THE late Vice-President Dr Simon Muzenda was a veteran nationalist of the liberation struggle and a shrewd political tactician who brought stability to ZANU and the country during the liberation struggle and after independence, ZANU PF Secretary for Information and Publicity, Cde Rugare Gumbo has said.
In an interview with The Patriot on Wednesday, Cde Gumbo described VP Muzenda as a man who contributed immensely to the country’s liberation and economic development through his advocacy and support for the land reform and resettlement programme.
He said, VP Muzenda groomed many people including Cde Gumbo himself.
Known for his humorous jokes, VP Muzenda died on September 20, 2003 after battling with hypertension and diabetes.
“Mzee, as he was popularly known, was a veteran nationalist of the liberation struggle,” said Cde Gumbo.
“He was a humble and shrewd man.
“I am what I am because of the contributions of Cde Muzenda.
“He brought me up in Masvingo in 1962 and groomed me first as youth chairperson in Masvingo.
“We went to jail together after he had been arrested in Zvishavane while I was arrested in Masvingo.”
Cde Gumbo said VP Muzenda was a true diplomat, skilled negotiator and a man with good and unrivalled interpersonal relations.
His bar, Cde Gumbo said, rose when he liaised and coordinated the activities of those who had been arrested by the Zambian authorities after the death of the then ZANU Chairman, Herbert Chitepo in 1975.
“One thing that Dr Muzenda should always be remembered for was his diplomatic skills,” said Cde Gumbo.
“He was a true diplomat, a skilled negotiator and was blessed with good interpersonal relations, that made him interact with everyone with ease.”
Cde Gumbo said VP Muzenda was good at nation building and focused his attention on the economic development of the country.
VP Muzenda was instrumental in the implementation of the revolutionary Land Reform Programme that was launched three years before his demise.
Cde Gumbo said most Government programmes succeeded through VP Muzenda’s influence and hands-on approach to issues.
He said VP Muzenda was also instrumental in the talks that gave birth to the Unity Accord of 1987.
The late VP Muzenda was born in Gutu district of what was then the Victoria Province of Southern Rhodesia a son of a peasant farmer, and brought up by his grandmother, who ensured his regular attendance of primary education at Nyamandi Primary School.
He was a bright child who embarked on a teacher training programme after spending his teenage years herding the family’s cattle, and, following the advice of his tutor, travelled to the Marianhill Mission in Natal, South Africa, where he showed a proficiency in carpentry.
Between completing his carpentry course and furthering his studies, VP Muzenda became aware of politics during contacts with fellow students, which included several men prominent in black activism in South Africa and Rhodesia.
Upon his return to Rhodesia in 1950, he worked in a furniture factory in Bulawayo and became involved with Benjamin Burombo, an activist who was among the earliest to challenge discriminatory laws.
After marrying his wife Maud, a nurse, Muzenda moved to the Midlands town of Umvuma, now Mvuma in 1955 and started his own carpentry business.
He also stayed active in political activism and eventually became administrative secretary of the Zimbabwe African National Union (ZANU).
In 1964, he was arrested again, this time for possession of a pistol after having been elected deputy organising secretary of ZANU; at this time, Muzenda had become convinced that the only way to overthrow white colonial dominance was through an armed revolution, and began organising young blacks to receive military training in other African countries, in the USSR and in China.
After independence he served in various capacities before he became Vice-President of Zimbabwe in 1987.