Prominent Buhera businessman Gasseller dies

FARAI MATEBVU

CHIPINGE TIMES REPORTER

BUHERA – Godfrey Gasseller (60), a prominent businessman in Buhera, a teacher, a philanthropist and a community development activist is no more.

He died on Wednesday last week at Parirenyatwa Hospital in Harare after battling diabetes and Tuberculosis complications. He was buried at a family shrine at Muzokomba Business Center on Saturday. 

Several dignitaries including Chief Makumbe, Buhera South MP Joseph Chinotimba, lawyers, the business community, and representatives from Ministry of Education, security sector, teachers, traditional leaders, villagers and school children attended the burial.

Gasseller held several leadership positions in the community including being chairperson of Muzokomba Business Community (MBC) and the ZRP Crime Prevention Committee.

He introduced huge community projects including a pig project and gardening project to Muzokomba Primary School and making it one of the biggest suppliers of pigs in Buhera District. He was known for the goat rearing projects, his exotic woodlots, orchards and poultry projects.

As a philanthropist Gasseller converted one of his trucks into an ambulance and ferried patients to both to Murambinda Mission and Birchenough Bridge hospitals.

Gasseller leaves behind his wife Clara, five children and several grandchildren.

Buhera District Schools Inspector (DSI) Tirivanhu Mutomba said the sector was robbed of a practical man who knew the value of vocational education.

Longtime friend John Muchena said the district lost a reservoir of knowledge and a champion who was indispensable in Buhera’s development matrix.

Muzokomba Primary headmaster Rameki Makaranga described Gasseller as a force that needed change in the education sector.

Gasseller was born on June 6, 1962 in Muzirikazi Village where his father was working as an agricultural extension officer and his mother as a nurse. Both his parents are late.

Gasseller did his primary education at Muzokomba and completed his secondary studies at Silvera Mission.

He worked as a temporary teacher at Chinorumba and Chimedza primary schools in Zaka and in 1982 he enrolled at Seke Teachers College and completed his studies in 1986.

He took over his father’s vast businesses at Muzokomba Business Centre and looked after the family. In 1989 he was appointed a technical vocational teacher for agriculture at Muzokumba Primary.https://chipingetimes.co.zw