adminIT was Laurence Lee who said: “The world does not pay for what a person knows, but it pays for what a person does with what he knows.” Anyone who says he or she does not know the man or name Andrew Chigumira in education circles in Manicaland, and does not know what he did with what he knows, is either a liar or enemy. The man served the education sector for 40 uninterrupted years in various capacities from an ordinary classroom practitioner to the highest office of educational directorship.
In those many years, those who are in the habit of telling the truth saw sheer professionalism, industry, insight and integrity in Mr Chigumira.
One man practicing all the above values is better than a hundred teaching and reciting them.
All competent and industrious teachers loved Mr Chigumira. I have no doubt lazy ones, incompetent ones and those who had uncontrollable appetite for beautiful school girls hated him.
School heads who shared the same values with Mr Chigumira obviously all loved him, pretty much the same as all those who misappropriated school funds and could not rise one inch above zero pass rate dreaded the sound of his duty truck.
Open –minded fellow directors likewise must have had a lot of admiration and respect for the highly experienced education veteran, while the envious and jealous ones accordingly always muddied his water and punched holes all over his dreams and plans. We hope the latter category did not exist.
After 40 years of uninterrupted service, that man has retired.
“Farewell nxcawee! Farewell our hero; our national hero!” speaker after speaker said at a farewell luncheon organized in his honour last Friday in Mutare by directors and principals of independent colleges and their spouses.
Mr Nangisai Marange whose idea it was to throw this luncheon described the farewell as a well-deserved farewell to a great man.
“Huge snakes leave a vivid trail where they have passed through. Everyone sees and recognizes the bold trail,” said the Alpha Institute principal.
“Mr Chigumira leaves a candidly marked trail of unparalleled sense of duty and extraordinary leadership. Each one of us has a good story to tell about your love, your approachability and preparedness to assist everyone who needed your guiding hand and counsel.”
Mr Marange reminisced how he first met Mr Chigumira who was at the time requesting him to be a special resource teacher in History.
“The relationship that followed both at professional level and family level became a passionate story highly appreciated but too long to narrate now,” Mr Marange said.
Literally, all speakers gave glowing eulogies and testimonies of how the retiring provincial educational icon had assisted them one way or another and how he was a role model all those in the education industry would sorely miss.
Some of the college directors or representatives who spoke were Mr Simon Mbonda of Versatile College (also Director of Ceremonies), Messrs Chiwara and Mutsongodza of First Class Academy, Theophelus Mutsaka of Cross-Power, Machingauta Mathias-Gold Class Academy, Mr Mtetwa of Hilltop College and a representative from Herentals College.
The luncheon was graced by Mr Edward Shumba-Provincial Education Director-Manicaland, his deputy, Mr Charles Mugano, Senior EO responsible for Science-Mr Marange and non-formal education EO-Ms Sarah Muwusha.
Do not miss Mr Chigumira’s reply-speech to his hosts and distinguished educationists present, next week.
Online Reporter