Deaths leave Manicaland poorer
THE angel of death has continued bringing tears and sorrows to the people of Manicaland as the province has lost a number of luminaries in a fortnight.
Among the luminaries lost are national heroes, Dr Ellen Gwaradzimba (Minister of State for Manicaland Provincial Affairs and Devolution), Cde Moton Malianga (founding nationalist and Zanu PF Central Committee member), Dr Kombo James Moyana (first Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe Governor), Professor Munashe Furusa (Africa University Vice-Chancellor) and Mr Joshua Maligwa (Town Clerk, City of Mutare) among others.
Dr Gwaradzimba and Cde Malianga were laid to rest at the National Heroes’ Acre in Harare yesterday (Thursday), with their double burial becoming the third such ceremony to be conducted at the national shrine.
The first double burial to be done in 2016 also involved national heroines from the province, Cdes Victoria Chitepo and Vivian Mwashita.
Cde Malianga was the founding president of National Democratic Party and after the party was banned in December 1961, he became ZAPU’s secretary for public affairs.
After independence, he was appointed Senator and became Deputy Minister of Economic Planning and Development in 1981.
He was later appointed Deputy Minister of Finance, Economic Planning and Development.
In the second Parliament, he was elected Member of Parliament for Mutare West and was appointed Deputy Minister of Trade and Commerce. He was re-elected as MP again in 1990 and was reappointed Deputy Minister of Industry and Commerce.
Dr Gwaradzimba who joined the liberation struggle at a tender of age of 16 and used Chimurenga name
Cde Shee Tapera underwent military training in Tanzania at Nachigwea Military Training Academy in 1977. She operated in the Gaza Province between 1977 and 1978 where she rose through the ranks to become detachment commander.
In mourning Dr Gwaradzimba, President Mnangagwa said she was a freedom fighter and long-time educationist and passionate advocate for devolved development, who will be remembered for her role in wartime educational programmes with a number of leading cadres to develop learning materials for refugees in camps.
“A doughty fighter for gender equality, Dr Gwaradzimba exhibited admirable leadership when our province of Manicaland was hit by Cyclone Idai two years ago.
“At the time of her sad demise, she was working on a masterplan designed to make the whole province less vulnerable to natural disasters, more connected infrastructurally, and to make it stand on a solid, viable and diversified provincial economy in line with our national policy on decentralisation and devolution,” said President Mnangagwa in his condolence message last weekend.
Dr Moyana was described as an astute negotiator and a patriot who inspired a great deal of confidence in all those who interacted with him.
Former RBZ Governor, Dr Gideon Gono, who also hails from Manicaland, said one aspect of Dr Moyana’s unparalleled achievements was mobilising resources for the country.
“First notable is the fact that out of the seven IMF (International Monetary Fund) disbursements to Zimbabwe totalling US$522 million between 1980 to the last one received in 1999, four (57 percent) of those disbursements amounting to US$360m (69 percent) occurred during his governorship.
“Of the 16 tranches of disbursements Zimbabwe received from the World Bank between 1980 to the last one in 2001 amounting to US$1,3 billion, (69 percent) of those disbursements amounting to US$890m ( 66 percent) were negotiated and received under his trust.
“Of the 13 times that the African Development Bank disbursed serious development funds to Zimbabwe between 1980 and 1998 amounting to US$600m, (85 percent) of the drawdowns amounting to US$590m (98 percent) was negotiated by and disbursed into his stewardship,” said Dr Gono.
He also said Dr Moyana scored several firsts during his tenure of office.
“The community of Central Bank governors in any country, Zimbabwe included, is a very small one and when one of them is taken, that departure leaves a yawning gap of unimaginable proportions. The sudden departure of Dr Moyana, the first black man to put his signature on our currency and stood guard over its value to his last day in office (1993) is a serious blow to our pool of indomitable expertise and experience. Although each Governor faces a different set of challenges during his/her tenure depending on the prevailing environment, Dr Moyana achieved several firsts in office and left a record of multiple achievements difficulty to emulate,” he said.
Vice-President, Cde Kembo Mohadi who was acting President last week, said in Prof Furusa, the nation had been robbed on an outstanding and hardworking administrator.
“In Prof Furusa, the nation, the entire education sector and particularly his colleagues in the academic fraternity have been robbed of an outstanding, hardworking university administrator and Vice Chancellor.
“Africa University, a United Methodist Church-related institution, was the first private university in post-independence Zimbabwe. Africa University occupies a unique space in the education sector as it is pan-African and recruits staff and students from the whole of Africa.
“In this regard, the passing on of Prof Furusa is not only a loss to Zimbabwe, but to the African continent and the United Methodist Church in Africa,” said VP Mohadi.
On the departed Mutare Town Clerk, the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works permanent secretary, Mr Zvinechimwe Churu, said the late Mr Maligwa was one person they would call on for consultation, opinion and advice.
“On behalf of the Ministry of Local Government and the entire Local Government fraternity, I thank the Maligwa family for producing a son of the calibre of Joshua.
“He was into local governance as from 1991 and because of his leadership skills and integrity, he went up the ladder swiftly.
“On top of all things, Joshua was one of the people we would call on for consultation, opinion and advice.
“His quick mind, depth of knowledge and debating skills made him a valued member in the ministry,” said Mr Churu.
He added: “As a person, Joshua was one of the most amiable town clerks, always ready with a joke to lighten a heavy or awkward situation, always being a team player and getting the reluctant to join, always on call and dedicated to the council he was serving. Please take comfort that you are not alone in your grief and be proud of this wonderful man and the things that he achieved.
“Rest assured that we in the ministry never doubted him.”