Alice Chikomo, 88, of Avondale, Harare, Zimbabwe passed away on September 25, 2021. Alice was born on September 25, 1933.

On the 25th day of September 1933, there was joy and happiness in the Chief Chivero area in Mhondoro as the Denga family welcomed a precious gift from God in the name of Alice Denga. She was born in a family of seven children (four boys and three girls). Alice was the fourth born. She was born to Beatrice Mazvarira (Kashoma) nicknamed vaKudeno and Domnic Denga affectionately known as vaChidhakwa. Hence the famous quote, “ndiri mwana waDhakwa” At the age of five, Alice together with her family relocated to Msengezi near Chegutu where her father had bought a farm. At the time Sekuru Denga had no laborers at the farm hence Alice and the other siblings helped out by working on the farm. At the farm, the family did everything that was to be done from plowing the land, to weeding and harvesting as well as selling the farm produce. Alice recalled how she would guide the plow, milking the cows and also herd them. She would look after the goats and chickens which were very few at the time.

Education and Occupation

Alice Chikomo attended Mahwanda Primary School, a Methodist school for her primary education, together with all her siblings. That is where she did her Sub-A, Sub B, and Standards 1-3. Then for her standard 4, she attended Marshall Hartley boarding. After completing Standard 4, she moved to Waddilove boarding school where she did her standards 5 and 6. While at the boarding school Alice’s leadership gifts could be seen as she assumed the position of a Sub Prefect, Prefect, and Eventually the Head girl.

Going to school was a huge privilege for her since her parents had no money to pay the fees. By God’s grace, Alice won the heart of one of the senior teachers, who promised to assist with a Bursary. Granted the bursary, Alice was able to write her final examinations and passed very well.

After high school, Alice proceeded to do teacher training for two years thereafter Alice started working as a qualified school teacher. Truly, if you spent a moment with Gogo Alice Chikomo you would realize that she had this natural gift in teaching, not just academic material but real-life situations. She was indeed a “living memoir” for a wholesome life!

Church, Marriage and Ministry Life

Alice Chikomo was introduced into the church at a very tender age since she grew up under the influence of her aunt (mother’s sister) who was a fervent evangelist in the Methodist Church.

It appears Alice was too principled to be won by any man. As she would recall, “My prayer as a young woman was for God to give me a God-fearing husband, who was not into drinking and smoking, one who would respect, love, and affirm me as a woman” This was quite a bucket list! It so happened that at that time one young Pastor in training, Herbert Chikomo was in search of an upright woman to marry; one who had the potential of becoming a pastor’s wife. The late Reverend Matthew Rusike of the Methodist Church could think of no one else other than one beautiful, tall and elegant, Alice Denga. Following the dictates of the Bible, “two shall become one flesh,” Alice tied the knot in Holy matrimony with Herbert in his final year of theological training in 1956 and the two started what would become a sixty-plus year, long journey in marriage and ministry.

Post – United Theological College “Life at the mine”

After graduating from UTC, the couple was placed in Shabanie now Zvishavane, a mining town that would serve as Alice and Herbert’s probationary period prior to ordination. Pastoring within the mining town, segregation and tribalism were the order of the day. Alice often recollected how black people were regarded as second-class citizens with clearly defined parameters which they were not allowed to bypass. They were relegated to the margins of the society where they lived in 'compounds', “mukomboni”. The Chikomos also coexisted with the rest of the compound society, sharing communal (public) ablution facilities and water sources. They had a one-bedroomed cottage with a small dining room and a kitchen. This could pose serious health challenges to this young family, but true to Christ's promises, He sustains his servants "...until the very end of the age" (Matt. 28:20).

In order to buy groceries from upmarket shops, Alice would pretend to be a maid sent by her white Mistress, wearing an apron. Alice always narrated her ordeal: “we were not allowed to buy certain foodstuff from shops, and so I would present myself as a maid in order to gain access to grocery shops reserved for the white people”. In spite of this racial imbalance, Alice remained a strong pillar of support to Herbert and determined to work together with white people side by side without any retaliation. While at Shabane (Zvishavane), the couple was blessed with their first child, Nhamburo in November 1956. During this time Alice was teaching at Gresham School in Zvishavane. They stayed at Shabanie for a year before moving to David Livingstone High School where they served for four years (1957 – 1961).

Ministerial Journey as a Minister’s Spouse

It is proper to argue that Mrs. Chikomo shared the calling to serve together with Rev. H.P. Chikomo. The two had a ministry at heart. Passionate about serving God’s people, from Ordination to retirement, Alice and Herbert covered the width and breadth of Zimbabwe and the African Region as well as abroad in the United States of America. In 1958 the couple was blessed with their second-born, George followed by the third, Farirai in 1960. After serving at David Livingstone, Alice and Herbert together with the children moved to Mufakose, in Harare (1961 -1964) where at that time Rev. and Mrs. Kanyowa were the only minister and spouses at Harare Presbyterian Church now Mbare Presbyterian Church. Mufakose was just developing as a new suburb. This opened up an opportunity for church planting. A visit to Gogo Karambamuchero in Mufakose revealed that Alice was instrumental in evangelism. She would urge the women to put on their church uniform and walk around the suburb. As they walked people would be attracted and ask for the details of this “new church” in the community. This yielded a positive outcome and the Mufakose Church grew in numbers! Members who had relocated to Mufakose from Mbare became part of the first group of people forming what started off as an African Extension Congregation under City Presbyterian Church. There in Mufakose, the fourth born child, Simba was born (1962). Alice and Herbert Chikomo went on to establish a congregation in the Highfield community; thereafter they were blessed with their fifth born child, Tsitsi in 1966.

Leadership Contribution to the Church

While Rev. Chikomo was involved in ministry work as the first black Secretary-General of the Zimbabwe Council of Churches (ZCC) (1965-1971) Mrs. Chikomo did not just sit at home doing nothing. Instead, she took advantage of the position held by Reverend Chikomo in establishing Christian care to foster advocacy for women and girls in the country and the region. At the time she was one of the key women who started a fraternity of the women's fellowship (mubatanidzwa) in 1966/67 which grew to be popularly known today as the Greater Harare. Alice Chikomo worked with Mrs. Kachidza of the Methodist Church (President) and she was the Secretary. Mrs. Nhari from the Salvation Army was the Treasurer. The three ministers' spouses came together and formed this ‘Mubatanidzwa’ outside its normal denominational level. This exposed the three spouses and the majority of women to leadership.

From that time onwards Gogo Chikomo went on to assume many other leadership roles in the Church. At one time Mrs. Chikomo was the Presbyterial President (PP) of the Women’s Fellowship in Zimbabwe and she took an active role at the Assembly level during the time when Reverend Chikomo was the General Assembly Moderator. During this period Mrs. Chikomo traveled across the globe attending international conferences on the rights of women and their recognition and welfare amid gender injustice and deprivation. Naturally, Gogo Alice Chikomo was not just a voice for the voiceless, but she gave women the strength to rise up and speak against the various forms of injustice through action and charity work. She was the first black woman to attend the World Day of Prayer, an occasion that she would attend for the next eight years that would follow. She then became the Vice President of the Girls Brigade in Zimbabwe.

After a successful ministry under the Christian Council, Alice and Herbert moved to Mhondoro. The couple had always dreamt of establishing a school to promote better education for all, especially in the pre-independence era where good education was the preserve of a few. This gave birth to Presbyterian High School. Before such establishment there were only two schools in the Mhondoro area, that is, St. Michaels and Sandringham which were several kilometers away from the rural community. Mrs. Chikomo served as the first Matron in the School, alongside Reverend Chikomo who was the first School Chaplain. Alice played a huge supporting role to her husband throughout their stay in Mhondoro.

In 1979 the Chikomo family arrived in Davenport, Iowa, and became a cherished part of First Presbyterian Church (FPC) life. This was a period of blooming love, knowledge, and respect for this congregation. The Chikomo family fully participated in the life of FPC, with Rev Chikomo as an Associate Pastor and Mrs. Chikomo as the main choir member. After the Chikomos completed their Davenport stay nine months later, their next U.S. experiences were in the Twin Cities and Des Moines. In 1980 Alice and Herbert Chikomo returned to Zimbabwe just after the Independence. During that time Mrs. Chikomo was deployed to teach in Chinhoyi and later transferred to Kambuzuma.

Eventually, Rev. Chikomo received a call to serve at the City Presbyterian Church in Harare where he became the first black minister there. While at City Church Mrs. Chikomo worked side by side with Mrs. Poorman in integrating white and black women to fellowship together. This repaired relations within the church and aided a number of outreach programs across racial lines. The list of other congregations, places, and institutions that received the services of Mrs. Chikomo while still in active ministry are countless. We would need the whole day to mention them!

Her philanthropic contribution to the society

In 1996 Alice Chikomo became founder and Director of the Street Children's club in Harare. She took care of over a hundred children who were living on the streets of Harare. She provided education, food, and clothing to them. She offered motherly love to these children and made an indelible mark in transforming their lives. She was able to keep them away from the hostilities of life on the streets, associated with drug abuse and other illicit behaviors. Today, some of the children rescued by Gogo Alice Chikomo are leading good lives in various respects; some are even managing successful companies and institutions.

In 2013 Gogo Alice Chikomo founded the Ray of Vision Blind women's Club, a place she would spend most of her time. She has been faithful and committed to this call until the time of her death and her legacy will live on. She initiated self-sustaining projects for blind women by means of capacity-building training. The women were taught sewing, knitting, and macramé skills. More so, Gogo Chikomo introduced the women to the concept of Farming God’s Way. At one time the women prepared the land, planted their maize crop, and got a bumper harvest. Alice did not only give handouts to these women but she taught them to fend for themselves through various projects including, but not limited to the aforementioned ones.

Gogo Chikomo’s philanthropic role extended to securing better education for blind women and children. Over the past decade, she has been paying fees for over 40 children at the Primary and Secondary levels. In addition, Gogo Chikomo recently introduced a vocational skills training program. As we speak, five of the blind women’s children are enrolled at Silveira House doing vocational training in welding. Indeed, she really deserves the title of “Mother Alice” just as it were with the renowned Mother Theressa of Calcutta. Gogo Chikomo’s sterling role in the promotion of education for all despite social class, tribe, race, or gender places her name on the list of the world’s most notable social activists. She was a person who always strived to walk the talk!

At home

Gogo Chikomo loved backyard gardening. She was passionate about flower collection; her flower garden has a story to tell about Gogo Alice Chikomo. Her dearest flowers were the petunia and the colored roses. Altogether, Gogo Chikomo loved and cherished spending time with little children. She would naturally exude an amazing affection to children. Despite having been a diabetic patient herself, Gogo Chikomo had a sweet tooth! As our own “Mother Christmas” she made sure to spoil the kids rotten each time they were around her. In fact, most kids often loved going to “kwaGogo Chikomo”. Gogo Chikomo kept a diary for every family member’s birthday and she would make sure to get gifts for each occasion. She was indeed an eventful woman who believed in sharing the little she had with others. Gogo lived well and left a visible presence in her grandchildren, Cathrine, Christian, Tendai, and Kudzai. She also lived long to enjoy the company of her great-grandchildren Dalitso and Tiwonge.

Gogo Alice Chikomo leaves, two daughters, Farirayi Chikomo and Tsitsi BergmanNee Chikomo (Eric Bergman), and four grandchildren, Cathrine Chikomo-Nota (Simbarashe Thompson Nota), Christian Chikomo, Kudzai Vincent Bergman, and Tendai Edwin Bergman. She also lived long enough to see her great-grandchild Dalitso and Tiwonge Nota. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Rev H.P. Chikomo, her sons, Julia n Nhamburo Chikomo, George Teurayi Chikomo, and Masimba Joseph Chikomo.

So long Mother of Love, go well mighty woman of valor, and rosebud of social justice, peace, and harmony. Sleep well Mother Alice – our own great philanthropist and great shadow to the homeless and the wretched in the community. We will miss your great smile and laughter and we will always live to cherish your great sense of nonviolent response to hostile treatment. Until we meet on the other side of life; we say goodbye vaMamoyo.