Christie-born Dr. Hazel Barbara Mubako, known by the pet nickname Peggy, was born in the Rosetta district, St. D’Acre, located in the Dry Harbor Mountains of St. Ann, Jamaica, West Indies, of Caroline, single, Gooden and David Christie. In her early years she attended Charlton Elementary School in Alexandria St. Ann, then joined the first group of girls at Holmwood Technical High School in 1961. At Holmwood she was a sports enthusiast and won several medals in athletics. Hazel was an avid reader, gardener, and enjoyed sewing and cooking, much of which her mother taught her.
She emigrated to England in 1966 and studied as a registered nurse at Dreadnought Seamens Hospital. She met her husband, Ambassador Simbi Mubako, in 1968 while he was studying law at the London School of Economics, and they were married in 1970.
The following year, she immigrated to Zambia to join her husband, who became a law professor at the University of Zambia. Hazel majored in science and graduated with honors. In 1976, the couple moved to the University of Southampton, England, where Hazel went to study medicine while her husband taught law at the same university. At that time she was the mother of three children. Despite her family responsibilities, she managed to qualify as a doctor in record time.
In 1980, the couple moved to Zimbabwe, where her husband was appointed cabinet minister by President Robert Mugabe when the country achieved its independence, and he served as a minister for ten years assuming several different positions, including Minister of Justice. and Constitutional Affairs and Minister of the Interior. Matters. He also served as a Superior Court judge. Dr. Simbi Mubako was appointed Ambassador of Zimbabwe to the United States by President Robert Mugabe in 1999. The Mubakos then temporarily moved to the United States in 1999 and Dr. Hazel served as a United Nations Medical Examiner while in service. with her husband during her five years. mandate as ambassador.
She spent her last years fighting AIDS and worked at the Crisis Center with HIV-affected patients, women in crisis, and rape victims. Dr. Hazel is known to many as “Mother and Doctor.”
Dr. Hazel Barbara Mubako lost her battle with breast cancer on May 27, 2013 at Westend Hospital in Harare Zimbabwe. He was 65 years old. Dr. Hazel was buried in Zimbabwe’s Glen Forest National Park. His funeral was well represented by the Vice President and various government ministers, members of the United Nations, colleagues from the medical fraternity, several of his former patients, members of the Zimbabwe African National Union – Patriot Front (ZANU-PF), family and several friends. Messages of support also came from many other institutions, including the local West Indies community; Ambassadors and staff of the Zimbabwean embassies in Russia, Sweden, South Sudan and Belgium; Vice Chancellor and School of Law, Midlands State University; and the Harare International Festival of the Arts (HIFA).
She is survived by her husband, Judge Professor Dr. Simbi Mubako, three sons Takawira, Pfumo, Pepukai and a daughter Revai, grandchildren, brothers, sisters, other relatives and friends. Dr. Hazel Mubako, an African born in Jamaica, like many others, made a link with the continent from which the ancestors came, leaving an indelible mark. It is best to put it in the words of Acting Vice President Joyce Mujuru, “The country shared the pain with the Mubako family as Dr. Hazel Mubako contributed immensely to the development of the medical sector in the country.” We honor his memory and the importance of the representation of a positive bond, image and thoughts of Africa by Jamaica, the Greater Caribbean and the world.