A humane, ingenious, pan-African peacebuilder with a warm grin, hearty laugh, and agile moves

Webster Zambara and I joined the Centre for Conflict Resolution (CCR), Cape Town, South Africa around the same time in 2009. CCR arranged housing for us in the same Pinelands gated apartment complex.

 

Upon arrival, I received a warm welcome from Webster and his beloved wife, Tracy. He fondly called her “Tess.” Webster greeted me with a warm grin and we immediately bonded. He made it feel like reuniting with an old friend rather than meeting for the first time.

 

Having arrived in Pinelands a few days earlier, Webster assisted my soft-landing. He took me on a neighbourhood tour, on the same day of my arrival. It gave me a broad, general, but beneficial overview of the area. Webster demonstrated how an open mind, curiosity, and humour could take one far, especially in new environments.

 

He and I solidified our bond of brotherhood during our daily commute to work whenever he was not away on CCR’s pan-African peacebuilding missions, mainly to Eswatini (then Swaziland) and Lesotho. Webster initially called me “Munin’ina” (Shona for younger brother). I naturally addressed him as “Mukoma” (Shona for older brother). We enjoyed sharing ideas, advice, annoyances, and jokes. Soon, the “Mukoma Webster” title humorously but respectfully morphed into “Chief Web.”

 

Webster exuded empathy, compassion, and wisdom. He became my confidante and counselor, always there to listen and offer wise advice. If there are  rules to make life a bit more bearable they would, for me, certainly include Webster’s mantra: “Happiness is a decision and the keys to it are in your own hands!”

 

He made my professional and personal life better. Despite being known as a consummate professional in the office and diverse peacebuilding forums and locales, Webster did not neglect his personal life. He always scheduled time for leisure activities, understanding that all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.

 

One of Webster’s best ways to explore the Western Cape’s natural beauty and rich culture was by taking relaxing and educative drives with Tess. Concerned about my possible loneliness, Webster would often invite me to join them. I can reminisce about the scenic routes that offer stunning coastline views and the opportunity to learn about the Western Cape’s history and wineries. I also remember observing how Tess kept Webster on his toes through witty exchanges. They proved one could get regular small doses of the delights of travelling without waiting until your holiday or the trip of a lifetime. I always returned home feeling better and fulfilled than when we set out.

 

Webster routined a monthly Sunday gents’ afternoon out. Given his devout Catholicism, the usual three-leisure-spot itinerary kicked off after his and Tess’s return from Church. Webster made quite an impression as an agile dancer with killer moves that separate good dancers from bad ones. Dancing was more than just a recreational activity to him—it was a holistic therapy for the mind, body, and soul.

 

One of the trio, a popular Cape Town shisa nyama spot then, influenced Webster’s conception of the CCR staff “Ubuntu braai.” He was born on 29 June and I on 28 June (albeit some years apart); on the 29th/30th, we would sneak out to the spot before lunch and return to celebrate communally with colleagues over juicy pieces of braaied meat.

 

Webster was a bibliophile and musicophile. So, he was a regular customer of the book and music stores of Howard Centre in Pinelands. On our trips, he would find it impossible to leave OR Tambo International’s Exclusive Books and Music Moods stores without buying at least one book or CD.

 

He and I both left CCR at the beginning of 2011. Webster remained in the picturesque Mother City. I returned to my Johannesburg base. We kept in touch as we finalised a co-authored SADC and Zimbabwe publication for OSISA. I was elated when Webster informed me he would soon be coming over as a don at the University of Johannesburg.

 

Webster and I lived together for several months. I considered myself habitually tidy. But Webster admirably took home smartness to a higher level. For him, the saying “Cleanliness is next to Godliness” was not only about spiritual purification but also physical hygiene.

 

Occasionally, Webster would demonstrate his mastery of the kitchen for healthy, tasty, home-cooked meals. I became a gourmet, thanks to his encouragement to watch him “cook the food and eat” while enjoying our favourite beverages.

 

Webster had a knack of discovering special places near where we lived. I am lucky enough to have explored many parts of eGoli with him. Given Webster’s adherence to striking a good work-life balance, when he was not flying to the Mother City to be with Tess, we also had established a Jozi-Sunday leisure routine.

 

He evolved a classic sense of dress style. Once, we entered a favoured leisure spot with him donning one of his eye-catching African print shirt selections. Ever the gracious one, Webster had gifted me an elegant African shirt from one of his Swazi peacebuilding missions, which I was sporting. He quipped, “Chief, people are marvelling at us like we are high-profile diplomats,” before bursting into hearty laughter.

 

Webster returned to Cape Town to become a “dedicated and esteemed member” of the Institute for Justice and Reconciliation (IJR) in October 2011. I joined the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) in Pretoria, South Africa, the following month. Webster ensured continued collaboration on peace, justice, and security issues through our institutions’ publications and seminars.

 

He and my mentor, Professor Martin Rupiya, may his soul rest in peace, readily collaborated with me in successfully delivering an ISS seminar on Zimbabwe’s political and security situation. Webster’s passionate, insightful, and exceptional presentation on the prospects of Truth, Justice, and Reconciliation made a significant impact. He saw that I participated in IJR seminars where my expertise would be appropriate, including those in Gaborone, Botswana, and Pretoria.

 

Webster encouraged me to “continue writing factual, thought-leading and provoking op-eds.” He was a peacebuilding scholar-practitioner who believed knowledge and experiences should enlighten and empower “the common people” beyond the academic, research, and policy-making communities. Thus, beyond exhibiting his natural peacebuilding punditry charisma in front of the camera and behind the mic, Webster penned numerous media articles he planned to compile into a book.

 

We participated in various other peacebuilding initiatives, such as the International Peace Institute’s “Leveraging Local Knowledge for Peacebuilding and Statebuilding in Africa” project seminars in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and Gorée Island, Senegal.

 

The Gorée Island meeting with Webster stands out. He not only stimulated the intellect with his polished seminar presentation on violence transformation training in Zimbabwe and expert intercessions to develop innovative solutions. Webster also displayed his love for humanity through his comprehensive knowledge of the brutal Atlantic Slave Trade and its devastating impact on Africa during a tour of the small island’s House of Slaves and its Door of No Return. He also shared thoughts on the film The Guns of Navarone upon seeing the big Second World War cannons rusting on the island.

 

Webster created magic memories that will last a lifetime at the Gorée workshop’s dinner reception. He demonstrated the transformative power of dance when strutting his stuff to some harmonious music. Some fellow participants tried to mimic his moves. Suddenly, dancing weaved connection and camaraderie. It became a communal celebration of joy and unity, where participants came together in the rhythm of life.

 

Webster has had his last dance of a remarkable life. The outpouring of grief and tributes speak for themselves: a mark of the gentleman as much as the versatile pan-African peacebuilding champion. He is immortalised not only for his game-changing and impactful peace, justice, and reconciliation work but also for his humanity, warm grin, hearty laugh, and agile moves. I am grateful to have known “Chief Web” and will forever reminisce brilliant moments together.

 

I offer my sincere condolences to Tess, family, friends, and IJR colleagues during this grief and loss.