adminHerald Correspondent
The late National Archives of Zimbabwe (NAZ) Director Mr Ivan Munhamu Murambiwa, who died at West End Hospital last week following a short illness, was buried at his rural homestead in Chimuka, Chikomba Central on Thursday.
Described by his workmates at (NAZ) as a dedicated archaeological and archival professional who served both the Government and the nation at large diligently, Mr Murambiwa was a history teacher at Mutambara Mission School in 1988, before transferring to the National Museums and Monuments of Zimbabwe (NMMZ) in 1989.
He served in various capacities at NMMZ, including as Manicaland regional director between 1997 and 2000. At the age of 35, he was promoted to the position of director of NAZ, a position he held until his death.
In his condolence message to the Murambiwa family, the Permanent Secretary for Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage, Mr Aaron Nhepera, described Murambiwa as a high achiever.
“The Ministry has lost such a diligent, humble, hard-working, committed, loyal, knowledgeable and a consistent achiever who put the Ministry on the map in many endeavours.”
“As the Director at the National Archives of Zimbabwe, he spearheaded various programmes which strengthened the Ministry’s cultural heritage component, through various initiatives,” said Mr Nhepera.
Under his directorship, Mr Murambiwa oversaw the successful completion of community archives at Arcturus High School, Girls High School in Harare, Mbungo Zion Christian Church in Masvingo and the recently completed Zvishavane Community Archives.
He was already engaged for the next community archives project in Kariba.
Together with NMMZ executive director Dr Godfrey Mahachi, Mr Murambiwa pioneered and coordinated a national project titled: “Capturing a Fading National Memory”, which was aimed at documenting liberation war history from grassroot levels.
Speaking at the burial in Chivhu, Dr Mahachi said: “As a Ministry, we have lost a pillar of knowledge and strength within the profession, particularly of heritage management.”
In 1990 he won the coveted Cambridge Commonwealth Trust Scholarship which afforded him an opportunity to study for a Masters of Philosophy Degree in Heritage Management from the University of Cambridge.
Family and friends described him as a humble, loving and approachable man.
He is survived by his wife Clara, five children and four grandchildren
Online Reporter
dyton mupawaenda