Anglican’s Father Prosser is no more

Morris Mtisi
GOD loves and takes the best, life has taught us. He took Father Kebble Richard Prosser on the 4th November 2015. The story of this great man is short and sweet. Those who have a long and complex version of his life are either mischievous liars or did not know him very well. The history of the great school, Tsambe at St Augustine’s Mission can be written without the great Prosser, but it can never be complete without him. He was a hard worker full of energy and seriousness of purpose in everything that he did. He loved people, especially those of the local community of Muchena village and fought for their rights and livelihoods as if they were his own people. Indeed they were his people. It is neither wrong nor exaggerated to say he had an unusual but natural understanding and love for Africans, especially the poor or underprivileged.

Father Prosser was as excellent a leader as he was a classroom practitioner. Those who were taught Divinity by him know better how one needed to literally put effort to fail the subject that he taught with passion, prodigious knowledge and experience. He was as excellent a teacher as he was an administrator.

This writer worked as a teacher with or under Father Prosser from 1985 to April 1990 when he said goodbye to Tsambe under very terrible pressure from his enemies inside and outside. The last staff meeting that he called to announce his leaving St Augustine’s was the same I was attending to announce my quitting the teaching profession. He was a brave energetic man of God who led the church, the school and his own life with incredible care and diligence.

When many whites in Zimbabwe took sides with Ian Smith’s repressive regime, he stood with blacks and their agenda of armed struggle to free themselves. Prosser illustrated in perfect symbolism and practicality how Church was determined to play an enormous role in supporting the war of liberation. Many students left Tsambe to join the armed struggle and on their return to face the enemy bullet for bullet, they continued to enjoy logistical support from Father Prosser. His story about supporting the war of liberation is known best by those who waged war around Penhalonga and Mutare. That story can wait for its own day. But the Film Project this writer is initiating and has already started with the support of former Tsambe students and teachers, in Zimbabwe and in the Diaspora is at an advanced stage and receiving overwhelming support. This film project featuring a fallen hero Tendai Pfepferere, who was killed at Tsambe on August 5 1979, cannot be true or complete without Father Prosser. He witnessed and suffered the ordeal which Pfepferere and students of Tsambe went through that fateful night at the hands of Ian Smith’s running dogs.

It was Father Prosser who decently buried parts of Pfepferere’s body at the St Augustine’s cemetery and inscribed the following unforgettable words at the foyer where Tendai fell: Panzvimbo ino Tendai Pfepferere akazvipira upenyu hwake kusunungura nyika yake. “At this place Tendai Pfepferere gave his life to free his country. August 5 1979.” I will not preempt the Film Project. The film will speak for itself. But this is a story that cannot make sense without these two heroes fighting for the same cause differently under the same political madness as perpetuated by Ian Smith and his British masters.

“Father Kebble Prosser wrote in his will that when he died he would be cremated and his wish would be to have the ashes of his body interred at Tsambe Cemetery close to the grave of his long time friend and missionary workmate, Father Fawcett,” Mr Garvase Chidawanyika who worked with the late Father Prosser told The Manica Post.

‘I came to Tsambe mid 1976 to replace Mr T. K. Tsodzo, at Father Prosser’s request and worked with Prosser until April 1977. He was a lovable father and Christian, very democratic and full of an unusual sense of responsibility. When he asked you or tasked you to do something, he had trusted you,” said Mr Chidawanyika.

“When the Community of the Resurrection an Anglican order under which Father Prosser served said they were running short of funding and Father Prosser and his team must leave Tsambe and go back to England, trouble began. He and Father Derrick Williams adamantly and bluntly refused. They could not leave this place which had become home to them for decades. So the Community of Resurrection closed all financial taps of funding and for years left the brave but determined Prosser to paddle his own canoe at Tsambe. But for how long could a man run an institution from the money in his pocket? Eventually he threw in the towel and left Tsambe,” revealed Mr Chidawanyika.

Whether the late Father Prosser’s ashes will finally be brought to his ‘home’ to rest next to his best friend at St Augustine’s cemetery or not, remains to be seen. But here is a man whose legacy at the great Tsambe is indelible. Only selfish fools will strive to distort or erase it. Rest in peace Father Prosser! Go well to your Father in Heaven in eternal peace. Those to whom you were father will continue to remember you and love you without fear or favour, blind to religious affinity and colour.

Prosser died in England on the 4th November 2015. He was above 80 when he died. Those who wish to send condolences may do so on [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>