FAMILY and friends of the late Genius “Ginimbi” Kadungure on Monday afternoon held a low-key memorial service for the late socialite and businessman one year after his passing.
Ginimbi passed away following a horrific car crash along the Borrowdale Road in the early hours of November 8 last year.
The 36-year-old’s Rolls Royce Wraith coupe first collided head-on with a Honda Fit before veering off the road and hitting a tree where it burst into flames.
The early responders managed to drag Ginimbi out of the wreckage before the fire but his friends Mitchelle “Moana” Amuli, Karim Limumba and Alichia Adams were all burnt alive inside the wreck.
For a man, who lived a lavish lifestyle which was characterised by expensive cars, clothes, champagne and beautiful women, his family chose to tone it down for the memorial service.
But that did not mean it was not classy.
All the guests arrived in top- of-the-range cars while wearing matching black outfits as they laid wreaths both at the accident scene and it his final resting place at his Domboshava mansion.
While at the accident scene, passing motorists blasted their horns as they joined the family in remembering the life of Ginimbi.
Some of the notable guests who took part in the restrained commemorations were Ginimbi’s father Anderson, sisters Nelia and Juliet as well as his ex-wife Zodwa Mkandla.
Businessman and football administrator Kenny Mubaiwa, who is an uncle of the Kadungure family, DJ Rimo and DJ Tawaz were also in attendance.
Speaking during the service, Juliet said the family is still to come to terms with Ginimbi’s early death.
“It’s a very difficult and emotional day for us. Personally, I developed goose-bumps when I get to think of this day (November 8).
“I know my brother Genius; he was very clever and a strategist. I wonder what really happened that made him fail to come up with a life-saving solution to avoid the accident and subsequent death. However, we are proud he worked so hard, putting the Kadungure name in the limelight,” Juliet told guests at the accident scene.
Zodwa said although it has been a year since the tragic accident, she is still trying to come to terms with reality.
“It’s like I am still dreaming. I vividly remember Rimo calling me on the fateful day and I thought they wanted beer. I cannot believe Genius is gone. All we need to do is to remain united as a family,” the businesswoman said.
Nelia said although her late brother lived a carefree live, he was strict when it came to laying down the law on his sisters.
“I am the one who was staying with him. He was very protective and did not allow us (his sisters) to go clubbing. He was against us partying.
“Time and again, he reminded us that we were not supposed to follow or copy his lifestyle (of partying and clubbing). He played a fatherly role to us,” she said.
Mubaiwa urged the family to keep upholding the legacy left behind by Ginimbi, who was a much-loved character due to his social media personality.
“He died at the young age of 36 but his works speak volumes. He was our own Bill Gates,” the former Dynamos boss said.
“He lived a fast-paced life and he enjoyed it to the fullest. He is gone and it is now incumbent upon us to preserve his legacy as a family.”
Rimo, who was Ginimbi’s sidekick for three years they stayed together at his Domboshava mansion spoke of the love the late socialite had.
“In those three years, he proved to me that he was a pillar to almost everyone. He helped a lot of people in the society. What a great loss to the nation,” Rimo said.
Born and bred in Domboshava, Ginimbi was a self-made millionaire, who had interests in the renewable energy, logistics and entertainment sectors.
He rose to fame by hosting lavish all-white parties for his birthday every October and he also did not hesitate to flaunt his riches on social media.
At the time of his death, Ginimbi’s fleet of luxury cars included a Rolls Royce Ghost, a Bentley Bentayga, a Bentley Continental, a Lamborghini Aventador, a Ferrari 488 Spider and a Brabus Mercedes G-Wagon.
