AS scores gathered at Lusaka’s Praise Christian Centre to bid farewell to Nathan Mbawa, his wife gave an emotional tribute, saying the late TV presenter, actor and musician was “the man of my heart”.
Pamela Tembo said Nathan’s death had broken her because in him, she had lost a best friend.
“Your death has really broken me because I thought we would grow together to see our grandchildren,” Pamela mourned.
“Wamuzegede lelo (today) walema my love,” said Pamela.
“In our journey of marriage we had our own faults, our challenges, but we concurred them all. To me you were the man after my heart.”
Prior to the church service, numerous creatives from the entertainment industry in Zambia gathered at the Lusaka Play House to give Nathan, an artistic send-off.
Nathan died on the spot after a fatal road accident on Saturday at Kabangwe, in the outskirts of Lusaka, on his way out of town.
“Tenze naye uyu Nathan mwana wamama, tenze naye uyu” was one of the songs sang by the actors who formed a boom choir.
While the venue was dark due to limited light, the atmosphere was lit up by the soulful voice of Zambian song bird Wezi, who started by singing the national anthem and later gave the mourners some touching melodies which could have sent even the devil to tears.
MUVI TV head of current affairs and live production Innocent Phiri took the mourners through Nathan’s experience at MUVI TV and how he was involved in production of Flat six, a local sitcom back in 2006.
Phiri was glad to see the number of people that showed up to bid farewell to Nathan, stating the deceased’s life exhibited positive change.
Nathan’s cast mate during the Flat Six production, Innocent Tembo was disheartened that his colleague had passed away and he encouraged the mourners to check up on their friends.
“Two weeks ago, he (Nathan) texted me but I wasn’t available,” said Tembo.
And Diamond TV chief visionary officer, Costa Mwansa remarked that people will always ask questions of “why him, why this time,” but that like the Bible says, there is a time for everything.
Representing the artistes, Henry BJ used the platform to encourage artistes to make investments once they get paid l, as their income is not constant like civil servants and one does not know when death might come knocking.
Nathan has been put to rest at Kasisi mission cemetery today.
Kalemba February 21, 2023
