HARARE – Faston Mangezi, a 45-year-old man living in Hurungwe, carries a burden heavier than most. He is the son of a freedom fighter who died in combat during the liberation struggle, leaving behind a void in Faston’s life that has haunted him for decades. His quest for closure, for answers to the questions that plague his existence, has taken him on a journey through the realms of the living and the dead, leaving him yearning for a connection to the father he never knew.
Faston’s story begins in 1979, in the midst of the liberation war, when his mother, Maria Mangezi, met his father at a night vigil. The freedom fighter, using a pseudonym as was common during those turbulent times, was a ghost in the shadows, a figure shrouded in secrecy and sacrifice. He died in combat a few days later, leaving behind a legacy of bravery and a son who would grow up without ever knowing his true identity.
“If only my father had been here today. I have gone through a lot and he would have made a difference,” Faston says, his voice laced with a deep-seated longing. “Today I am using my mother’s surname. I need closure. I have been looking for this closure everywhere without success,” he adds, his eyes reflecting the depth of his agony.
Faston’s search for his father’s identity has been a relentless pursuit, a quest that has taken him through a labyrinth of emotions and experiences. He has consulted with the living and the dead, seeking answers from prophets, spirit mediums, traditional healers, and anyone who might hold a clue to his father’s past. He has sought solace in the stories of other children of war veterans, who have benefited from government welfare programmes, but he remains excluded, lacking a war veteran number, the key to accessing these benefits.
“I am only but a child and cannot confront my mother on such issues. The pain runs deep,” he confides, his voice cracking with emotion. “I seek and yearn to know as to who he was and what his name is. I have not gotten that. My mother is alive and but does not want to hear the story anymore. She is equally traumatised. If only I could get his real name, then I could forge my path,” he says, his words echoing the weight of his unresolved past.
Faston’s quest for answers took a dramatic turn in 2005 when he sought the guidance of a spirit medium, Mbuya Chikede. He was plagued by strange occurrences at his home, hearing loud sounds emanating from the rooftop, leaving him feeling uneasy and frightened. His young child would wake up crying, leading him to believe that something sinister was at play.
“Having started out on my own as I had come of age, I now had a place of my own. At 9pm every evening I would hear loud sounds emanating from the rooftop,” he recounts, his voice tinged with a lingering fear. “I did not read much into it I thought it was normal. My child would wake up crying we just concluded it was witchcraft. Occurrence of these events was alarmingly persistent. I decided to consult and it was then I met a stranger who told me I was needed home.”
The stranger’s words left Faston confused, as he was moving with his family on that particular day. He sought permission from his maternal family to revisit the stranger’s words, but they dismissed his concerns, attributing them to rebelliousness. However, after persistent pleading and the unsettling events that continued to plague him, they reluctantly agreed to help him find answers.
Through the guidance of Mbuya Chikede, Faston discovered his totem, Matemai, a part of the Nzou (elephant clan), offering him a sense of belonging and connection to his ancestral lineage. He also learned that his father was a Benhura from Chikwaka, but that he had been given a foster father as many Benhuras had gone to war and never returned.
“We went to Goromonzi Centre and was directed to the Benhura homestead in Chikwaka, it was a stone’s throw away from the first house we inquired. When we arrived there we were welcomed by a spirit medium, who identified me as one of her own. She said she was my father’s sister but never told me his name. All she could say was unfortunately the man who left with your father for war is late now. Had you been here earlier he would have told you everything. I am only but a medium,” Faston says, his voice filled with a mixture of hope and despair.
After the encounter, Faston was referred to Chief Chikwaka, who allegedly refused to help him, citing his birth out of wedlock and the potential repercussions of accepting him. He was then entrusted to headman Musonza, who advised him to seek recognition within his maternal family for raising him. Faston complied, completing the process and finding a measure of peace, knowing that he had a man he could call father, even if not biologically related.
However, Musonza’s death in 2018 once again left Faston searching for answers. He had retraced his roots, finding himself in Hurungwe, where most of his paternal family resided, but the void remained, a constant reminder of the missing piece in his life.
In 2008, Faston dreamt of his father, who asked him about his desires. He contemplated his response but before he could speak, his father disappeared, leaving him with a sense of unfinished business. He continued to hear his father’s voice, a whisper from beyond the grave.
“My fellow comrades have returned home. For now, let me return with them in spirit,” he echoes the words of his father from the dream, a poignant reminder of the sacrifices made by those who fought for Zimbabwe’s liberation.
Four years later, Faston dreamt of his father again, this time accompanied by an entourage. In this dream, he was given a piece of land and two calabashes full of traditional beer, a symbol of protection and blessings bestowed upon him by his father. It was from this dream that his life started to follow a clearer path.
Through consultations, Faston learned that his father, whose name remains undisclosed, died of food poisoning. He reflects on the hardships he endured as a child, unable to turn to his mother who had remarried, and reluctant to burden his stepfather, despite his willingness to help.
“I suffered as a child. I could not turn to my mother for she had married. I did not want to trouble my stepfather either inasmuch as he was willing to help. If only he were alive, I would be telling a different story. I would be happy just to tell him my trials and tribulations,” Faston says, his voice heavy with regret. “It would have brought me great joy to share my father’s legacy with my children. Had he been alive today,” he adds, his voice fading into a whisper, a testament to the enduring pain of a son who yearns for the father he never knew.
Should he positively locate his father’s relatives, Faston will certainly have to consult Tinashe Mugabe, the host of the popular reality show “The Closure DNA Show,” for help. Tinashe Mugabe has become a familiar face in Zimbabwe, known for his ability to provide answers through DNA testing, bringing closure to families overwhelmed with paternity questions and uncovering hidden truths.
In Faston’s case, Tinashe Mugabe’s expertise could be invaluable in helping him uncover his true lineage, connecting him to his father’s family and finally providing him with the closure he so desperately seeks.
