Popular First Street Shoe Cleaner Kabudura Dies

Kabudura died at his home in Mbare just before the holidays after a short illness.

Short in stature with a stooping step, Kabudura was so popular with people that few passed by his business place outside the Inscor Headquarters in First Street without sitting on his chair to have their shoes cleaned.

A comical character, Kabudura whose exact age could not be ascertained had been operating from these premises doing the same shoe cleaning job since the 60s and was popular with people of all races and ages.

In fact, only a few who frequented First Street did not know Kabudura.

His close friend and neighbour in Mbare Tendai Makoni confirmed Kabudura’s death saying the community has lost a dedicated member who offered his services whole heartedly and sometimes for free.

A number of Mbare residents also expressed their sorrow on the passing on of Kabudura, also a popular figure in the area.

Those who knew Kabudura have spoken highly of the man who was a familiar figure in the street sometimes moving up down joking with his clients as they sought for change or a for a drink.

One of his regular clients Nesbert Saruchera says First Street will never be the same without the man they used to call Mudhara Stan.

Kabudura was also a staunch Dynamos supporter regularly coming for matches a few minutes after the game had started for people to see that he was at the game in order to exercise his authority in the next days’ football discussions at his work place.

Surely to repeat Saruchera’s sentiments, First Street will never be the same without MUDHARA STAN.