Opposition Leader Nelson Chamisa’s Grandmother Passes On at 99
Mbuya Masasire Berekaivo, grandmother to opposition leader Nelson Chamisa, has passed away at the age of 99 in Mupamaonde Village, Bikita District.
Dumisani Ndlovu 
BIKITA — Opposition leader Nelson Chamisa’s grandmother, Mbuya Masasire Berekaivo, has passed on at the age of 99. Chamisa confirmed the news in a social media post on Monday morning, announcing that she died peacefully at her rural home in Mupamaonde Village, Ward 19, Bikita District.
Her death has drawn national attention, with many Zimbabweans pausing to reflect on the life of a woman who lived through nearly a century of the country’s defining chapters — from colonial rule to independence, and into the complexities of modern-day politics.
Chamisa described his grandmother as “the foundation of our family — a pillar of strength whose life was defined by faith, resilience, and unconditional love.” He added that while the family mourns, they also celebrate “a life richly lived.”
According to the family, Berekaivo’s body was taken to Nyaradzo Funeral Parlour on Monday. It will be transported back to Mupamaonde Village on Tuesday, 14 April, for an overnight vigil before burial on Wednesday, 15 April, in Bikita West.
Born on 11 October 1927 in Kuzoma, Gutu, Berekaivo was revered in her community as a mediator, counselor, and guardian of traditional values. Villagers described her as “a mother to all,” whose homestead was a place of refuge and guidance.
Condolences have begun pouring in from political figures, community leaders, and ordinary citizens, many of whom see her passing as the loss of a generational bridge — a link between Zimbabwe’s past and its uncertain future.
