The late Zimbabwean millionaire and socialite Genius Ginimbi planned his funeral months before his tragic death in a ghastly Rolls Royce accident at Borrowdale, Harare. This is according to his elder sister, Juliet Kadungure.
Speaking to the Herald, Juliet disclosed that her flamboyant brother, who died on Sunday, November 8 minutes after departing from a birthday party at his Dreams Nightclub, had outlined the dress code, unleashed a guest list, demanded VIP tents and stressed on how the funeral will be conducted, saying he wants it big - to reflect his larger than life persona.
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“Genius was a fun-loving character. He always reminded us of how he wanted his funeral to be conducted. In fact, he had a plan and always said ‘‘ndiri big’, so make sure on my funeral, you do not hurriedly bury me. Take time, planning for it. Check my requirements well and one of the things is that I want everyone who will be at my funeral to be dressed in all white, no matter who. Please, make sure you emphasise that, remember, I am an all-white guy. The all-white should be on the day of burial’,” narrated Juliet.
Adding: “He would say: ‘make sure you get in touch with my other friends abroad and wait for them to come’... That is why we are saying, for now, the funeral will begin on Thursday, [November 12] and, for now, people are gathered at our father’s residence which is 400 metres away from Ginimbi’s mansion. We have set up a tent because there are lots of people coming from all walks of life and we could not accommodate them at the mansion.”
According to the deceased’s other sister Nelia, the flashy entrepreneur who boasted an exquisite car collection worth over Sh150 million and a multi-million mansion in Harare’s upmarket Domboshava locale had invited two friends; Limumba Karim from Malawi and Elisha – a Mozambican, for the Saturday night party in honour of the birthday girl, Mitchelle ‘Moana’ Umali. The three also perished in the crash.
“I did not meet the two who were involved in an accident with my brother. “I only heard him saying he was going to Moana's party with friends. The next thing I get a phone call that my brother was involved in an accident. I am still in shock and it is scary. I arrived at the scene and saw the remains of my brother and his friends. I am hurt," she said.
Speaking to Zimeye, however, one of his associates, Tino Tumbare, dismissed claims that Ginimbi had a premonition and readied himself by purchasing a coffin. “People should not be misled into believing those rumours. It is false that Ginimbi had prepared for his funeral arrangements and there is nothing like that. These are just rumours that there is a coffin in his house. There is nothing like that,” Tumbare was quoted as saying.
A message echoed by Ginimbi's close friend Tinotenda ‘Dj Rimo’ Marimo, "I am trying to think of how the car exploded and hit the tree. Usually that is his time of going home after partying, the wee hours of Sunday. I am saddened and at a loss for words”.
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Sharing details about the accident, a security guard, only identified as Martin, who witnessed the fiery crash disclosed that Ginimbi attempted to free his trapped friends before the Wraith exploded.
"I always see Ginimbi at this hour (5am) when I finish work and he will be driving to his Domboshava house. Today he had his Rolls Royce and was speeding as usual. I heard a bang and I rushed to investigate. I saw him trying to open the doors with a view to rescuing his friends. He was struggling to breathe and was visibly shaking," said Martin.
“Genius was shouting for help. When I arrived, the car exploded. The fire was scary and we could not do anything to help. Some neighbours gathered at the scene of the accident. We unsuccessfully tried to put out the fire using water buckets and tree branches.”
