The ManicaPost
Morris Mtisi
If Zacharia Chikwangwani is not a hero in the education sector, no one will be. You do not need to like, admire or love any hero – the hero will just be.
He was a frank straight talker who called a spade a spade and always ready to take the proverbial bull by the horns. But he was a magnanimous person. Above all, Chikwangwani hated what was wrong; and for this, self-styled heroes, corruption mongers and bigots did not like him.
Those who went to school with him remember him to be a whizz-kid who turned out to be an impeccable bundle of brains and intellectual joy. He specialised in English Literature and avidly used the language with remarkable flair. No wonder at the time of his death, exactly two weeks today when he succumbed to a battle with lung cancer, the late Zacharia was not only Mutare district schools inspector, but also principal marking supervisor and national chief examiner – English.
Chikwangwani wrote an appraisal end-matter to one of this reporter’s published books, “Studying for The Grave” (2016): “From Mr Mtisi’s pen emerges a powerful, thought-provoking narrative which explores the rarely talked about side of university life with force and precision. Characters are caught up in a vicious dilemma as they fight for survival in a predatory environment. The devastating consequences spare no one, not even the morally upright . . . very much in the mould of Akwah Arma’s ‘The Beautiful Ones Are Not Yet Born’.”
Such was the linguistic power vested and latently imbedded in this great man and educationist.
“Characters caught up in a vicious dilemma” indeed . . . “… as they fight for survival in a predatory environment!” That was Zacharia for you! Sounded very much like one referring to himself.
At one point Chikwangani was Mutasa district schools inspector. He was at the district offices before, posted out and called back again.
Though it has been extremely difficult to find willing horses, friends and colleagues in the education sector to say a word or two about him, some of them fearfully saying they had been warned by one senior educational official against talking to the press, the late Chikwangwani heroically joins the ranks of Mathew Tondoya (Mutare Boys High), Richard Tizora and Jarson Muwandi (both Mutare Teachers’ College) and Peter Mwonzora (Tsonzo High School) and many more who are not with us today. If you do not celebrate your own heroes, no one will!
Previously, the English Language expert taught at Hartzell High School, Marist Brothers’ Nyanga Boys’ High School, Kriste Mambo and Nyamidzi Secondary School in Nyazura.
Go, good countryman! Go, brilliant and insightful hero! Go Zacharia go well, to the other side o f the world! People, priests and mourners muttered words over your coffin. They imagined you in their minds with words and signs. You knew they would. But they said it all in the words you were taught to read and write. So there is nothing new and nothing bizarre.
The wife of the deceased told The Manica Post that Mr Chikwangwani was a loving father and husband. “He was a man full of love. He loved me. He loved his family and he supported us like any responsible father would do,” she said. While every departed husband would love to hear such flaming remarks from a surviving wife if it were possible, but to hear your wife proudly acknowledge, “He was very intelligent,” would make all the angels in heaven join in the celebration. Mai Chikwangwani boldly, confidently and proudly acknowledged that to The Manica Post.
The late Mutare district schools inspector is survived by wife Lyn and four children. He was buried at the Yeovil Cemetery in Mutare last Saturday -13 January 2018. Born on April 11 1961, he was 56.
The Manica Post and in particular this education columnist, shares the sorrow of the dark days with the Chikwangwani family and friends. But we also celebrate the magnanimous part he played in the development of education in his country of birth – Zimbabwe. We will miss you with a mixture of pain and pride. Go well gamba redzidzo – Famba zvakanaka mwanawevhu!
