HE may not have been in the league of the noisy and flamboyant emerging group of politicians, but even as he was being laid to rest at the National Heroes’ Acre last Saturday, the approbation that Cde Cephas George Msipa was a principled man was there for all to see.
At the National Shrine, when President Robert Mugabe, in typical fashion cupped his palm under his chin, stretched his smile some distance, he joined the echoing voices of those who had throughout Cde Msipa’s life been charmed by the National Hero’s principles and humility.
It was clear the bond between President Mugabe and Cde Msipa went beyond the blood relations.
Cde Msipa was President Mugabe’s uncle.
They shared the same bloodline.
And most significantly, they shared the same political ideals and were on the same wavelength when it came to principles and adhering to them.
But then there was something that seemed to bother President Mugabe, the same way it perturbed Cde Msipa.
There is a failure by the current crop of politicians to stick to principles.
So, the National Heroes’ Acre was the perfect platform for President Mugabe to remind those leaders of ideology and honesty.
Cde Msipa was principled, honest and sincere during his tenure in Government, President Mugabe told the thousands who thronged the National Heroes’ Acre.
President Mugabe was exasperated with the level of corruption rocking the country.
He still is. 
“He was a man of his word, a man of his mind. Akangomira naipapo ndipapo,” said President Mugabe.
“He served as Deputy Minister in a couple of Ministries and then as fully-fledged Minister; hardworking, full of ideas, honest to the end, extremely honest.
“Zvechicrook anga asingatombozvide kana.
“So, those virtues are in play and we call on others to emulate them.
“Vana Charles, baba vanga vasingaite zvechikuruku…nyaya idzi dziriko ikozvino dzekutorerana apa neapa, baba vakanga vasingade izvozvi.”
President Mugabe said the housing programme being rolled out for young people by ZANU PF would be revised after corrupt allocations had been unearthed.
“Even nyaya idzodzi idzi, dzemastand, which we would want to see revised because we cannot go the way we are doing,” he said.
“Mayouths anongoramba aripozve.
“But land hairambe iripo.
“Why can’t we start maprojects ekuvaka kuti vamwe vapinde (makavakwa); angave madouble storey building(s) to accommodate their people.
“But tikada kuti wese wese anowana and vanopinda; we don’t even know kuti vanga vasina kumwe here kana havana mapurazi here, you can call it double-dipping.
“Varikudhiba kwese kwese.
“Varikudhiba pesepese.
“And even double-dipping ikaitwa maleaders achiziva, it means they are being dishonest.
“Let us, even in regard to Zim-ASSET, realise that we have to have that sense of honesty.
“We must perform and perform well.”
Cde Msipa, who died on Monday last week, was born on July 7 1931 in Shabani (Zvishavane) in a family of 10 children, was married to Sharlottie Msipa and they had eight children.
Cde Msipa was educated at Siboza School from 1941 to 1943 before going to Dadaya Mission where he was taught by Reverend Ndabaningi Sithole.
He left school in 1949, but returned to Dadaya in 1951 to train as a primary schoolteacher.
Between 1953 and 1954, he studied privately for his Matriculation Exemption Certificate.
He taught at schools in Shabani and Kwekwe from 1953 to 1957.
He was headmaster for schools in Harare from 1959 to 1964.
During 1963 he attended the World Teachers’ Conference in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil.
In the same year he attended a seminar in Nairobi, Kenya.
He was the President of the Rhodesia Teachers’ Association from 1961 to 1965.
Cde CG, as Cde Msipa was affectionately known, was dismissed from the teaching profession by the Government in 1964, but was, however, retained by the teachers’ association which recognised his value by appointing him its paid secretary. 
During his teaching years, he became interested in politics.
At first Cde Msipa was interested in the multi-racial Capricorn Africa Society and the CAP.
He later joined the Advisory Board in Kwekwe and became its chairman.
He also acted as the Midlands Province correspondent for the African Daily News.
Cde CG joined Zimbabwe African People’s Union (ZAPU) in 1961.
He was arrested in November 1965 and served with a two-year detention order.
Early in 1966, he walked out of the restriction area and was on the run from the police for 10 weeks before he was arrested and sent for indefinite detention at Gwelo (Gweru) Prison.
Cde Msipa remained in detention until June 1970.
While in detention he studied for an external degree with the University of South Africa and graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Administration.
In 1971, he obtained work as a public relations officer for a textile company.
In November 1971 Cde Msipa was invited by Josiah Chinamano to accompany him as a representative of ZAPU during a meeting with Sir Alec Douglas-Home, which was also attended by cdes Edson Sithole and Michael Mawema.
Cde Msipa was appointed the secretary-general of the ANC, but his textile job made it impossible for him to actively participate and he resigned in 1972.
After Zimbabwe’s independence, Cde Msipa worked in Government, first as deputy minister of Youth, Sport and Recreation, Manpower Planning and Development and later as Minister of Water Resources and Development and lastly as Governor of the Midlands Province.
He retired from active politics in December 2014.
Rest in peace Cde Msipa!