Observed on the third Sunday of June, this year Father’s Day falls on June 15th. This day is however celebrated on different dates worldwide. The day whose purpose is to honour fathers and father figures, recognizes their influence and contributions to their families and society. The history of Father’s Day, according to various sources shows that its roots are in the United States of America, where Sonora Smart Dodd founded it in 1910 to honour her father’s selflessness in raising her and her siblings. Over time, the tradition spread globally, with various countries adopting their own dates and customs.

People typically celebrate Father’s Day by giving gifts, such as personalized items, electronics, or experiences. It could also be by spending quality time with fathers, like sharing meals or engaging in activities. For those who are artistic an option would be writing heartfelt messages or cards to express appreciation. All this would be ways of creating memories through shared experiences and traditions. No one can tell you how to treat your father but each has a specific way of appreciating him and his efforts in your life. A father plays a significant role in the lives of their children, providing love, support, and guidance. Only the child who holds treasures in their heart, soul and memory knows how important their father is.

I spoke with a few individuals who shared experiences, treasured moments and relationships with their father.

“Well there are so many incidents, one of my favourites is when my dad and I used to stay up late fixing our home computer…we built it up from scratch, he had brought home parts of it, the mother board, memory cards, fans, etc all the tiny bits and we would stay up late putting the parts together, while having biscuits and juice.  Sometimes we had popcorn with a horror movie playing in the background 😂…so we would watch the movie while waiting for the computer to turn on and finish loading the O.S” 

“There is this one time, when I going to the shops, I bumped into him on his friend’s motorcycle… immediately I asked if I could ride with him,😂😂 you should have seen my mom’s face when she saw me at the back of the motorcycle holding on to my dad as we passed by our house…I even forgot that I had been sent to the shops to get bread😂😂 I was having so much fun” said Elizabeth Taderera, an author and page poet based in Gweru.

Even  though her father passed away when she was 16, she still holds these memories so dear. They remind her of the person he was and as long as his memory is kept alive, his spirit lives on.

Some of the roles and responsibilities of a father are being a provider, role model, giving emotional support and being a protector. I have witnessed how a father can be a disciplinarian but must also show love and affection towards a child. Taking note that each child is unique will help a father be understanding and patient with them. Comparing them will do more harm than good.

I  am convinced that every man has the potential of being a good father. What differs is how they equip themselves to make necessary efforts with the children. No one is born perfect but like in any position, there must be a positive mind set to help guide the children in the right direction,  so that they also teach their own children. Fathers can have a profound impact on their children’s lives, shaping their development, values, and relationships.

When such times come and go I can not say I miss my father because I did not know him. He passed away before I was able to remember, I was two weeks old. Therefore I do not know what it is to miss him since I never had him. I saw friends and relatives with their fathers but I never felt less of a child because of the father figures which surrounded me. I am in the process of getting to know about the man my father was from my other siblings. I am content with my life unfolded.

Another friend had this to say about the relationship with his father,

“I didn’t imagine that writing about the relationship I had with my father when I was growing up was going to be as challenging as it initially proved to be. Until I realized that the challenge was due to my endeavour to produce a perfect article. My life growing up – and my relationship with my father – was anything but perfect. Neither was it ideal. But it was wonderful (with a capital W)!”

“My father passed on when I was 16, and for most of those 16 years, I remember sharing with him a bond built on unconditional love, wonderful shared experiences, and having a special “friendship” with him. Everything I know, or most of it anyway, I was taught by my father. Everything I love (sports and other manly interests), I “inherited” from my father. Being the “actively involved in his son’s life” kind of father he was, he became my hero and role model, and above all, my advisor! And all this while I shared him with my 2 younger brothers, my older sister and my younger sister…yes all 5 of us!”

“I grew up in Bulawayo’s famous Mzilikazi township in the mid to late 80’s and early 90s (I didn’t stop growing, that’s just my childhood and teenage hood era 😅). Our family house was (and still is) a stone’s throw away from Babourfields stadium where my father often took me to watch our favourite football team, Zimbabwe Saints. That is one of the many shared experiences that I will always cherish. We used to sit in the lounge (sitting room as we knew it in those days) late into the night watching action movies and sporting events (boxing was one of his favourites). For safety reasons, my father used to park the company car (a government vehicle) at Mpilo Central Hospital and I used to ride with him there in the early evenings during week days. After leaving the car safely parked at Mpilo Hospital, we would walk back home and I remember those walks fondly because the talks we used to have were insightful to me. Not only did we bond, but most of the advice and knowledge he imparted on me before leaving this world happened then. Most of his advice was centred around education and how it would open doors for my siblings and I.” 

“My father was also big on traditional family values. We had healthy relationships with our paternal and maternal relatives (especially our cousins who were literally brothers and sisters to us) Every December school holidays, we used to go to our rural home in Mutare. And when I looked back, all those things shaped my siblings and I into well grounded human beings.”

“The father-son relationship we had was a cornerstone of my emotional development. It provided a framework for understanding healthy interactions, communication, and respect. It contributed to a my self-esteem, emotional intelligence, and overall well-being” said Tendai Oliver Mandikiyana, a father of two daughters.

Personally,  l have no recollection of my father because he passed away when I was 2weeks old. Some of my siblings were old enough to remember the moments. I can’t say I miss him since I can’t miss what I never had. Sure growing up I noticed how some friends had their fathers around but I had father figures who filled in the ‘gap’ so to speak. Occasionally I ask about him, the kind of person he was and his favourite things. He was a disciplinarian and a lover of music often playing the acoustic guitar in the home. The love of music in our home was instilled by both parents and I see him in the picture. I see traits of him in me of passion and determination, for now that is all I  can say. 

“My Father’s Memories are varied, but one that stuck with me which I learnt from him because it’s who he is to this day, is integrity. He always followed through on his word or commitment with work, family or friends. Whenever I think of him that’s what comes to mind Integrity. Even when our mom passed away he never wavered, he was always there. He is a great father, a stand up guy, what we call a steady ship, you can always rely on him. Integrity🙏🏾” Ken Gambura said, 

During the discussions, Ziviso Masuku shared her memories of her late father at a time when she was young.

“I remember vividly that I was 10 years old and I had just been discharged from hospital and was drowsy and weak. At that time his car was not working and there were no Combies back then. So he carried me home in his arms from Gweru General hospital to Athlone. I always remember how he was my hero even later in life as I grew up till to the time he went to be with the Lord. He was my go to person. May his soul continue to rest in peace.”

There are a variety of life circumstances and family dynamics which speak of  specific impacts in people’s lives. The next person I spoke to gave a back story to his father’s relationship with his own father. Having gone for the war of liberation in Zimbabwe, Kundaimunashe’s father had no experiences with his father. However when he became a father, he was determined to create a strong bond with his son. Although there were episodes of his life where he stayed with his maternal grandmother, Kundaimunashe remembers every moment. Kundaimunashe Chikuse is a musician and author who is his father’s spitting image.

“Daddy used to carry me on his shoulders when we went to church, when he took me to kindergarten and he’d buy me ice cream often. When I had started my primary school I knew if I  was naughty, you’d see him there to discipline me…he used the belt to make sure I was always in line. I feared but respected him, he was and still is a good man.

“When I went to university, he accompanied me, he always encourages me to be the responsible person I am today. As a pastor, he taught me about soul winning, we went for 3-4days together in the outskirts winning souls. He loves me so much and I know this.

“He is a man who, when I am overwhelmed and I turn to him, he shows me the way and helps me. Now I have my own son, who I was given by God on father’s day. I have realised that being a father is very very important. I now have the feeling that my dad had of being a father. I understand the feeling he has for me and the reason why he fights for me and wants to be around me and be there for me. Whenever I look at him, I see a good man, I see a good father”

Kundaimunashe visits his father with his own son and treasure the wonderful moments they have, they way they laugh and spend time together, three generations in one room. He discovered that his father used to play the guitar way before he was born and it was a marvel to him when he saw Kundaimunashe playing the guitar. 

“Besides how so alike we are, we have a lot of similarities. To be the father that I am today,  I owe a lot to my father. He is my hero”

When I talked to Superlady, spoken word artist (Nyanduri wenyika) she said,

“My dad is quite a superhero and I appreciate how he always stands up for me in the toughest of times. My mum passed on when I was 10 (I’m now 31) and my father never remarried because he feared a stepmother might abuse us (me and my 2 siblings). The most treasured moments with my dad are the mostly the ones in my childhood photo album. I have quite a lot of pics of myself as a toddler in beer halls 😂My dad loved me so much that history has it that he always carried me and my nappy bag wherever he went. My dad is my biggest fan and he is actually the reason I love reading, he introduced me to books when I was very young.”

As we may celebrate our fathers or father figures in our lives or those who have passed on, we are custodians of the moments we spent and shared. We become better equipped to pass on the love and affection, discipline and support to own children or those in our homes. The father ‘s role of instilling good values in a child are of great importance. In order for a child to be groomed into a compassionate, confident and capable  person, he/she requires a father or father figure teaching integrity, humility, resilience and kindness. All the people we conversed with carry treasures which no one can take away, they are embedded in their souls and as such they can only carry it forward and empower others who will also carry it forward. The Bible in Ephesians 6 verse 1 and 2 speaks of honouring one’s parents and in this regard, honour your father so that it may be well with you and that you will live long on earth. Let us intentionally appreciate fathers and father figures not only on father’s day but let the day be a gentle reminder of the path we must take on a daily basis. And with this I say Happy Father’s Day to all the dad’s all over the world.