Come With Me: A Journey Back to Grandpa’s Laughter

April 20, 2025

The melody of “Come With Me” by Zamajobe is more than a song, it is a portal to the past, stirring memories of love, family, and simpler times. For me, it evokes the red dust of Chingola, Zambia, the warmth of my father’s home, and the laughter of my late grandfather, Peter K. Chapuswike. As an L2 Support Engineer at NetOne Zambia, I often reflect on how these early memories shaped the man I am today. In this post, I revisit a cherished moment from my childhood, captured in a photograph from June 2003, and the enduring lessons my grandfather left behind.

A Snapshot of Joy

In June 2003, I was five years old, a bundle of energy living in Chingola, Copperbelt Province. That month, my grandfather, Peter K. Chapuswike, came to visit my father, bringing with him the kind of magic only he could. I remember standing tall in my small frame, with my baby brother resting on Grandpa’s lap, against the brick wall of our home, a backdrop of countless family memories. Grandpa, dressed in his signature fedora and tie, radiated wisdom and patience, even as I ran circles around him, asking endless questions and causing gentle mischief.

The Unruly Shadow

No visit from Grandpa was complete without my antics, tugging at his sleeves, hiding his shoes, or demanding another story about his youth. Looking back, I must have been a handful, but he never complained. He would smile that tired, knowing smile and say, “Uyu mwana alibe malire,” meaning, “This child has no limits.” Those words, spoken in love, have stayed with me, a reminder of the boundless curiosity and energy I brought into his life and the unconditional love he gave in return.

A Melody of Longing

Zamajobe’s “Come With Me” sings of a place where hearts are free, a longing for connection that resonates deeply with me. Each time I hear it, I imagine inviting Grandpa to walk with me into my present life, to see the man I have become. I want to show him my dreams, my struggles, and the victories I have achieved at NetOne, where I work to solve complex IT challenges. I want him to see how I am trying to honor the strength and grace he passed down, even as I navigate a world far different from the one he knew.

Final Thoughts

When Zamajobe sings, I listen with my heart, transported back to being five years old, holding my grandfather’s hand, asking a million questions, and knowing I was safe and loved. Those moments in Chingola shaped who I am, grounding me as I face the challenges of my career at NetOne and beyond. Grandpa Peter K. Chapuswike’s legacy lives on in me, a reminder that love and family are the true anchors of a meaningful life. Come with me, Grandpa, and see the man your laughter helped create.