Online Reporter
Ranga Mataire
Group Political Editor
BESIDES being a major mining region with significant deposits of gold, platinum, diamonds, chrome, asbestos, coal, iron ore and emeralds, the Midlands province has been a reservoir of politically conscious individuals who have immensely contributed to the country’s social, political and economic development.
The region gave birth to early nationalists and freedom fighters who participated in the birth of independent Zimbabwe.
It also has its fair share of heroes, the most prominent of whom is President Mnangagwa.
Some of the province’s heroes and heroines, such as the late Lieutenant-General Sibusiso Moyo (the former Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade), are interred at the National Heroes Acre.
And the national heroes also include Cde Cephas Msipa, who was born on July 7, 1931 in Shabanie (Zvishavane) and died on October 17, 2016.
Cde Msipa was a teacher, philanthropist and politician, who served in Government in various capacities, including being Governor of Midlands province, after independence.
He was a founder member of the ANC under Joshua Nkomo, in which he became the Secretary for Foreign Affairs between 1971 and 1972.
After independence, Cde Msipa was very instrumental in the consummation of the unity between ZANU and ZAPU, leading to the signing of the Unity Accord, which brought the two parties into one political entity — ZANU-PF.
Another luminary from Midlands province is the late Josiah Magama Tongogara, who was born in the then-Selukwe (Shurugwi) on February 4, 1938.
The young Tongo grew up on a farm that was owned by Ian Smith’s parents.
Tongo’s parents were employees at the farm.
He was educated up to Standard Six and after failing to enrol for secondary education, he left the country for the then-Northern Rhodesia (Zambia), where he studied bookkeeping and subsequently worked as a secretary at a golf club known as Chainama.
Cde Tongo, as he was affectionately known by fellow freedom fighters, began his revolutionary activities in 1963 in Zambia while working in the ZANU youth wing.
He was later sent for military training in China as part of the first group of people to undergo military training in the Asian country in 1966.
In 1973, Cde Tongo was elected the leader of the High Command and subsequently became the ZANLA Commander.
He attended both the Geneva Conference of 1976 and the signing of the Lancaster House Agreement of 1979, which brought an end to the liberation struggle.
He died in a car accident on December 26, 1979 and was later buried at the National Heroes Acre on August 12, 1980.
Shurugwi also gave birth to other national heroes like Cdes Garikayi Settled Magadzire, Stephen Kenneth Sesulo Vuma, Clement Muneri Muchachi and Lameck Chikanga Makanda.
A successful farmer and champion of the development of smallholder farming, Cde Magadzire died in Harare from diabetes and blood pressure complications on October 22, 1996.
He was born in Tivugari village, Shurugwi.
In 1953, the young Magadzire secured a clerical job at Gaths Mine, only to be demoted to “garden boy” for being underage.
He was luckily offered another opportunity to resume his studies by Reverend Samkange, who sponsored him for Standards 5 and 6 at Pakame Mission.
He enrolled at Tegwane Mission but was later expelled for being a Seventh-Day Adventist and not Methodist.
It was not until 1959, when he joined the Ministry of Native Agriculture in Fort Victoria (now Masvingo) as a demonstrator, that his political consciousness was enhanced.
He later met Cde Joshua Nkomo at Mzingwane Agriculture College.
The late nationalist, who was a teacher at the college, highlighted to him the injustices in the then-Southern Rhodesia.
Cde Magadzire became a political activist but was also a passionate farmer, who, from 1976 to 1978, was the vice president of the African Farmers’ Union.
He was later elected to be part of the leadership of the Zimbabwe National Farmers’ Union, which later merged to become the Zimbabwe Farmers Union in 1991.
Cde Vuma
A veteran nationalist and experienced financial administrator, Cde Stephen Kenneth Sesulo Vuma died in his sleep at his Harben Park Plot in Gweru on May 6, 1997.
He was born on April 18, 1936 under Chief Lukulaba’s area in Shurugwi.
Cde Vuma actively participated in the liberation struggle by mobilising people for the nationalist cause for freedom and independence.
His political activities led to his arrest in 1959 by the colonial regime.
After his release, Cde Vuma went to Bulawayo, where he worked briefly before being sent to Dar es Salam to manage party accounts. On his way to Tanzania, he met Cde Mnangagwa, who introduced him to Cdes Willie Musarurwa and Cde A. Ngwenya, who were party representatives in Northern Rhodesia (Zambia).
He later returned home in 1980 after spending several years in exile, most of which were spent in the then-Soviet Union and Yugoslavia.
At the time of his death, Cde Vuma was a member of the ruling ZANU PF’s Central Committee and the Deputy Secretary for Finance in the Politburo.
Cde Makanda
Cde Lameck Chikanga Makanda was a former Senator and ZANU PF Central Committee member.
He is one of the “nationalist elders” buried at the National Heroes Acre.
He was born in Mvuma in 1912 and died in Harare on November 7, 1992.
Cde Makanda became involved in the liberation struggle in the 1960s when he joined the African National Congress (ANC) of Southern Rhodesia.
When the party was banned, he joined the National Democratic Party and actively participated in mobilising people to fight the colonial government.
Mberengwa is the home of several other nationalists and freedom fighters, who include Cdes Rugare Gumbo, Brigadier-General (Retd) Collin Moyo, Sikhanyiso “Duke” Ndlovu, Herbert Mabhabha, Mathew Ackim Ndlovu, Norman Zhikali and Richard Hove.
Lt-Gen Sibusiso Busi Moyo, who was commonly referred to as SB Moyo, was born at Mnene Mission Hospital in Mberengwa in 1960.
While studying at Manama Secondary School, he joined the liberation struggle in 1977.
At the attainment of independence, SB Moyo served in the Zimbabwe National Army, rising from a major-general to lieutenant-general on retirement in December 2017.
He was promoted from brigadier-general to major-general by former President Mugabe in 2016.
At the time of his death, SB Moyo was the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade.
Cde Sikhanyiso “Duke” Ndlovu was a veteran nationalist, educator, former political detainee and a dedicated liberation war icon.
Born on May 4, 1937 at Mnene Mission Hospital, Cde Ndlovu died on September 15, 2015 at Mater Dei Hospital in Bulawayo after suffering an asthma attack and subsequent stroke.
Cde Ndlovu’s active political life started around 1956 when, on a journey to Mnene from Bulawayo, he refused to sit in the African section of the waiting room because it was run down.
He wrestled with the station master who had confiscated his ticket and threatened to sue him for assault.
The station master relented and gave him the ticket to proceed with his journey.
While studying in South Africa, Cde Ndlovu joined the African National Congress (ANC), Durban branch, under Cde Mtolo in 1959 and actively participated in its programmes as a member of its youth wing.
Upon his return to Rhodesia in 1962, he became the chairperson of the Mpopoma Lease Holders Association, where he worked with the late national hero Cde Sydney Malunga as his deputy.
At the same time, he was also the chairperson of the Bulawayo Residents Association, with the late Vice President, Cde John Landa Nkomo, as secretary.
Using the nom de guerre “General Hokoyo”, he was involved in many underground political activities.
He was later arrested and detained at Gonakudzingwa, where he met other nationalists like Cdes Joshua Nkomo, Joseph Msika, Josiah Chinamano and Daniel Madzimbamuto.
At independence, Cde Ndlovu served in several capacities, including being Minister of Information and Publicity between 2007 and 2008.
Cde Ndlovu was a contemporary of Cde Richard Hove, who became Zimbabwe’s first Minister of Public Service in 1980.
Born on September 29, 1932 in Mwembe village, Mberengwa district, Cde Hove is remembered for inspiring liberation fighters to take up arms against colonial rule in Zimbabwe and for mobilising international support and assistance during the armed struggle.
He was the first Member of Parliament for Mberengwa constituency and held various ministerial portfolios. He was Minister of Home Affairs (1981-1982); Minister of Trade and Commerce (1982-1985); Minister of Mines (1985-1990); and Minister of Defence (1990-1992).
Thereafter, he became Planning Commissioner in the Office of the President until 2000.
At the time of his death, Cde Hove was the ZANU PF Secretary for Economic Affairs in the Politburo and Senator for Mberengwa constituency.
There are other sons and daughters of the Midlands province who, in their own different individual ways, played a critical role in the fight for an independent and free Zimbabwe.
Some paid the ultimate price.
At least 260 sons and daughters of the Midlands province are currently interred at the Provincial Heroes Acre in Gweru.
