Gone too soon! Malawi loses one of the upcoming female geologists, Chimwemwe Mazizi Zidana – Mining & Trade Review (November 2015)

The piece “Gone too soon! Malawi loses one of the upcoming female geologists, Chimwemwe Mazizi Zidana” featured below was initially published in Malawi’s Mining & Trade Review Issue Number 31 that is circulating this November 2015.

The full edition is available for download here. This monthly publication is edited by Marcel Chimwala.

Gone too soon! Malawi loses one of the upcoming female geologists, Chimwemwe Mazizi Zidana

By Chiku Jere

Born on April 2, 1987, Chimwemwe Mazizi Zidana was just 28 when she passed on, on the first day of last month. She lost a battle which she gallantly fought against ‘Heart Palpitation and General Body Pains’ as indicated in the medical report.

It was a short illness that ended her at Lilongwe Private Clinic in Area 10 and this was the last journey of her many she never returned.

She was laid to rest at the Area 18 Cemetery, but she held from Mtambo Village, Traditional Authority Kapeni, in Blantyre District.

After graduating, she briefly worked with Mota-Engil as a Geologist before she joined the civil service on May 2, 2014 as a Geologist at the Department of Geological Survey which falls under the Ministry of Natural Resources, Energy and Mining.

She was moved to Zomba to join her husband and was stationed at Geological Survey Department Headquarters.

The ever jovial Zidana, as described by colleagues and others, who happened to have worked or interacted with her, was one of the free and rare personalities, let alone, upcoming female geologist prospecting a bright future ahead of her.

Eulogies from colleagues and friends:

FAIR THEE WELL!

A dark cloud had fallen in the month of October 2015, when the mineral sector, particularly the Geological Survey Department lost an upcoming geoscientist in the name of Mrs Chimwemmwe Mazizi Zidana. You departed from us before fulfilling the potential which the sector had been expecting from you. At such a young age, you have left a gap which shall not be filled in this sector. We are still failing to come to terms with the way you were taken amidst us. The answer to all these questions can be provided better by the Almighty God who gives and takes away from us. We hope and believe you are in His comfortable hands. You shall always be in the minds of the Geological Survey family and will be missed by this Department, the Ministry of Natural Resources,  Energy and Mining, your family and friends numerous to mention. CONTINUE RESTING IN PEACE.

Jalf W. Salima, Director of the Geological Survey Department

I am humbled to have shared such a life; a gentle and calm spirited soul. We little knew that day that God was going to call your name. In life we loved you dearly; in death we do the same.

It broke my heart to lose you, but am glad that you did not go alone, for part of us went with you, the day God called you home on that fateful October 1st.

You left us peaceful memories, your love is still our guide and though we cannot see you, you are always at our side. Today Chimwemwe is not where she was, but she will always be in my heart. God rest you dear friend. I still see you smile and feel your love in a gentle breeze. You are an angel watching over us with the comfort and blessings which you bring. Rest well my dear friend!

Tamara Kamanga, Geologist