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Dr Chivaura

Lovemore Mataire Senior Reporter
Prominent academic and University of Zimbabwe senior lecturer in the English Department Dr Vimbai Gukwe Chivaura has died.

He was 64.

Chairperson of the UZ English Department Dr Ruby Magosvongwe, who is also a family friend, said Dr Chivaura died early yesterday morning at the Avenues Clinic in Harare where he had been diagnosed with liver cancer.

“It is with sadness that we learnt of Dr Chivaura’s death early (this) morning. It is a very sad loss to us,” said Dr Magosvongwe.

Dr Chivaura is survived by his wife Sophia and four children.

Mourners are gathered at No. 48 Blackburn Close, Emerald Hill, in Harare.

“I was his student; he was a vivacious lecturer who had his own unconventional approach to teaching. His approach was unique and true to life as he did not focus on theory, but emphasised application,” Dr Magosvongwe said.

Dr Chivaura’s younger brother, Vengai, said he was likely to be buried at his rural home in Mhondoro tomorrow.

Dr Chivaura joined the Faculty of Arts as a research fellow in 1983 and was formally appointed lecturer in the Department of English in 1986.

His appointment together with other black lecturers like Dr Thorel Tsomondo, Dr Rino Zhuwarara, Dr Ranga Zinyemba, Mr Musaemura Zimunya and Ngugi wa Mirii and Kimani Gecau saw the radical transformation of the Department of English into what it has become today.

They assisted the Faculty of Arts to create and establish the Department of Theatre Arts which Dr Chivaura chaired between 1994 and 1999.

He mentored numerous students and academics during his tenure.

As part of community service, Dr Chivaura was also a part-time lecturer at the Zimbabwe Staff College, National Defence College, Zimbabwe Film and Television School for Southern Africa, Trust Academy, Harare Polytechnic, Speciss College and the University of Zimbabwe Evening School.

An Afrocentricist, Dr Chivaura was passionate about African pride or “Zvavanhu” as evidenced by his co-hosting of the programmes with Professor Sheunesu Mpepereki, Dr Tafataona Mahoso and Prof Claude Mararike.

Dr Chivaura published the Human Factor Development Book series together with Prof Mararike.

In a statement last night, Information, Media and Broadcasting Services Minister Christopher Mushohwe said Dr Chivaura’s death was a blow to the media fraternity.

“It is with a deep sense of shock and great sadness that I learnt of the death of Dr Vimbai Gukwe Chivaura at the Avenues Clinic in Harare this morning after succumbing to cancer. Dr Chivaura’s passing on deals a terrible blow to both the media fraternity and the academic world where he had carved a niche for himself as a communications expert, insightful historian and Pan-Africanist.”

Minister Mushohwe said Dr Chivaura’s credentials as a renowned academician and political analyst were indisputable as he had become a household name on national television through his participation in thought-provoking and educational programmes such as National Ethos and Nhaka Yedu.

“Through such programmes, Dr Chivaura together with like-minded colleagues Dr Tafataona Mahoso, Professor Sheunesu Mpepereki and Professor Claude Mararike were able to explain the national question and define for many Zimbabweans the national interest. National independence and national sovereignty were sacrosanct and not-negotiable with the imperialists, Dr Chivaura would argue, as he rallied all Zimbabweans to defend the gains of our liberation struggle,” he said.

“On behalf of the Deputy Minister of Information, Media and Broadcasting Services, Permanent Secretary and staff, and indeed on my own behalf, I would like to express our heartfelt condolences to his wife and children, the Gukwe and Chivaura family on the loss of their breadwinner, father and mentor. May they take comfort from the knowledge that we mourn with them during this their dark hour of grief. May his soul rest in eternal peace.”

Colleagues hailed him as a man endowed with unmistaken comradeship, artistic creativity, clarity of vision as well as enriching experience that he shared with colleagues and students.

He was due for retirement from the University of Zimbabwe in mid-December this year.

Zimbabwe Film and Television School for Southern Africa director Dr Zhuwarara, who was a close friend of Dr Chivaura, said the academic world and Zimbabwe had lost a national voice in relation to nation-building.

“Dr Chivaura played a key role in the transformation of the Department of English so that it became more African centred as opposed to the colonial syllabus it used to host. He was also a key player in the production of broadcasting content “as he was deeply involved in hosting certain programmes as ‘Nhaka Yedu’ and ‘Zvavanhu’. Such programmes helped in raising awareness of issues that mattered to the country,” Dr Zhuwarara said.