Online Reporter
Thupeyo Muleya, Beitbridge Bureau
THE DRUMS OF MOURNING echoed across Mtetengwe as hundreds gathered to bid farewell to one of Beitbridge’s most respected traditional leaders, Headman Mabidi, who was laid to rest on Tuesday after succumbing to a short illness.
The late headman, born Mina Mine Mbedzi in 1968, died at United Bulawayo Hospitals (UBH) last Wednesday. He was just 57, but had left a lifetime of legacy in his wake.
Even the Vice President, Kembo Mohadi, hailing from the same area, joined the sea of mourners who flooded his rural homestead — proof of how deeply Headman Mabidi’s influence ran.
In a powerful tribute drenched in emotion and cultural pride, Chief Tshitaudze called him “a pillar of wisdom, a guardian of heritage, and a true servant of the people.”
“He wasn’t just a traditional leader,” the Chief said. “He was our compass — a man who fused culture with community progress.”
Under the solemn shadow of ancestral spirits, the headman was buried at dawn, in accordance with sacred Tshivenda rites, a symbolic nod to his unyielding respect for tradition.
Known for fighting environmental degradation tooth and nail, Headman Mabidi led crusades against deforestation, illegal land sales, and overgrazing — earning him a reputation as the “Green Warrior of Mtetengwe.”
His legacy? A newly upgraded school, a community hall, and a much-needed mothers’ waiting shelter at Mtetengwe Clinic — all built under his leadership.
District Development Coordinator Sikhangezile Mafu-Moyo, visibly shaken, called his death “a hammer blow to Beitbridge.”
“He was a rare gem — humble, visionary, and fiercely protective of his people. The void he leaves will not be easily filled.”
Beitbridge now faces a leadership vacuum, with three headmen posts vacant, including that of Mazibeli and Tshinoni.
According to tradition, the community will observe a 12-month mourning period before a successor is chosen — a process involving deep family consultations and customary law.
Appointed in September 2019, Headman Mabidi served for just five years, but his imprint on the land and hearts of the people runs deep.
“He was the bridge between the past and the present — and his name will echo in our stories for generations,” said one mourner, wiping tears with a corner of her wrap.
Rest in power, Headman Mabidi. The soil you fought to protect now cradles your soul.
derick.khumalo