top of page

The Secret Keeper

Her-Story is as important as his-story. Otherwise, the story is incomplete. 

That is why we remember the women who have come before us.

We honour their actions, bravery, resilience, and resistance.

For their lives have become part of the foundation of who we are now.


This is the story of my maternal grandmother, Mama Bea. She is an ever present fond memory from my childhood to the day of her passing. I remember her as my prayer warrior. Imagine my surprise when I heard a fascinating story of her life in exile during the 1980s. This set me on a journey to meet Beatrice, the woman, who is much much more than a grandmother. I interviewed various people to portray this account of her life as they remember her. It has been a delight to understand parts of myself through her that are inherited. In addition, it has been emotional to see the aftermath of matters unresolved and relive her passing. I have no regrets, only gratitude. I also believe that she would be proud to know Her-Story is not forgotten. Finally, the secret keeper’s story is told.


Picture this, the year is circa 1981. We find Beatrice in her late 40’s standing at a till in a supermarket, waiting her turn to pay. As was her style she looked terrific, her hair freshly curled, she wore a fashionable chitenge dress with a purse slung over one arm. She trained her face not to look nervous as she scanned the store hoping to see the person she was there to meet. That was not the first time she had travelled all the way to South Africa for this encounter. Some acquaintances had asked her to covertly deliver a secret message to a colleague who had fled Zambia in 1980 because of his role in an attempt to overthrow Kenneth Kaunda’s one party government, only for the attempted coup to be unravelled in the 11th hour. He was fortunate to have run away. Whilst others were picked up by the authorities, charged with treason and sentenced to death. Including Beatrice’s brother Goodwin Yoram Mumba. 


Her first attempt to deliver the secret message had proved unsuccessful as their colleague had not shown up. So she travelled back to Zambia, secret in hand. Not long after she was called on again to deliver the message at a new meeting point. That is why Beatrice found herself standing in a queue, waiting her turn. Someone whispered in her ear from behind her, “Do not look back. Act natural.” She recognised his voice from the many times she had interacted with him at Lusaka Club back home. Beatrice had always favoured socialising with the men, where conversations on politics were always more lively. Plus her brother Goodwin gave her access to the boys club. 


“Do you have the message?” he asked, still in a low voice. Beatrice affirmed with a slight nod. “Place it on the counter.” She did as instructed. From the corner of her eye she saw a newspaper placed above the message for the briefest of seconds, when the newspaper was retracted, the message had disappeared. 


“Is this all you are buying Ma’am?” the lady behind the counter drew away her attention. She quickly nodded and took out the money to pay. As she stepped out the door she dared to look back to where the man had stood behind her. Instead she saw a young woman propping a child on her hip. He was nowhere to be seen as if he was never there. She continued walking out, satisfied that her job was done. 



THE WAY


Beatrice Mulenga Mumba Chisengalumbwe was born on 10 November, 1933 and died on 23 November, 2014. Born when colonisers were marking their way from Cape to Cairo. For 76 years the British claimed Northern Rhodesia for their own wealth. Beatrice was there when Northern Rhodesia became Zambia in 1964 only to realise the liberation was an illusion. The freedom fighter discarded the freedom. All that was left was a fighter. She also lived to see a multiparty democracy restored in 1991, consequently witnessing its many interpretations. 


Beatrice comes from royalty, a long line of leaders. Even though women were not allowed to take up official titles like Chitimukulu, for centuries women have mastered the art of leading in a different way. A subtle way. A way that does not require force. Throughout their lives each woman discovers her own way to lead, to be and to succeed. 


This is the Way of Beatrice.



THE DIVA


Her story starts long long long before she was born. When a Mad King rained terror over the Bemba Kingdom. His violence against his people became too much to bear. Therefore, the crown prince Mutale Chitapankwa seized the throne to become Chitimukulu sooner than expected around 1883. Peace was restored to the land. 


The Bemba people hold women in great esteem. This is demonstrated in the way  Chitimukulu is selected. The heir to the throne can never be a child of Chitimukulu himself. It is only Chitimukulu’s sister who can birth an heir. She then becomes Nanfumu. 


Chomba Mwamba was a sister of Chitimukulu Chitapankwa. Beatrice is her descendant through her son Yoram Katongo Mumba. 


Yoram’s nickname was Chitabanta, the one who moves about. For he wandered south of Bemba land, far far far from home, leaving behind Malita Moonga his first wife and two boys, Willie and Joseph. He found himself as far as Kunchelenje amongst the Lenje tribe. 


There, he was stopped in his tracks by the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. Her name was Janet Kapumpe Ndelema, the daughter of Chibwe Chisengele of the Chishinga people.


She was tall with long, thick hair. Immaculately groomed at all times and she loved gifts. People would travel from far and wide to bring her all sorts of things. 


Legend goes Janet was married to a white man and had two children. Chitabanta was not to be deterred so he took Janet for himself. The white man was so devastated, he moved to Southern Rhodesia broken-hearted with his two children.


That is how Janet and Chitabanta settled on a farm to build their family. Things were good until they were not. A new younger wife blew in from the East. Her name was Ba Esnart Phiri. Her brother and  Chitabanta were very very good friends. To make them more than friends and actual brothers, his friend gave him his sister, Ba Esnart as a gift. 


Janet loved gifts, except this one. In the early days she made life uncomfortable for her sister-wife. However, Esnart was not going anywhere. They eventually learned to live together in harmony. Life continued. 


Janet had 6 children: Agness, Edith, Emma, Christine, Beatrice. They were also known as the Mumba Girls. Not forgetting her kasuli, her only son, Goodwin Yoram (G.Y.)


Esnart also had 6 children: Nancy, Maggie, Jean, Idah, Donald and Albert


Sadly, Chitabanta only made it past his last-born son Albert’s first birthday. 


It was decided that Esnart was young enough to find another husband. Therefore, the family released her. She went on to marry again and had two sons, Titus and Job. 


Janet, however, was taken to Bemba land where Chitabanta’s brother Mumana Mutanshi took her as his wife. They never had children together. But their home was filled with their grandchildren who she loved and adored. 


Janet lived in Mporokoso until Mumana Mutanshi died. Then her children took her to the city to live with them. There she stayed until her last days. No one knows exactly how old she was when she died. Some say over 100. What they knew for sure was that she was full of love and was adored by all. 



Janet Kapumpe Mumba
Janet Kapumpe Mumba


THE MUMBA GIRLS


The Mumba Girls were regal. When they walked it was full of dignity and authority. Shoulders back, straight spine and chin up. That was how they walked through life. The Mumba Girls were very close to each other.


Agness, Edith, Emma, Christine, Beatrice and Goodwin Yoram
Agness, Edith, Emma, Christine, Beatrice and Goodwin Yoram

In their formative years Emma, Christine and Beatrice went to Chipembi Girls Secondary School. This was one of the first schools in Northern Rhodesia to educate girls. Like their father they too wandered far far far from home. Some worked and schooled in foreign lands. Others were carried away by marriage. 


Due to the separation, the Mumba Girls devised a plan to make sure their family continued to be close knit. It was very important for their children to get to know each other. Thus they decided that every holiday all of their children were sent to one of the sibling’s homes in rotation. Picture a group of 15 children, unsupervised, of all ages travelling on a bus, picking up more along the way until they arrived at their destination. The children got to experience all types of lifestyles; in the city, at the farm, in the village. It was always a big adventure. No one cared that 10 people would sleep on one bed. What mattered most was that they were together. 


Front Row: Jory Changala, Chishala Kateka, Lombe Chisengalumbwe, Dierdre Musonda Chibuta, Rose Changala

Middle Row: Chanda Richard Kateka, Kamfwa Maureen Kateka, Chipasha Chisengalumbwe

Back Row: Katongo Wila, Katongo Chibuta


The Mumba Girls were also very protective of all their children. They would go up against bank managers, shop owners, boyfriends or anyone who caused their children any harm or distress. Race did not deter them from seeking justice. They knew their rights. Their tongue lashings were legendary; people would ask, “How high?” when they said jump. 


Each Mumba Girl played a specific role. Beatrice was the mummy that the children confided in with their problems because they felt as the youngest she could relate most with them. Edith was the postpartum midwife to all the new born children in the family. When a baby was due she would travel to that home and care for the new mum and the baby.  




THE SECRET KEEPER

1933 - 1960


Beatrice Mulenga Mumba was the youngest daughter of Janet and Yoram Katongo Mumba. Whilst she loved all her siblings, Goodwin and Albert, her baby brothers were more special than others.


Known to some as Beaty, Under 5, Aunty Bea, Mama Bea or Robin Hood she had a mischievous streak that ran through her bones, which often got her in trouble. As a child, she grew up as one of the boys running wild and free. 


When it was time to start school, Beatrice was enrolled at the community school. which sat opposite a Catholic school. Every morning the children would line up to enter their respective schools. Beatrice would look at the children across the way admiring how smart they looked in their uniforms. Ultimately she decided the Catholic school was a better fit for her. So whenever she went to school she simply switched lines. One day, Agness, her big sister, found her in the line for the Catholic school. She scolded her and quickly pulled her out. But Beatrice kept going back again and again. Eventually the Nuns told the family to leave her be and they let her attend their school. She was decisive that way. 


Despite being a tom boy Beatrice became that Aunty who was hip, young and trendy. She stood tall above her older sisters, had a fair complexion and a slender physique. Grooved to Motown and Rumba. She lived in fancy homes. Even her French make car went against the grain as she drove a Renault. 


Beatrice dressed up every single day whether she was going out or spending the day at home. She was ready for anything to happen. Her daily routine would begin with styling her hair. Then she would wear beautiful designs in African print.


People were her first true loves. She was a master of networking. When she arrived in a new locality as part of her transition she would figure out where the whose who hung out. That would become her new chill spot to figure out the beat of the land and its people. She could talk to anyone anywhere. Particularly enjoying sitting with the men to argue about politics. 


But that was not enough. Beatrice made it her business to know what was happening in her family too. The good and the bad. All of it. She was the family storykeeper and also their human vault of secrets. 


Her laughter was as distinct as it was infectious. It was loud with a snort. This made people laugh even longer. Wherever Beatrice was there were stories, giggles and joy. 


That is if you were on her good side. If you were on her bad side though, she did not shy away from controversy or difficult conversations. Who are we kidding, she mastered the art of throwing truth bombs into the centre of a meeting. Wherever she worked she became a rabble-rouser, mobilising her colleagues to fight for their rights. 


One of her favourite places to be was the hospital. They fascinated her to no end. Beatrice spent her life claiming one ailment after the other. More often than not the doctor would confirm she was fit as a fiddle. Not long after, she would be back again. That’s why she was called Under 5. 


In the 1950’s she took up the noble profession of teaching. Her subject was Domestic Science. This gave her key life skills which she used for many years of her life. She could sew her own clothes, preserve foods, create jams or marmalades from all sorts of fruits, bake and she knew all sorts of remedies. Whenever times got rough financially in the home, Beatrice would wake up very early, go gather fruits, make homemade jams, then sell them to the neighbours. Problem solved. Bills paid. 


In her early 20’s she agreed to an arranged marriage with Mr. Micheal Chisengalumbwe, a fellow teacher who taught Mathematics. He was a quiet man, always scribbling numbers and formulas on whatever he could write on. He lived in a world of his own making in his head. 


The couple both worked at Chalimbana Teachers Training Centre. This coincided with the period at which Robert Gabriel Mugabe also taught at Chalimbana in 1955. The same Uncle Bob who went on to become the longest presiding president of Zimbabwe. This was a time before he was even thinking of politics. Beatrice and Bob got on like a house on fire. As good neighbours do, she helped him out as he adjusted to living in a new country. She described the Bob she met as kind. 


Beatrice & Micheal had four children; Kasonde, Chipasha, Mutale and Munsoli. However, Mutale passed away when he was a baby.


Beatrice and Munsoli
Beatrice and Munsoli

Perhaps Mr. Chisengalumbwe’s silence paired with her bubbly character doomed the marriage from the start.


Perhaps the loss of a child was too hard to bear, where for some couples their grief becomes a wedge that eventually breaks them apart.


Whatever her reasons we may never know. 


One day like any other day, Beatrice walked away from her husband, her children and her home. 




CITY GAL

1960 - 1980


Being a teacher was not enough. Beatrice wanted more. 


She decided to upgrade her skill set. She chose a secretarial course, where she graduated as a Stenographer.



Beatrice writing her Secretarial Exam
Beatrice writing her Secretarial Exam

She was not just any secretary, she was a managerial level secretary, who knew shorthand, could type fast and was good good at her job. 


Her first gig was at RST Mine Company in Ndola. Thereafter, she worked in Lusaka at Anglo American Corporation. Then she worked along Cairo Road as a bank manager's secretary. 


On the personal side, she had a whirlwind romance with a Mr. Mwewa. Nine months later Lombe became her last born child. Lombe was raised by the Mumba village. Never having a homebase, she was circulated around the Mumba Girls or G.Y. 's homes. When she was old enough, Beatrice enrolled her into a Catholic primary boarding school. During the holidays, Lombe would visit a different relative and that is how she continued through secondary until university. 


A few years after Lombe was born, Beatrice met Mr. Changala, who was the Ndola Town Clerk. They fell in love and got married. The love quickly fell apart for reasons unknown and Beatrice was single yet again. 


At this stage the Mumba Girls were getting on in their years. G.Y. decided to buy 2 farms adjacent to each other in Luanshya. One went to Joseph Mumba. The other was for the Mumba Girls to live in retirement. He also started a logistics company that transported goods via trucks.


It was decided that Beatrice would manage the property and business. 


Unfortunately, before the mortgage payments could be completed G.Y. lost his job. As soon as the truck drivers heard about his misfortune, they staged a mutiny. They simply never returned with the trucks. Beatrice tried to stay at the farm until one day thieves entered the house. After that incident, she boarded up the house and left. 



Farm House in Luanshya
Farm House in Luanshya


EXILED

1981 - 1991


Times were hard in Zambia. Food was scarce. Basic necessities like sugar, cooking oil, and washing powder were in short supply. The country was dependent on copper as its main export. When the global price of copper dropped the economy took a hit. The currency had lost its value. People would walk around with stacks of money called millions but have nothing to spend it on. It became common to see long queues of people waiting for rationed quantities of necessities. One would simply join the que without asking what the line was for because whatever it was, it was needed. 


The first president of Zambia who had once been a hero had overstayed his term. Perhaps the power was too sweet to relinquish. His brand of control refrained from public violence. Opting to use the shadows to herd people into obedience. After demonstrations or individual disputations people would simply disappear. Some were blacklisted and their lives were systematically frustrated for years. No one could prove what was happening but everyone knew.


Hushed voices and murmurs emanated from corners. They dared not speak too loud lest the Mossad trained Secret Service catch wind of dissidence. For the shushushu network was a masterful web of spies found in all corners of the land. 


However, that did not deter a group of whispers gathering up the confidence to bring down Kenneth Kaunda. One of those people was Goodwin Yoram G.Y. Mumba. Beatrice’s very own baby brother. 


In 1980, days before the planned coup, the group of would-be liberators were arrested by the authorities. Some managed to escape such as Pierce Annefield, the one white man in the group, who fled to South Africa. 


Luck was not on the side of G.Y. He was found guilty of treason and sentenced to death by hanging, which was later reduced to lifetime imprisonment. This broke  Janet. For years she would be found crying inconsolably in her room as she looked at a gift G.Y. had given her.


A year after G.Y.’s capture, Beatrice was approached to deliver a secret message to Pierce in South Africa. She agreed. 


She flew to Johannesburg. Followed the instructions. Waited at the meeting point. She waited for hours but he did not show up. She had to return to Zambia with her message. 


Turns out, Beatrice had been followed. Pierce was tracking her to make sure it was safe to approach. When he saw she was compromised, he left. 


After a while, a second rendezvous was arranged. Again Beatrice said yes. 


She travelled to South Africa. This time the meeting was in a supermarket. At the till, Pierce stood in line behind Beatrice. He instructed her not to turn around or say anything. The exchange was made. The message was finally delivered. She flew back to Zambia thinking that was the end of it. 


Not long after her return, the people who had sent her to South Africa, picked her up in a hurry. There was no time to pack anything. They told her she had to get out of the country immediately. They bought her a one way ticket to the newly liberated Zimbabwe. Gave her as much money as they could scramble together at short notice. Made sure she got on the plane and watched her fly into exile.


One can only imagine what this hasty exit was like for her. 


Beatrice sat alone in the waiting area of Harare International Airport a few weeks after her rendezvous in South Africa. She had no clothes save for the ones she was wearing. She had no place to stay. She had left everything she cared for behind in what felt like a blink of an eye. Her acquaintances had shown up at her home abruptly, saying she had to leave the country immediately because the shushushu were aware of her trip to South Africa. They rushed her to the airport, gave her as much money as they could rustle up at short notice and pushed her on a flight. But, getting her out of the country was as far as their plan was hatched. 


When the plane landed in Harare, Beatrice made her way out. Each step getting heavier as she begrudgingly stepped into the unknown. The enormity of her circumstance sat on her shoulders weighing her down the more she thought it through. She barely made it past immigration with a dignified face. Through misty eyes she made her way to the nearest chairs she could find. As she sank down the shock of the cold metal chair made her gasp for air, sending a signal for the dam to break. Her whole body convulsed with the overflow of emotions and tears. Fear. Shock. Sadness. Panic. Anger. Doubt. Longing. Relief. A concoction. One thought running laps in her head non stop, “I am alone.” More tears erupted. For how long she cried she could not say.


“Beatrice? What are you doing here?” a woman’s voice breaks through her mourning. She looked up to find Tabeth looking down at her with concerned eyes. Maybe she was not so alone.


Tabeth Tendai Ashani was a relative of G.Y.s wife Penny. Tabeth had met Beatrice from visits to Zambia. Beatrice explained her predicament. Without hesitation, Tabitha offered her a place to stay as she figured out what was next. 


Tabeth was a nurse who lived with her two daughters in Avondale. Her home was a hub for family and friends always coming and going. The girls loved having Beatrice at their home. She brought her bubbly joyful spirit to the house.



Beatrice, Tabeth, unidentified woman and Lucia Phiri
Beatrice, Tabeth, unidentified woman and Lucia Phiri

As much as Beatrice contributed to the household with the little money she had, she knew she needed a long term solution. Furthermore, just them harbouring her was dangerous for the family’s safety. This weighed heavily on her conscience. 


For a while, she would get odd jobs where payments were in cash. 


Fortunately, Beatrice’s tongue was not heavy. One of her many gifts was language. She spoke 7 languages. She quickly learned Shona fluently and easily passed for a native speaker. She also picked up a working knowledge of Ndebele.


Then it occurred to her that she knew thee Robert Gabriel Mugabe, the newly elected Prime Minister of Zimbabwe. She decided to find a way to get help directly from the top. 


She couldn’t exactly go to his house knocking to say, “Hello Neighbour. Remember me.”


She had to go to the Office of the Prime Minister. Where she met the Gatekeeper. 


She told Gatekeeper, “My name is Beatrice Chisengalumbwe. I would like to speak to the Prime Minister. We were friends in Zambia.”


Obviously the Gatekeeper was not about to lose her job because some delusional woman was claiming she knew the whole PM. She was a professional. So she ran interference. She told Beatrice he was in meetings or he was busy. 


Beatrice was resolute. She sat in the reception to wait until he was free. 


The day would end and still no opening had come up in his busy day. So Beatrice would leave and come back the next day. 


She did this for about a year. At home, pressure was building from Tabeth’s relatives. They feared for her life and told her to kick out the fugitive she was harbouring. 


It was not until a minister asked the Gatekeeper out of curiosity who was this woman who came every day to sit in the reception. She told him, “Her name is Beatrice Chisengalumbwe and she wants to see the Prime Minister.”


Later on in the day, whilst the minister was in a meeting with the Prime Minister, he mentioned in passing that there was a woman who wanted to see him, whose name was Beatrice Chisengalumbwe. 


As soon as Bob heard her name, he stopped everything he was doing and called for her. He was so happy to see his old friend Beatrice because he remembered her kindness to him in Zambia. She explained her situation. Bob assured Beatrice that she was safe under his protection. 




PROTECTED

1981 - 1991


The Zambian Secret Service were still on the hunt for Beatrice. They had tracked her down to Harare. It was only a matter of time before they knew her exact location. 


But now she was protected by the highest office of the land. 


Bob sent a message to the Zambian Secret Service categorically declaring that Beatrice Chisengalumbwe was under his protection. They would have to go through him to get access to her. 


The Secret Service requested to interview her. The meeting happened in the presence of the Zimbabwe CIO. Nothing came of it. However, it was still not safe for her to be in Zambia.


Bob went on to protect her in a series of safe houses. However, she was required to work for her upkeep. 


The first safehouse she was assigned to was with a female Sangoma who everyone addressed as Sekuru. 


Beatrice was permitted visitors but she could not leave the compound unaccompanied.  Her visitors were chauffeured to the compound. Then driven back when done. 


Over the years Beatrice had stayed in contact with her daughters, Chipasha and Lombe through written letters. By 1984, Lombe, her kasuli, was a university graduate, married and with her first child. Beatrice got permission for Lombe and the baby to come stay with her at the Sangoma’s compound for a short visit. 


She shared a room with three other acolytes. Lombe and baby Chulu were given one of the beds. On the first night baby Chulu wailed the whole night keeping the whole yard awake. No matter what Lombe did baby Chulu would not stop crying. Eventually, the baby collapsed from exhaustion. After that night, the visit was incident free. 


The next time Beatrice had a visitor, she was taken to Tabitha’s home and her guest would rendezvous with her there. 


Years later, Beatrice was moved to a ZANU PF farm that had been seized first from a white farmer and later from Joshua Nkomo, the Prime Minister’s arch rival in the 1980’s. The seized farms gave employment to Freedom Fighters who needed a new purpose. 


Beatrice became the Farm Manager’s secretary. She also worked in the fields. During that decade of her life in exile she was aged 49 to 58. The lifestyle took its toll on her body and psyche.


On the bright side, she managed to reconnect with family including siblings, her children, nieces and nephews every now and then. In the late 80’s her grandchildren spent Christmas with her at the farm. 



Mukuka Makungo, Chilufya Makungo, Chulu Chansa and Penelope Chisengalumbwe at the ZANU-PF Farm
Mukuka Makungo, Chilufya Makungo, Chulu Chansa and Penelope Chisengalumbwe at the ZANU-PF Farm

The 1990’s ushered in a renewed spirit in the people of Zambia for the reformation of the nation. The voices were louder than a whisper. Dr. Kenneth Kaunda pardoned the imprisoned coup dissidents of 1980. G.Y. was a free man.  Janet lived to see him released. The first thing G.Y. did was call his sister back home. 





NDE FWA

1992 - 2014



Beatrice Mulenga Mumba Chisengalumbwe


Back home in Zambia, now in her 60’s, Beatrice threw herself into Grandmother duties. 


In the Bemba culture, your grandmother is your best friend. 


Lombe had just given birth to her second daughter, who was named Kapumpe Janet after the Diva herself Janet. Beatrice carried Kapumpe everywhere like she was a purse. They went from home to home. City to city. This gave her time to reconnect with her family after 10 years of absence. 


Eventually, her children bought Beatrice a flat she could claim as her own space at Kafue Estates. 


Beatrice was back. The social butterfly went to work.


She immersed herself in the community and the Catholic Church which she loved so dearly. She would help her neighbours and even went so far as to register an NGO. 


Beatrice would have made a great major grants fundraiser. She did not shy away from asking for money, clothes, food and things in general. The only problem was that her donors thought their donations were going to her, but she would give their gifts away. Imagine giving away your favourite dress to your dear aunt, only to visit her and your designer dress walks by on some stranger. In your mind you are thinking, “Is that mi…. Can’t be.” 


There were times when she would be given a month’s worth of groceries. Within a week she would have distributed it to the community. Then she would call to say she didn’t have any groceries, could someone send her money. Black tax on crack.


Frustrating as it might have been for the people she hit up, on the flip side of the same coin, for the people she assisted when they most needed it, they remember her generosity as a lifeline. 


At age 81 she was the last Mumba Girl alive. 


In her last days, she seemed to know death was near. See, she had this thing where whenever someone asked her, “How are you?”


She would respond, “Yah! Ala Ndefwa,” but she had been dying for the last 50 years. So everyone was used to her proclamation. 


However, this time she kept saying goodbye to whoever she spoke to. 


She travelled to Lombe’s home in Kabwe. 


She stopped eating. 


At the hospital multiple tests were run but they could not find what was wrong with her.


She was a woman who still walked upright. Shoulders back. Spine straight. With a healthy body as far as they could tell.


She called several people who she wanted to reconcile with. She asked them to go to Kabwe to see her. They were all too busy assuming this was another false alarm, sure they would see her again. The only person who visited her was her oldest son, Kasonde. He arrived early on a Saturday morning. They spoke and ate lunch together. Then he travelled back to Lusaka late in the day. By Monday he received a call.


On 23 November 2014, Beatrice Mulenga Mumba Chisengalumbwe transitioned to the next life. 

Beatrice Mulenga Mumba Chisengalumbwe in 2011
Beatrice Mulenga Mumba Chisengalumbwe in 2011

THE AUTHORS THOUGHTS


Mama Bea was a textured woman. You either loved her or did not. 


For those who did, they got to experience her loving them fiercely. 


She made you feel like you were special, no matter your station or age. 


She spoke to everyone in their mother tongue.


She anticipated your needs and helped without you having to ask.


She gave to her detriment.


She was a trendsetter, a leader, a hustler, a mother and a believer.


This is Her-Story. Always remember:

Mutale Chisengalumbwe, her child who died too soon and

Beatrice Mulenga Mumba Chisengalumbwe, the Secret Keeper


Her first great grandson to this day says, “Mama Bea was My best friend and forever will be.”



Written by Chulu Chansa



Thank you to:

Chipasha Chisengalumbwe

Munsoli Chisengalumbwe

Lombe Chisengalumbwe

Kapumpe Janet Lukundo Chamunda

Chansa Kapota

Chomba Mumba

Yolande F. Zengeni-Nyamugama

Dierdre Musonda Chibuta

Amara Santana






Beatrice and Amara Kapumpe Santana

Comentarios


Contact

AfricanaWoman (at) gmail (dot) com

follow us

  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • YouTube

© Africana Woman 2024

bottom of page