Mathew Masinge
IF Ashley Musendekwa was talking about himself, then he was probably right.
The tears which have flowed, and the hearts which have been broken, really show that he was a special boy who will be sadly missed.
The St George’s deputy head boy, who was 17, died in a horror car crash on Wednesday evening, and his family has said their jewel has just “slipped away”.
Ashley, the first-born child to Lawrence and Tsitsi Musendekwa, died when the car he was driving was involved in a head-on collision with a Koala Park Abattoir truck along Harare Drive.
He died on the spot, while the truck driver sustained serious injuries, and is admitted at Parirenyatwa Hospital.
Ashley met his fate while returning from school where he had just finished writing his final Cambridge A-Level Computer Science exam.
In a video recorded moments after finishing his exam, Ashley was asked by a friend to say his last words, and he said, “…YOU’LL REALLY APPRECIATE SOMETHING WHEN IT’S GONE.”
The parting words not only surprised fellow students, but also his family who were seeing a bright future for him.
When H-Metro visited the family’s home in Helensvale yesterday, the atmosphere was all sorrow and grief.
Ashley’s heartbroken father was reduced to tears, and lay down on a mat, while his mother was inconsolable.
When his schoolmates arrived to pay their condolences, the parents, relatives and those who had come to pay their respects, all sobbed.
A close relative described Ashley as a leader and a disciplined child who pursued Christian values.
“We are all shattered by Ashley’s demise and still coming to terms with our loss. We are praying for his parents so that they gather courage to accept his departure.
“Ashley was a principled young man, whose leadership skills were not questioned. He was also a well decorated sportsman at school,” said the relative.
In another video that has gone viral, Ashley is seen preaching at a Methodist Church service.
St George’s authorities are today expected to release Ashley’s obituary.
The school said it had lost a brilliant student leader whose path will always be remembered.
Ashley is set to be buried at Glen Forest tomorrow.