adminMorris Mtisi
War of liberation icon Herbert Wiltshire Chitepo’s youngest child, Kule Zvenyika Chitepo was guest of honour at the Tsambe former students’ support the school campaign last Sunday 15 November 2015.
In a speech prepared and delivered to honour his own late father and Zimbabwe’s legendary freedom fighter, South African based Zvenyika praised his parents’ contribution to the liberation of Zimbabwe.
“My father fought for every Zimbabwean to be free from the chains of political subjugation that bound every man, woman and child of Zimbabwe. He was an unselfish freedom fighter who calmly but selflessly dedicated and sacrificed his life to the cause of genuine liberation,” said the former St Augustine’s student.
“My father was born into a poor family. He had nothing. He worked hard to become the man that he became, well educated, good career and ready to die so that others could be free,” he said.
The Tanzanian born global environmentalist encouraged the students at St Augustine’s never to let poor background stifle their effort to succeed. “Never give up is rule number one in life…never ever! My father did it. From nothing to somebody!” the young Chitepo emphasized and continued to emphasize his dad’s from zero-to-hero life history.
Carefully avoiding making any political statement, Chitepo thanked Tsambe for naming the school library in honour of his father and promised to source more books for the library and look at other needs his and his dad’s former school may have.
Not forgetting his mother’s role in being the wife of and supporting the war hero and Zimbabwean political icon, Zvenyika praised her mother for her love, courage and support for his father through thick and thin.
“As we all know, behind every great man there is an even greater woman. My mother gave my father and whole family the strength to endure and enjoy what dad was doing and facing.
“I also think Victoria Chitepo (his mother) was an excellent Environment minister during her tenure of office,” said young Chitepo, himself a highly qualified and internationally acclaimed environmental scientist.
Kule Zvenyika Chitepo is chairperson of the Herbert Chitepo Trust.
Paying homage to his own father, young Chitepo expressed deep felt condolences to the audience at Tsambe following the death of yet another hero, Father Kebble Prosser who passed on, on 4 November 2015 in England. He was more than 80 years old. Father Prosser had struggled with the effects of a stroke for a couple of years before succumbing.
Chitepo did not mince his words about the role the brave and irreplaceable Prosser played in building the St Augustine’s the school was; a beacon of academic excellence known to everyone inside and outside Zimbabwe.
The highlight of the former students’ honorarium was the commemoration of war hero and freedom fighter Tendai Pfepferere who died on Tsambe soil in an effort to flee Rhodesian forces without endangering the lives of innocent students.
This writer, himself a former St Augustine’s English Language and Literature teacher (1985-91) gave a moving detailed chronicle of the events leading to the offer of Tendai’s life to avoid a bloodbath involving nearly one thousand students. He emphasized that the story of the fallen hero Tendai is a story of history and educational significance for all students to know as illustrated by Pfepferere that some people chose to die to let others live, and if it was to save students, a brave illustration of extraordinary and selfless heroism, not a political anecdote. It was, I emphasized, therefore every school’s obligation to educate students that the freedom of this country did not come free.
The former students (Tsambe Alumni) among them Trevor Saruwaka, City of Mutare town-clerk Obed Muzawazi (he was operating the film projector for the night’s student entertainment on the night of TP’s shooting), the guest of honour Kule Chitepo commissioned the schools Geography room which was refurbished and face-lifted by money fund-raised from individual former students. Everyone thanked the former students appreciating their effort and gesture to bolster the school that shaped them into who they are today as done by all civilized alumnae worldwide.
Mr Chitepo donated $1 000 towards further furnishing and equipping of the Geography room.
The former students’ commemoration and commissioning of the Geography room was attended by local traditional leadership, Mr Zacharia Chikwangwani- Mutasa District DEO representing Mr Shumba-Provincial Education Director-Manicaland, Reverend Gurupira-St Augustine’s Mission Priest-in-Charge, several scores of parents and nearly 200 or more students.
The former students asked this writer and Tsambe former English teacher, also the Tendai Pfepferere film project researcher, script writer and associate producer to unveil the new granite plaque they donated in honour of the fallen hero.
The day literally honoured three heroes-in-one; the late Herbert Wiltshire Chitepo, Tendai Pfepferere and Father Kebble Richard Prosser.
Online Reporter