Online Reporter
Bongani Ndlovu, [email protected]
BY mid-morning on Sunday last week, a stream of vehicles wound its way into the Mudziwapasi homestead in Shashe Village, Gutu District, Masvingo Province.
Under white tents pitched in the family yard, relatives, friends, traditional leaders, church representatives, business associates and community members gathered to celebrate the 81st birthday of Councillor David Mudziwapasi, a man whose life story reflects Zimbabwe’s rural transformation through farming, entrepreneurship and public service.
But the occasion was more than a birthday celebration. It became a tribute to a man who has spent more than four decades at the centre of community development, earning the distinction of being one of Zimbabwe’s longest-serving councillors.
For 41 years, Mr Mudziwapasi has represented his community, first as councillor for Ward 1 from 1985 before constituency boundaries were redrawn under the devolution framework, placing him in Ward 20.
Over the years, he has worked alongside generations of Members of Parliament, including the late former Vice-President Simon Muzenda, the late former Air Chief Marshal Josiah Tungamirai, Minister of State for National Security Lovemore Matuke, Oliver Munyaradzi and Joseph Mandaba.
While parliamentary representation changed over the decades, Mudziwapasi remained the constant grassroots leader.
Born on July 26, 1945, in Serima, Gutu, he traces his roots to the Muje lineage before settling in Mundamurefu in Shashe Goodhope, where he has lived with his family for decades.
His working life started in Bulawayo at the former Consolidated Textile Mills, where he started as a weaver before rising through the ranks to become a supervisor responsible for nearly 1 000 workers.
“I was a good weaver and later became a supervisor responsible for around 1 000 people. In 1972, I left work and returned to my rural home in Gutu together with my wife,” he recalled.
Returning home during the liberation struggle marked the beginning of a remarkable entrepreneurial journey.
It was also in Bulawayo that he met the love of his life, Atalina, in Makokoba suburb. The couple began dating in 1969 before marrying a few years later and relocating permanently to Gutu in 1972.
Starting with little more than determination and a bicycle, Mr Mudziwapasi travelled from village to village buying cattle hides from farmers and butcheries before selling them to shoe manufacturers, including Bata.
“I started from humble beginnings and business was slow. I had seen a gap in the market and I decided to work on it,” he said.
The venture laid the foundation for a thriving business empire.
Over time, he expanded into grocery stores, butcheries and beer halls, creating employment opportunities for people across Ward 20 while simultaneously establishing himself as a successful commercial farmer.
Today, his farming enterprise includes wheat, maize, beans, groundnuts, sweet potatoes and vegetables, alongside cattle, sheep, goats and poultry production.
His success in business naturally evolved into community leadership.
When he was elected councillor in 1985 under the Zanu-PF ticket, he says his guiding principles were transparency, honesty and accountability.
“I believe people continue to elect me because I am not corrupt and I do not steal from them. When Government farming inputs come through the Grain Marketing Board, I bring them to the village and work with chairpersons so that they are distributed fairly.
“Everything is done openly and there is accountability at the end,” he said.
Beyond his official responsibilities, Mr Mudziwapasi has become known for assisting vulnerable families.
“I do not want to see someone fail to farm because they do not have oxen. If I can help, I take some from my own kraal so that they can prepare their fields and make use of the farming inputs that Government has provided,” he said.
Mr Mudziwapasi’s greatest pride, however, lies in the transformation of his ward.
When he settled in the area, educational facilities were virtually non-existent.
“When we first settled here there were white commercial farmers and no schools. After I became councillor, one of my priorities was to build schools. We started with Shashe Primary School before Zoma, Makomborero, Chipisa, Rusununguko and Kaguvi followed,” he said.
Today, Ward 20 boasts 10 primary schools, six secondary schools and two hospitals — Chivake and Nezoma — while road rehabilitation continues, including improvements to the route linking Shashe Dip Tank and Driefontein.
Agriculture has also undergone major transformation.
Three irrigation schemes covering about 55 hectares have been established, enabling farmers to produce maize, beans and groundnuts throughout the year.
Mr Mudziwapasi believes genuine development begins with economic empowerment.
“I strongly believe in teaching people how to do business. Once people have money they become empowered. They can look after themselves and their families. Whether it is mining, farming or selling vegetables and sweet potatoes, people should be encouraged to earn an honest living,” he said.
Family remains central to his philosophy.
Together with his wife, he has raised children who have ventured into business, mining, public service and professions, with one serving in the Zimbabwe National Army while others live and work in the United Kingdom.
“All my children are educated and they have their own businesses while my last-born is a soldier. Some are in the United Kingdom and others are into mining,” he said proudly.
His advice to young families reflects the values that have sustained his own marriage for more than five decades.
“As a husband, you should love your wife. You should never insult or beat her. When you get money, do not hide it from your wife because she is your better half,” said Mr Mudziwapasi.
“A man should make sure his family never sleeps on an empty stomach because he has spent everything on drinking or gambling.”
Mr Mudziwapasi also credits Government initiatives under the Second Republic for strengthening agricultural productivity through irrigation development.
“I support our Government under President Mnangagwa. We have received centre pivots for our irrigation schemes at Smilingvale, Shashe and Chipisa, which have helped improve production,” he said.
“This shows that Vision 2030 is moving in full force and we are fully behind it because it is bringing development to the people.”
Mr Mudziwapasi’s legacy extends beyond his immediate family.
His son, Joe, said their father instilled discipline, hard work and generosity from an early age.
“He taught us to wake up early, to work the land and to respect people. He built his businesses not just for us, but so that he could help others. When someone in the village is struggling, our father is the first to assist,” he said.
Guest of honour and Gutu West legislator Cde John Paradza said Mr Mudziwapasi had influenced his own life long before politics brought them together.
“For me to be where I am today, it started with people like Mudziwapasi. My father would sell oxen to him so that he could raise money for my school fees. That is something I will never forget,” he said.
Cde Paradza said watching the veteran businessman trade cattle taught him valuable lessons in entrepreneurship.
“I remember him coming to kwaMatizha carrying a satchel filled with money to buy cattle. The Cold Storage Commission would identify cattle and pay farmers at the end of the month, but
Mudziwapasi would pay them there and then, often offering a better price. He taught me that good business is about being prepared and treating people fairly,” he said.
Cde Paradza said Mr Mudziwapasi’s longevity in public office reflected the trust the community had placed in him.
“The number of years he has served as councillor is more than my age. That tells you the confidence people have in him and how well he works with the community,” he said.
Mr Paradza also revealed that before contesting the parliamentary seat, he sought the veteran councillor’s blessing.
“When I wanted to become an MP, I came to him and shared my intentions. He told me he would stand with me whether I won or lost. Knowing the respect people have for him after more than four decades as councillor, I was confident that I had made the right decision,” he said.
Cde Paradza described Mr Mudziwapasi as a dependable development partner.
“Mudziwapasi is always at the forefront of development. As a councillor, he understands the needs of the people because he is on the ground every day. We work together to build schools, clinics and other infrastructure, and whenever he brings issues from the community, my responsibility is to ensure that we deliver,” he said.
