Samantha Chigogo Herald Correspondent
former Member of Parliament representing chiefs in the House of Assembly and Senate, Chief Bushu — Mr Show Bushu of Shamva in Mashonaland Central — has died.

He was 81.

According to his son Mr Bramwell Bushu, Chief Bushu succumbed to acute diabetes at a local hospital yesterday.

“We have lost a father, a grandfather, a humble leader to the majority who knew him. He was one person who had a resounding character and this is not just a family, but a national loss,” he said.

“Burial arrangements are yet to be finalised. But the chief will be buried at his homestead in Bushu village.”

He said traditionally details regarding the movement of the chief’s body were not revealed to the public.

Born in 1935, Chief Bushu was elected by family members as the head chief in 1997 and in March the following year he was ceremonially inaugurated as the 14th Chief Bushu.

He also served two terms as a Member of Parliament (MP) for Mashonaland Central Chiefs’ Council from 2000 to 2008.

At the time of his death, he was a member of the national Chiefs Council.

The Zimbabwe Chiefs Council president Chief Fortune Charumbira said they had lost an important pillar in the institution.

“As the former MP representing chiefs in the House of Assembly and Senate, Mambo Bushu was a pillar of the institution with so many credentials to his name,” he said.

“He was also a former headmaster and this contributed to some of the most important attributes of his life. He was very articulate, cultured and down to earth.”

Chief Charumbira said Chief Bushu would be remembered for his role during the land reform programme.

“He was there throughout all our native struggles, he stood by the nation when it was at its worst. For instance, during the land reform era, Chief Bushu remained committed to ensuring that land was given back to the black majority,” he said.

“Mambo Bushu played a crucial role during the land reform programme as well as other pertinent national issues. He pushed hard to ensure that native Zimbabweans benefit accordingly. He had the national interest at heart and his death is a great loss to the institution of chiefs as a whole and the nation at large.”

Mashonaland Central provincial affairs Minister Advocate Martin Dinha described the late chief as a development-oriented traditional leader.

“He was one of the best chiefs I have worked with in Mashonaland Central. Mambo Bushu attended all Government programmes in the province and he engineered several development projects for Shamva and the province as a whole. On behalf of the Government, I’m expressing my deepest condolences to the family,” he said.

Chief Bushu is survived by his wife Ellen, eight children and 21 grandchildren.

You Might Also Like

Comments

Take our Survey

We value your opinion! Take a moment to complete our survey