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The Herald, 28 April 1980
THE Minister of Natural Resources and Water Development, Mr Joseph Wilfred Msika has travelled a path from cattle herder, as a small boy, to trade unionism and politics.

He was born on December 6, 1923, in the Chiweshe TTL, in the Mazoe District.

As a small boy, he herded his father’s cattle until he was admitted to the Howard Institute, a Salvation Army Mission School, for the price of six eggs. In 1937 he became a boarder and remained there until he passed Standard VI. After this, he went to Mt Selinda, where he trained as a carpenter and completed his Junior Certificate by correspondence.

In 1951, he became a full-time cabinet-maker for a firm in Bulawayo. He transferred to a new clothing firm in Johannesburg and later returned to Bulawayo to work for a textile company, where he became the equivalent of a personnel officer.

Dealing with labour problems led to an interest in trade unions, and he became president of the Textile and Allied Workers Union.

Thereafter, the path from trade unionism to politics was a straight-forward one.

He joined the ANC and later became chairman of the Bulawayo Branch.

When it merged with ANC Youth League, he was appointed national treasurer. Becoming heavily involved in politics, he was soon arrested and detained on several occasions from 1959 until December 1974.

Immediately following his release, he went with Mr Nkomo to Lusaka for talks and was chosen as one of the four men to represent ZAPU on the central committee of the ANC.

He was also a member of Mr Nkomo’s delegation to Geneva talks.

Mr Msika has expressed the greatest admiration for the way in which his wife (whom he married in 1946) raised his family of six children and looked after his business during his detention.

One of his sons is studying medicine in England, and two of his daughters are nurses.

LESSONS FOR TODAY
 Nationalist and freedom fighter — the late Vice President Joseph Msika passed away on August 4, 2009 and is among the founding fathers buried at the National Heroes Acre. As a member of ZAPU, he played a major role during the liberation struggle and after the attainment of Independence.

From humble beginnings, through hard work and sheer determination, Cde Msika became one of the stalwarts of independent Zimbabwe.

The National Museums and Monuments of Zimbabwe should ensure that they have all the information on the heroes and heroines of the First and Second Chimurenga.

Local authorities countrywide should also honour Cde Msika by having buildings and roads named after him.

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