. . . mourns Prof Bhebe

VICE PRESIDENT Kembo Mohadi has joined President Mnangagwa and the rest of the nation in mourning Professor Ngwabi Mulunge Bhebe.

Prof Bhebe (pictured) died on Friday and has been declared a national hero. He was 81.

“A dark cloud has once again enveloped Zimbabwe following the death of Professor Ngwabi Bhebe,” said VP Mohadi.

“The professor stood eminent in making sure Zimbabwe’s history found its place in the community of nations.

“It is sad that he leaves us in the middle of Zimbabwe’s economic struggle, whose fruits are now evident for everyone to see.”

He said those left behind by Professor Bhebe 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 Bhebe was the founding vice chancellor of the Midlands State University (MSU).

The MSU was founded in 2009 with about 400 students but has now grown to become one of the biggest universities in Zimbabwe in terms of enrolment, with over 20 000 students at multiple campuses across the country.

Born in Mberengwa on August 15, 1942, Prof Bhebe is a distinguished scholar who obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in History

and Geography from the University of Botswana, Lesotho and Swaziland in 1967. He received his Doctor of Philosophy degree in Imperial History from the University of London in 1972.

Prof Bhebe was a celebrated historian. His academic employment dates back to 1974, when he lectured in History at Fourah Bay College in Sierra Leone, and later at the University of Botswana, Lesotho and Swaziland (UBLS), and at the University of Zimbabwe (UZ) from 1982.

He served as a Professor of History at UZ from 1988 to 1999, and also as an external examiner at the universities of Botswana, Malawi and Zambia. Prof Bhebe was also a researcher.

He published extensively and had several books to his name, as well as articles in internationally peer-reviewed 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 Bhebe was a seasoned university administrator, who had gone through the mill, serving as chairperson of the UZ History Department from 1989 to 1992, and of the Research Board from 1984 to 1991.