The iconic colossus of Sakubva

 

Moffat Mungazi
Post Reporter

IN terms of being among the leading landmarks in Mutare’s oldest suburb of Sakubva, it probably comes second after Sakubva Stadium.

Pertaining to popularity in the densely populated suburb, it arguably follows behind the Sakubva Market (Main Bus Terminus); popularly known as Musika Wehuku in the locality and beyond.

 

But regarding being the most capacious indoors facility in the suburb, it towers head and shoulders above the rest.

This is Beit Hall, the iconic colossus of Sakubva.

 

It is one of the most iconic structures in the sprawling suburb, situated only a stone’s throw away from the stadium.

It is surrounded by the Mazhambe, Old Chisamba and New Chisamba as well as the Muchena sections; perhaps symbolically signifying the centrality of its usefulness and underlining its importance to the Sakubva community.

It majestically sits just a spitting distance from Chisamba Police Station.

 

The hall evokes undeletable memories for those who drift away into wistfulness at the mere mention of its name.

 

For those who called Sakubva home while growing up, the Beit Hall holds inalienable nostalgia that borders on sentimentality.

For them, the moments they experienced there are deeply cherished.

 

What is endearing about the facility is its enduring legacy.

 

As one of the most prominent structures in the suburb, it holds historical significance for Sakubva.

At the height of its popularity, the place was naturally the choice spot for social convergences by local and surrounding communities.

Sakubva Beit Hall is a multi-purpose 3 000-seater recreational facility that was among the first communal structures to be built in Mutare’s oldest suburb in the mid-1950s.

It was named after Sir Alfred Beit, whose Trust of the same name spearheaded infrastructure development on the African continent by providing funds.

It has over the years played home to different public and private social functions like political rallies, church crusades, communal meetings and weddings, among others.

 

The gigantic hall has also reverberated to music shows featuring some of the top names in the local showbiz industry.

Its custodians, Mutare City Council, also used the venue as a cinema – where the insanely popular “bioscope”, as it was referred to back then, was broadcast.

Over the recent past years, its utility function has seen it housing a crèche and different other multiple activities.

 

The Beit Hall is not otherworldly spectacular, but the people of Sakubva massively cherish it as a place that suits purpose.

Its structural design has a mixture of stone masonry, steel craft and a finishing touch of face brick.

 

An elderly woman from the Nyausunzi section, Gogo Mwanyara Muchirahondo (84), has a vivid recollection of events held at the facility.

“Sakubva Beit Hall was an epicentre of community entertainment in the olden days. It was an ideal venue for family outings as it boasted a spacious auditorium big enough to accommodate many people.

 

“This is the place where some of the pioneers and heavyweights in the game like the late Zexie Manatsa, Jordan Chataika, Tinei Chikupo, and Ngwaru Mapundu would stage family shows. As television sets were not yet common in many households at that time, we would watch the late Safirio “Mukadota” Madzikatire stage dramas there,” said Gogo Muchirahondo.

Seasoned musician, Hosiah “Kwachu-Kwachu” Chipanga said he enjoyed performances at the hall back then.

Said Chipanga: “Those were the days, man; and that was the place. The leisure activity at Sakubva Beit Hall would attract hordes of people from afar, even from outside Mutare, because a lot happened there to entertained the community. It was also a favourite hunting ground for my band, the Broadway Sounds.”

He added: “It is sad that the place has lost some of its aura and I am not sure if its former glory will ever be restored.”

The facility is said to boast one of the best acoustics (the properties or qualities of a room or building that determine how sound is transmitted in it) among all the public halls in the whole country.

 

This is illustrated by the orchestra pit between the stage and the auditorium.

Young and impressionable minds used to be fascinated by the mystical charm of Sakubva Beit Hall that they found its irresistible allure difficult to define and the spell it cast on them impossible to resist.

However, the facility also earned notoriety as a dungeon that diluted the naïve minds of little, innocent souls and turned them into fiends.

 

The vices that permeated the place’s environs were deemed corrupting and cultivating deviants as young people dabbled in anti-social activities.

For instance, while waiting for the “bioscope” to start, some would engage in gambling (chabuta) — by the way this was during the era of one, five, 10, 20, 50 cents and one dollar coins — and upon losing, scuffles often ensued.

Forty-year-old Mr Victor Muchisi of Muchena remembers this vividly.

“After surviving a chabuta (gambling) game, I would treat myself to maputi (popcorn) and freezits bought at a candle-lit kiosk inside the hall while watching films seated on the archaic arc-shaped concrete benches without backrests,” he chuckled.

It would, therefore, be utterly amiss that someone grew up in Sakubva and never set their foot or hang out at the suburb’s colossus for one reason or the other.

 

Such is the historical significance of Sakubva Beit Hall.

 

Even sightseers from elsewhere do not pass up an opportunity to indulge in a visit to the place.

“It is virtually ‘criminal’ for one to claim that they went to Mutare and left without having been to Sakubva. When I come down here I always make it a point to get into Sakubva and visit places like the Beit Hall because that is where one can get the real feeling of the ghetto vibe,” once said Jonathan “Mwalimu” Banda, the Harare-based long-serving manager of Zim-dancehall sensation, Winky D.

Such is the esteem that Sakubva Beit Hall commands among the local people. Its a place in the depths of their affections is never lost.

In fact, its title has suffixed some people’s names in times gone by.

Susan Beit!

 

Simba Beit!

Do the names have a familiar ring to them?

Honorific or sarcastic, the monikers still stuck and became generally accepted.

Then there were also some people who were almost always definite to hang around Sakubva Beit Hall and became the place’s self-appointed marshals.

 

The likes of Shorai Dhafu and Tendai “Peter Dowi” Mutangadura come to mind.

To rekindle memories and save the colossus from sinking into obscurity, collective efforts have of late been made to give the place a new lease of life and a fresh feel so as to restore its past glory.

The Rebuild Sakubva Trust — comprising people with deep-running roots in the suburb — has been spearheading the initiatives.

The general feeling is that the place had long been awfully neglected and was rapidly losing its lustre.

 

Dilapidation of the facility had become the order of the day.

“Our efforts since 2016 have seen the refurbishment of Sakubva Beit Hall as we have spruced it up. We could not afford to allow the place to pale into insignificance just like that as it bled our hearts. After the work, we handed it back to Mutare City Council in 2017 and since then have been fervently hoping that it is well maintained. We do not want to see it run down into dereliction again.

“As a Trust, we are extending this initiative not just to this structure but other facilities in the suburb because this is our home. We were raised in Sakubva and we are very proud of it. Our overall objective is to rebuild and revitalise Sakubva.
“As residents, we also have to act responsibly and refrain from vandalising the facilities in our communities,” said Ms Lucia Nkomo, the founder of the Rebuild Sakubva Trust.

She added that they are planning to have part of the building’s walls decorated with murals done by artistes who hail from Sakubva.

Ms Nkomo, who grew up in the Maonde section of Sakubva, said part of their efforts to resuscitate Sakubva Beit Hall saw the Trust establishing a gym and a recording studio there to diversify activities at the facility.

The gym is still functional, while the studio has temporarily shelved operations. Mr Clive Machipanda of Old Chisamba, who identified himself as one of the volunteers of the Trust, said the people of Sakubva commonly and collectively regard Sakubva Beit Hall as their heritage site.

“This place is part of our legacy and we are so proud of it,” he said.

Sakubva Beit Hall now boasts a refreshing look depicting some life surrounding it.

 

Colourful flowerbeds, neatly maintained trees and well-trimmed lawn now adorn part of its immediate surroundings.

To prevent the community facility from turning into a white elephant, Mutare City Council last year proposed to turn it from a recreational into a business facility.

 

The local authority said informal traders who were removed from a flea market situated near the stadium could be housed there.

However, the move to turn the social amenity into a market entity was met with stiff and spirited resistance by residents as well as civic and pressure groups.

Pictures of a refurbished Sakubva Beit Hall posted on The Manica Post’s Twitter and Facebook triggered many people’s nostalgia.

Below are some of the responses:

“Chabuta, Gofongo, Amusarurwa, Susan Beit, bhaiskopo, peacock, netball, 5-aside money game, Uncle P, Father Christmas pachikandwa masweet, bus stop rebhazire Zupco.” — Tunirai Shoko Mutape (Twitter).

“It reminds me when we had to go watch movies (firimu) and this guy, Gofongo (may his soul rest in peace) would just cut off the movie mid-way and it will be THE END!” — Tendai Mudadirwa Green.

“I remember back in 1992 tichienda ipapo kucreche inini naana Chelsea wekwaSaurombe nanaPeter naCossy. We had fun tichiita PE (physical education) paseri peHall pane ground renetball/basketball. Back then we used to have fun. Also watching MacGyver naana Tarzan.” — Triemor Muratu (Facebook).

What memories does Sakubva Beit Hall hold for you?

 

Feel free to share with us on Facebook and Twitter @ManicaPostZim.