HomeOld_PostsDr Vimbai Gukwe Chivaura: Gone, but your work will live forever!

Dr Vimbai Gukwe Chivaura: Gone, but your work will live forever!

Published on

ZIMBABWE’s academic fraternity lost three of its sons this week; Sam Moyo, former National University of Science and Technology Vice-Chancellor Professor Lindela Rowland Ndlovu and Dr Vimbai Gukwe Chivaura.
However, it is Dr Chivaura’s death that shocked me most and left a void in my heart.
From his work as a lecturer at the University of Zimbabwe’s English Department, his television programme at ZBC (African Pride and Zvavanhu) and his writings in The Patriot, Dr Chivaura will be missed by many.
Of course, haters will always be there and I found most of the comments about Dr Chivaura posted on NewsDay and Newsdzezimbabwe (online forums) by some of their readers very nauseating.
It is obvious that many people did not understand him or chose not to, but that won’t take away his legacy as a seasoned pan-Africanist, a writer, television panelist and a lecturer.
I regret not making an effort to meet Bvumavaranda, Murozvi Dr Chivaura when I came to Zimbabwe in August this year as I always did.
Maybe I would have said goodbye.
Right now I am consumed with guilt.
In September 2013, Dr Chivaura invited me to talk on his programmes, African Pride and Zvavanhu.
I was a bit hesitant, but he would not take ‘no’ for an answer.
I ended up talking about life in the Diaspora on his show which was liked by many people, judging by the positive feedback from viewers of the programme.
After the show, I felt that I wanted to take part in most of his programmes.
Sadly though, I never got to do so as I had to come back to the UK.
Dr Chivaura introduced me to many Government ministers.
And with Cdes Alexander Kanengoni and Pritchard Zhou, we enjoyed a very good meal in Avondale, Harare.
I feel privileged to have met this great man and to have wined and dined with him.
I feel honoured to have shared a forum with this great man on television and more-so, I feel highly honoured to have the opportunity to write for the same newspaper as this great man.
More often I would call him for reassurance and we would go through some of the articles that I would have written.
Dr Chivaura told me to write what I wanted to write and not to be silenced by anyone.
But what I remember most about Dr Chivaura were his views on gender relations in Zimbabwe.
A staunch male chauvinist he was.
I remember my last telephone conversation with him early this year when I phoned him to discuss a research project I wanted him to supervise for me.
I was (and still am) researching on how women have benefited from land re-distribution in Zimbabwe.
“Sarudzayi, your research proposal is biased,” he said on the phone.
“How can you approach such an interesting topic from a biased point of view?
“You seem to have also subscribed to the Western concepts of gender.
“Here in Zimbabwe the word gender does not exist.”
“Really? What do you mean?” I asked.
“Muchivanhu chedu, vara rekuti‘mukadzi’ harina kuumbwa kubva pazwi rekuti ‘murume’, sepachirungu, uye ‘musikana’ harina kuumbwa kubva pa‘mukomana’ sepachirungu penyu.
“It’s only in English language where woman is taken from man.
“Wo-/ is prefixed with man.
“She is also prefixed from He (s +he =she).
“How can you say women did not own land before independence?
“Women owned land.
“If you ask your mother she will tell you that panofa mudzimai haavigwe dura rake risina kutaridzwa anatezvara.
“Dura remukadzi raizobvepi kana akanga asina munda wake?”
I will forever cherish his wisdom.
After that telephone conversation, he had challenged me to think critically and not take things at face value.
“To be an academic means you don’t have to accept everything that you are told,” he said.
“Take your views out of the research and let other people decide.”
Rest in Peace Dr Vimbai Gukwe Chivaura.
Below are some tributes paid to Dr Chivaura by his fans on social media:
Banqoe Vee Dakamela (facebook): “May His Soul Rest In Peace.
“He was lovable character.
“Full of humour, used to enjoy his lectures.”
Chofamba Sithole (facebook): “Very sad indeed.
“The nation has lost two towering scholars in the space of a week!
“Rest In Peace Dr Chivaura.”
Murenga Joseph Chikowero (facebook): “Shame shame!
“The guy taught us Theories of Literature class for one semester and he was always cheerful.
“He dished out his Afrocentric ideas by the bucketful too!
“He enjoyed challenging what passed for conventional wisdom in the English Department.
“Importantly, he taught with a smile.
“Rest In Peace, VaChivaura.”
Winston Mano (facebook): “The central concern for us in Southern Africa is to assume full responsibility for our own development.
Rest In Peace Dr Chivaura.
“We must carry our worldview wherever we go.
“It is our humanity.
“It is our destiny.”
Flo MkaraKacca (facebook): “May his soul rest in peace.
“I used to follow his programmes on ZTV.
“I would like to express my deepest feelings for such a loss as academics.”
Shelfer Phiri (facebook): “I seem not to find the right words.
“May your soul rest in peace.
“I vividly remember our Film lectures and Theories of Literature where you always said: “Learning must be enjoyed not endured.”
It’s hard to believe asi Mwari vatonga.
“Zororai murugare.”
Masimba Musodza (facebook) “Oh no, another academic down.
“I would have loved to meet him.”
Tonderayi Chanakira (NewsDay): “Rest in Eternal Peace my former English Lecturer at the University of Zimbabwe.
“Fambayi zvakanaka VaChivaura.
“You were indeed a very humble man Senior Lecturer.
“Some of us benefited from the knowledge you imparted on us as your students.
“Rest In Peace.”
Sober (Responding to negative comments on NewsDay): “We are thankful for all the contributions that he made towards the promotion of African identity.
“Unfortunately some empty minds do not know the difference between pan-Africanism and being ZANU PF.
“VaChivaura was a true pan-Africanist, a true African who believed in that being African is not being inferior; he believed in identifying self with Africanism.”
Hindava (Herald): “Rest In Peace Dr Vimbai Gukwe Chivaura.
“I enjoyed viewing your programmes on ZBC.
“We might not have agreed with you in every aspect, but your views were somewhat enlightening and interesting.
“By knowing that we are living in a world of diversity and differences, I could not hate every word you said.
“Some of your programmes were pregnant with wisdom and intelligence and I know in future, we shall remember those programmes.
“I quote some of your snippets from your programmes:
“Varume vatiinavo panapa, havasi vanhuwo zvavo, vadzidzisi vekumaUniversity makuru emuZimbabwe.”
“Kana tichiti nhaka tirikureva hupenyu hwedu, kwatirikubva nhasi nekwatirikuenda.”
Dr Chivaura, you will forever be remembered.
May the Lord comfort your family and colleagues.

1 COMMENT

  1. The difference between old time radio and television or film, and something of its major
    strengths, is that it is audio-only. While planting, I’m paying attention to a Sunday morning NPR program called, Speaking of Faith (now called
    On Being). Bf 888s Here could be the most favored Israeli stereo stop for information, songs, speaking and considerably more.

    Radios which has a number of channel capability have a control button or a channel selector as part
    of these control panel. Baofeng part 90 Research reveal that positive
    thinkers attract more friends and the ones. We went shorter, and shorter, this
    also is it,’ Liam explains the reason behind his hair-shave decision.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Latest articles

FOZEU’s call for strike…an attempt at provoking anarchy

By Elizabeth Sitotombe IN an attempt to sow anarch across the country by calling for...

Chitepo’s fight for land

This story was first published on 21/03/2016 By Patience Rusare LAND ranked highest among the grievances...

Winning mindset in post-elections

WE, in the village, are known for our resilience, we never give up and...

Import of US illegal sanctions

By Jonathan N. Moyo TWENTY-ONE years ago, on March 6 2003, US President George W....

More like this

FOZEU’s call for strike…an attempt at provoking anarchy

By Elizabeth Sitotombe IN an attempt to sow anarch across the country by calling for...

Chitepo’s fight for land

This story was first published on 21/03/2016 By Patience Rusare LAND ranked highest among the grievances...

Winning mindset in post-elections

WE, in the village, are known for our resilience, we never give up and...

Discover more from Celebrating Being Zimbabwean

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading