About Linda Eleanor

Mung'omba as told by Chitupa

 

Wife - Mother - Grandmother - Scholar - Latin intellect - Philathropist - Entrepreneur - Family member - Friend - Businessman - Lawyer 

 

As a girl. My mother was born in the Caribbean island of Trinidad and Tobago and was the eldest of eight children. As a child she was brilliant at school and fiercely competitive. My mother had a Scotish grandmother - Ma King, and they adored each other. Ma King nurtured my mother greatly, and i believe told her stories of a better way of life and a way to change her destiny. My mother won many Island scholarships which ensured that she went to the best schools in the islands in spite of her poverty. She ended up in one of the top island girl's schools where she eventually got a scholarship to study law at the Inns of Court in London. Even though she got this scholarship she still had to 'find' money for her transportation on a ship to the UK. Determined, she taught maths for two years and then got to the UK as her first port of call out of Trinidad. This persistance and determination to achieve is indelibly imprinted on my mind forever. Linda was courageously determined and it paid off in many areas of her life.

 

As a wife. Linda was an incredibly supportive and dedicated wife. Wila was the apple of her eye until the day she died. She put his needs before her own. She was very protective of him and honoured him. She held him to a high standard and they debated over many subjects, full of laughter and admiration for each other. 

 

As a pioneer. Linda was a brave soul. Imagine leaving an Island life where you were brought up until your twenty's and then going to pursue your dreams in the UK. Then you meet someone from yet another Continent and you follow him to his country. Linda made Zambia her home and was a brilliant lawyer. She was eloquent amongst Presidents, academicians and great orators. I remember sitting in her office and her law partner, John Mwanakatwe saying to her that he had never come across someone who was so eloquent with the word and so refined in court. When my mother spoke, everyone listened. She had the art of captivating her audience with the word, with making reference to many latin derivations and with a sense of humour that was remarkable. She had 'gravitus'.

 

As my mother, Linda was generous, giving and she loved and adored my sister and i. She was always available, always present, always ready to assist. She was a nurturer and care giver of note as a mother. She was a mentor and my greatest role model when growing up. She was completely dedicated to her two daughters.

 

As a grandmother, Linda was only alive to see one of her five granddaughters being born, that being Monique, in South Africa. She adored Monique. She was so happy as a grandmother. Even though her other grandchildren never met her, they are fully aware of the presence and her values, which are timeless and live on in them.

 

If i could sum up my experince of the essence of my mother in 5 words it would be:

 

Smart

Loyal

Giving

Articulate

Loving