mission Hospital. During the holidays she would tell us about her nursing adventures and made it sound so exciting. Whilst in Kitwe the family had been blessed by the arrival of yet another baby sister for Hope named Jaqueline and four years later a baby brother Andrew. Hope loved helping mum take care of all of us, her younger siblings. When she was home we spent more time with her than we did with mum because mum worked as a teacher and a community development officer. Hope would experiment her recipes from her cookery lessons at school on us and we loved it and it made us feel so special.
When the family moved yet again and this time to Geneva, Switzerland Hope went to continue her nursing in England at the Kent and Sussex Hospital in Tonbridgewells and would come to Geneva for holidays. The nursing stories got even more exciting. I remember her telling us about her first experience in the theatre where the surgeon, after amputating a leg called out "Nurse Makulu catch..." Being a netballer catching was second nature to her but she immediately passed out.
After coming round she went to her room and wrote a letter to dad saying she didn't want to be a nurse any more. It took counselling and a couple of letters from mum and dad to convince her to carry on her nursing career. Once she had recovered from the shock she excelled and made a name at the hospital as the kind black nurse I moved to a school in England. Since my new school was half an hour by train to Tonbridgewells, Hope and I met regularly when she was off duty. She would either take me to a restaurant for a meal (I had my first Chinese meal on one of these occasions and spring rolls became my favourite on the Chinese menu) or we would go shopping. Whenever we passed a music shop I would start dancing and my poor sister would get so embarrassed. I loved that reaction from her! I guess I was just a silly teenager but I loved my sister to bits.
After she graduated at Tonbrigdewells Hope decided to specialise in ophthalmic nursing at the renowned Morefields Eye Hospital.The highlight of that stint was when she was asked to go to another hospital to collect an eye that had been donated and there was a patient at her hospital waiting for an eye transplant. I was always amazed at the stories she told me about her nursing career.After that she moved to Welling Garden City to do her midwifery.
One holiday when we were travelling back to Zambia where Mum and Dad had already returned, we had a lot of luggage and had to walk some distance to catch a train to the airport, a certain man offered to carry one of the suitcases. "Oh wonderful" I thought and was about to hand over the suitcase I was carrying, but to my disappointment Hope said in a firm but gentle voice "thank you very much sir but we can manage." We walked in silence to the station which was not that far but the silence made it feel like a hundred miles. When we finally settled on the train I got a lecture on the dangers of befriending strange men.
Unbeknown to my sister, on our trip back to England at the Lusaka Airport she was spotted by her future 'knight in shining armour'. Rupiah Banda pursued Hope and won her heart. A few months later my sister informed me that she was getting engaged and that I should come to London for the Engagement party. The party was held at the then Zambian ambassador to United Kingdom Paul Lusaka's residence. Our aunty Jessie who was in London at the time also attended the engagement. Aunty Jessie and I were unaware that dad had not yet been asked for his daughter's hand in marriage.On that very night back in Zambia Mum and Dad were invited to the British High Commissioner's house for dinner.after dinner they listened to news and one of the items on breaking news was the 'Engagement of Rupiah Banda the Zambian Ambassador to Cairo, Egypt to Hope Mwansa Makulu daughter to the Chairman of Public service Commission, Mr. Henry Makulu. The British High Commissioner offered his congratulations and the Makulus left trying by all means not to show their shock.
Rupiah Banda being the good diplomat that he is rectified the situation and immediately organised 'Bashibukombe' according to our tradition ,an envoy to approach Mr Makulu for his daughter's hand in marriage. He accepted and Dad and Rupiah became the best of friends
The family was so excited about the wedding. It was the first wedding that I remember in our family. Personally I was so excited because I was going to be the chief bridesmaid.
Mum was a dressmaker, with the help of aunty Jessie they sewed for days and shopped for supplies and goodies for the wedding. On 15th of October 1968 the much awaited wedding took place. Not much later we were saying goodbye to the newly weds going off to Cairo, Egypt. Thus Hope started her new life with the love of her life.
Hope Mwansa Banda was called home on 11th October 2000 after battling with cancer for three years May her soul rest in peace.
Joy Makulu
Reflections of a Dear Sister....the Epitome of Hope and Love.
As a child, my first recollections of my dear sister dates back to Geneva. She was coming on holiday from London to spend time with the rest of the family in a little village called Celigny about 20 minutes away by train from Geneva. (The actor Richard Burton is buried in the village cemetery).
Dad Henry Fairley Makulu was working with the World Council of Churches.
I was so excited at the thought of meeting this sister who was hardly present. She was at boarding school and then did nursing which was her vocation and pursued her career in the UK. I had written her a letter to say I was looking forward to her coming and she asked me what I would like her to bring for me. A ring, lipstick, and nail varnish! was my answer. I wanted to be a grown-up. That was not to be. When she arrived she sat me down and explained that the time would come when I grew older for such. I was only four years old.
Ba Hope to me was a mother and a sister rolled in one. A gentle, kind person yet stern depending on the situation or conduct. Selfless, giving of her time, always thinking of others and very generous in thoughts and deeds.
I remember going shopping with her in London. We would first just window shop and she would pick up an item of clothing and say Jackie mona this would lookd good on person x or y or z. And she would end up buying things for others. She had a bottom drawer in her bedroom with goodies and birthday cards on the ready in case a birthday came up.
A wounderful cook. The family enjoyed her delicious recipes.
An ardent gardener. She was so passionate about plants and collected exotic plants. She used to do flower arragements and decoration for weddings and for the Church.
A devout christian and member of the Anglican Cathedral of the Holy Cross. A woman of many virtues..A woman of substance. A woman of Faith.
Jacqui Makulu
I will always remember my visits with Aunty Hope, every holiday I would come to Zambia my Dad made it a point to bring me to spend time with Aunty Hope.
She made me really appreciate the art of cooking and cleaning up after cooking...
I always looked forward to seeing her, we would then go and sit in her room and talk about everything and nothing.
I told her once that I never wanted to get married or have children as I wanted to just be an Ambassador...
She reminded me about this conversation during my Kitchen party which she hosted for me.
May she continue to rest in glory....she had a lasting impact on all of us
Mundaula Kaunda
21 years ago today we lost our sister ba Hope. Our world was shattered. As the years went by we accepted her departure from this earth but we hold onto and cherish every memory of her. Her love for all of us, her open home where we ran for comfort, good food , calm loving conversation and sound advice full of wisdom. Sometimes she didn't have to say anything just her aura did it all. We continue to feel the gap she has left and miss her terribly but live in the hope of meeting again, until then may her soul continue to rest in eternal peace.
I really miss my sister my friend and my confidant. Ba Hope was an amazing source of inspiration to me and I am sure to many others. She was a beauty both in and out, a beautiful heart that was influenced by her love for God and His creation. She loved flowers and she herself was a flower. She loved people and loved to help them better their lives whenever she could.I am a better person for having her as my elder sister. She lovingly trimmed my wings when I wanted to fly aimlessly. I continue to miss her and live in the hope of meeting her again.
Revelation 21:4
‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
Joy Makulu
What a FANTASTIC tribute to a priceless Gem. I have many fond memories of Mummy Hope from the signing of “I just can’t get over loving you” to Mama Monica to leaving the swimming pool at home and going to Chila Rd to swim knowing full well that at some point after swimming there would be a nice hot plate of gorgeous food waiting. Not to mention the one time as a young boy I had an asthma attack. It must have been past midnight if I recall correctly, Mummy Co was is SA at the time and Mummy Hope rushed home and took me to Monica Chumya hospital. She spent the night by my bedside, the following morning I was discharged. She took me back to Chila road and that was home until mum got back. Boy was I spoilt rotten!!! When mum came back I didn’t want to leave . Forever loved and missed
Abby Mwila
Being Brought up in ba Hope's house at 17yrs in America. My dear dear sister hope taught me, class, she would always say it's not about quantity Christine it's about quality In New York she would never take us to some cheap shops, always classy, my stay with them is forever memorable, we were always eating, laughing, and if one hadn't bathed before you came downstairs to join others she would a word like BOCHU and at 68 now I have never heard of anyone use it. Home in Harare I would organize some girls who owned boutiques to bring clothes to my house to select, by the time she is finished with them, she would have told them what to adjust etc .and of course after that they would tell the all Harare that I and my sister were snobs.
In South Africa, it was painful to be with them,I would sit and pray with her and every loving ba mulamu ba Rupiah would pick me up, totally finished and asking 100 questions to God why her .my husband died from cancer so I knew what ba Rupiah was going through. There is not a day when I don't think of my sister, friend. Cousin and I thank God for such a rich life that he gave her in Jesus Christ mighty name. Only if one was deaf, or blind would have missed wisdom from Ba Hope, no stress no grudges he simply just lived laughed and loved as it should be. We guys I haven't seen you for a while but I angels are around as your mother I probably recruited some to protect you. Angel Michael to fight your warfares, angel Raphael to heal your every pain be it physical or emotional, angel Gabriel to bring you father in your life and angel Uriel to give you wisdom. Amazing grace, God is faithful, stay blessed always and instructed your angels through the holy spirit to do as God intended. Regards aunty Christine mubanga shamu.