Chronicle Editor
Sikhumbuzo Moyo, [email protected]
WELCOME to the world of Old Pumula, a suburb in the beautiful city of Bulawayo. With famous sons and daughters, popular places and streets, and legendary stories, Old Pumula holds its own unique charm.
The suburb is known for its mystic martial arts king Ndodana Gonde, popularly known as Master Ndoe, who was both feared and admired. Although the origin of the name “eMadonkini” is still unknown or unconfirmed, it is believed that the suburb got its name from the donkeys that used to roam its streets.
Old Pumula has produced many icons such as Dorothy Masuku, the legendary jazz musician and songwriter, who became one of the first black female recording artistes to achieve stardom across southern and eastern Africa. Masuku’s house was known as eStezi, which still holds a special place in the hearts of Old Pumula residents.
Another iconic musician from Old Pumula is Don Gumbo of iLanga fame, who was part of a group that shook the music scene in the 1980s.
Apart from music, Old Pumula has also contributed to the world of journalism, with legends such as Njabulo Ncube, the National Co-ordinator of the Zimbabwe National Editors Forum (Zinef), Nduduzo Tshuma, the Chronicle Assistant Editor and sportscaster Sibongumusa Dlodlo.
“I was born and bred in Old Pumula. I don’t know any other township. Being in Harare is beyond my control. Job issues. I like Old Pumula very much. When we were growing up we were taught to respect people older than us,” said Ncube.
Even in the top civil service, Old Pumula has left its mark, with Paul Bayethe Damasane, the Deputy Chief Director in the Office of the President and Cabinet, who learnt his acting skills at the local youth centre in Old Pumula.
He told Chronicle that he lived in the A-section. Like Njabulo, Damasane went to St Bernard’s High School.
“We used to fetch firewood around Khami Dam and like all youngsters would behave, would swim at a popular river known as cremova, that stream that separates Old Pumula and Pumula South. I learnt my camping skills at the Venture Youth Camp,” said Damasane.
Academic and the late former National University of Science and Technology (Nust) Vice Chancellor, Professor Lindela Ndlovu was an Old Pumula boy so is the former Turnall Asbestos human resources manager who now runs Pumula North Beer Garden and Bottle Store, Isaac Ncube.
Highlanders’ rock-solid defender who has the temerity of making strikers look stupid while trying their best, Peter Muduhwa, is another proud Old Pumula son.
Besides persons there are popular places and streets such as Ginyilitshe, Khawula and Insiza. The place has famous families too such as the Mazaiwana, Goremucheche, koMjanana, koMaseko, koThebe, koNcube families and one chap known as uSaFoward, arguably one of the first persons to own what is known as umsika.
A suburb legend, Claudius Ndlovu claimed that more than 30 ladies of the night stayed koThebe which was also a popular shebeen and says when one went to the toilet, he or she would often get lost on way back and instantly become a victim of mugging. — @skhumoyo2000.
Online Reporter