Chronicle Editor
By Johnsias Mutonhori
The long serving and retired Midlands State University Vice Chancellor Professor Ngwabi Bhebhe recalled his academic journey as he celebrates his 80 years.
He was born on 15 August 1942 in the rural areas of Mberengwa.
Professor Bhebhe said it is only his tenacity to live up to big dreams that made him reach the highest levels in academics.
“I started to get inspired by the excellent professors and doctors who taught me at universities and I told myself I was going to reach that level. At one point when I went to my rural home, I told my village friends that I wanted to do a Bachelor of arts and they told me I was crazy.
“Henceforth, I had the courage and I didn’t want to give up on everything that I aspired to. I finally lived up to that dream,” he said.
Professor Bhebhe said, in every step he took he got inspired to reach a higher level.
“Having come from a long academic journey, I got inspired to go to another level.
“During my time in academics the good professors inspired me to be one and the good Vice Challengers of my time also inspired me to become one.
“The only principle that I had as I was growing up was not to give up,” he said.
Professor Bhebhe also shared that, the secret to long life is to have constant medical attention and treatment if need arises.
He revealed that he once experienced heart problems which made him collapse while in office and end up in India in a wheelchair.
“I think the only secret to healthy life and attaining more years is to have regular medical attention and get treatment if needed.
“I experienced a serious heart problem and collapsed in my office.
“I was then sent to India for treatment where the doctors unblocked everything that had blocked smooth blood flow.”
He said exercising is not part of his hobbies but revealed that he works hard physically.
“I don’t do exercises vigorously but what covers that up is my ability to work hard physically.
“Off course running was part of me when I was growing up when we used to chase cattle back then in the rural areas.
“Playing golf is the only part of training that I ever do in my late years.”
Having served so many years in academics, Professor Bhebhe noted establishing a medical school at Midlands State University as one of his achievements.
“Establishing a medical school which now produces good medical doctors and physicians is one of the things that I affectionately remember as I led an academic institution.
“This is after I realised that medical attention is key in the life of human beings,” he said.
Professor Bhebhe taught both in the region and abroad including countries like Botswana, Swaziland, Sierra Leone, Lesotho, Zambia, Malawi among others.
He became Midlands State University Vice-Chancellor, between 1999-2015 and between 1992-1995, he served as a Pro-Vice-Chancellor at the University of Zimbabwe.
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