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Africa Moyo
Deputy News Editor
Vice President Kembo Mohadi has joined President Mnangagwa and the rest of the nation in mourning Professor Ngwabi Mulunge Bhebhe.
Prof Bhebhe died on Friday and has been declared a national hero.
He was 81.
Said VP Mohadi in a statement this afternoon:
“A dark cloud has once again enveloped Zimbabwe following the death of Professor Ngwabi Bhebhe.
“The Professor stood eminent in making sure Zimbabwe’s history found its place in the community of nations.
“It’s sad that he leaves us in the middle of Zimbabwe’s economic struggle whose fruits are now evident for everyone to see.”
VP Mohadi says those left behind by Prof Bhebhe should be comforted by the fact that “he will never be forgotten because of his good deeds”.
“He was a People’s Professor. May his soul rest in eternal peace,” said VP Mohadi.
Mourners are gathered at House Number 266, Mtausi Park, Gweru.
Prof Bhebhe was the founding Vice Chancellor of the Midlands State University.
The MSU was founded in 2009 with about 400 students but it has now grown to become the biggest university in Zimbabwe in terms of enrollment, with over 20 000 students at multiple campuses across Zimbabwe.
Born in Mberengwa on August 15, 1942,
Prof Bhebhe is a distinguished scholar who obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in History and Geography from the University of Botswana, Lesotho and Swaziland (UBLS) in 1967.
He received his Doctor of Philosophy degree in Imperial History from the University of London in 1972.
Prof Bhebhe was a celebrated historian par excellence.
His academic employment dates back to 1974 when he lectured in history at Faurah Bay College in Sierra Leone, and later at the University of Botswana, Lesotho and Swaziland (UBLS) as well as at the University of Zimbabwe from 1982.
He served as a Professor of History at the University of Zimbabwe from 1988 to 1999, and also as an external examiner at the universities of Botswana, Malawi and Zambia. Prof Bhebhe was also a researcher of no mean accomplishments.
He published extensively and had several books to his name and articles in internationally refereed journals. In this area, he received numerous academic honours and awards.
He has also presented papers at international conferences.
In terms of administrative experience, Prof Bhebhe was a seasoned university administrator who had gone through the mill, serving as Chairperson of the University of Zimbabwe’s History Department from 1989 to 1992, as well as of the Research Board from 1984 to 1991.
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