Rachel Namuzeba Sichinga, affectionately called “Bara” was the second born child of late Yeta and Anne Sichinga, in a family of six children. Rachel was one of two girls. She was born in Lusaka on 22 November 1964, barely a month after Zambia attained independence, so she was an “Independence Baby”. She participated in the most lavish of independence celebrations in October 1974 as a ballerina and she loved to tell that story. She started her primary education at St. Mary’s Convent in Ndola, and later moved to Jacaranda Primary School when her family relocated to Lusaka.  She then went to Roma Girls Secondary School for Form 1 to Form 3, after which she moved to Kabulonga Girls Secondary School where she stayed until Form 5. Upon completing her secondary school in the early 1980’s, she was sent to the United Kingdom for her tertiary education in Hotel Management at Brighton College. She subsequently made England her home and has lived there since.

In 1990, Rachel married Yemi Akanle in Devon with whom she had her beloved daughter Musara, whom she named after her mother. In 2001, she adopted her nephew Tapiwa when his biological mother passed away. Rachel worked for various hotels in hotel management for several years. Rachel had a passion for helping people and later obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work. She worked as a Social Worker in Bournemouth, in Individual and Family Services.

In 2017, Rachel suffered a stroke and has not enjoyed the best of health since. She carried her illness with courage and always encouraged her surviving siblings to be united. She died on Tuesday, 15 June 2021 at her home in Bournemouth, Dorset. She has left a void in our lives. A devout Catholic, we are confident the good Lord will grant her a place in heaven.

Rachel is survived by her daughter Musara, her son Tapiwa, her three brothers Dominic, Yeta and Caesar, her nieces Anne-Marie and Tiana, and her nephews Yeta, Suzgo, Andre and Alinani.

“Those who die in grace are no further away from you than God is.”

Go well Bara.