Addressing mourners at a church service held on Monday at the Harare Anglican Church Cathedral in honour of Chavunduka who passed on last Friday, the PM said: “We are actually celebrating the life of a distinguished cultural leader, academic and social activist par excellence. Chavunduka has left an indelible mark of excellence.”
Tsvangirai said when the true history of Zimbabwe is written, Chavunduka will be among the most towering characters who contributed immensely to the development of the country from different fronts.
“At MDC-TChavunduka was an invaluable reservoir of political advice. MDC has lost a real champion and will miss him as a party,” said Tsvangirai.
The PM commended Chavunduka for championing the call for herbal medicine to be recognised and institutionalised in the country.
“Chavunduka had great dedication to the herbal sector to which he spent significant resources and time.”
He said government should take measures and put in place laws aimed at preserving traditional medicine.
Chavhunduka led an eventful life. He was born in 1931 at St Augustine Mission in Penhalonga, Manicaland and did his primary education at St Faith Mission in Makoni and Inanda Primary in Durban South Africa.
He later returned to St Augustine for his Junior Certificate before proceeding to Goromonzi for his “O” levels. After “O” Levels he enrolled for an agriculture course at Alvord College and later worked as a government agricultural supervisor.
Meanwhile, he would study for his “A” levels through correspondence with the University of London. After “A” Levels, he went to the University of Califonia, USA, where he obtained a BA in Sociology before moving to Manchester University for a Masters in Sociology.
Between 1968 and 1972 he studied for his doctorate in the same discipline.
When he completed his Masters, Chavhunduka returned home to take up an appointment as a lecturer in sociology at the then University of Rhodesia.
He later became a member of the University of Zimbabwe Lecturers’ Union, Chairperson and then Dean of the Department of Sociology and was a member of the Institute in Herbal Medicine of Southern Africa.
In 1992 he was appointed the Vice Chancellor of the University of Zimbabwe, a position he held until 1996. At the time of his death he was the President of the Zimbabwe National Traditional Healers Association.
Chavunduka became active in politics in 1968 when he was elected President of the National People’s Union. He was involved in a number of negotiations to bring about the independence of Zimbabwe.
He attended the Geneva Conference in 1976 and the talks by nationalists in Lusaka, Zambia, facilitated by the front line states which culminated in the unity agreement in December 1974.
Chavunduka was a founder member of the MDC which was formed in 1999.
He was appointed Secretary for Traditional Leaders in the National Executive Committee. He also served as Secretary for National Healing, Reconciliation and Integration. In 2011, he was appointed the Chairperson of the MDC Guardian Council.
The church service was attended by Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, MDC-T National Council members, government ministers from across the political divide, civil society groups, labour unions and members of the public.
Bishop for Church of the Province of Central Africa, Chad Gandiya, led the church service.
Chavunduka died of cancer last Friday. He will be laid to rest at his village in Dowa, Rusape today.
Post published in: News