Zimbabwe is poorer without Makumbe

I became keenly conscious of Makumbe in 1995, when I had just begun studying for my masters’ degree at the University of Zimbabwe. He was embroiled in a disciplinary wrangle with the administration, then led by the late Gordon Chavhunduka, the Vice Chancellor.

Chavhunduka was not amused by the fact that Makumbe had spoken to the media about corruption and mismanagement at the institution. He wanted Makumbe to apologise and, in writing, acknowledge that he would not talk to the media about university affairs as there were procedures to be followed regarding organisational communication.

That was the time when the Zanu (PF) government was imposing its ministers and other officials who lacked the necessary qualifications to study at UZ. Makumbe would not budge. In fact, he told Chavhunduka that he would go out and look for journalists and talk to them about UZ affairs, insisting that he had the democratic right to talk to anyone of his choice!

Inevitably, Makumbe was suspended. He and I had a hearty laugh some time last year on one of my numerous visits to his modest UZ office. I noticed that he still had posted on his office board the memorandum of suspension and asked him why he had kept it for so long. “You know,” he said, “I should have forgotten to remove it. But the memorandum shows the futility of organisational politics. I never left the university and am now one of its senior teachers.”

Chavhunduka left his post a bitter man and was replaced by Graham Hill, whom Makumbe thought was a better devil. Ironically, both Makumbe and Chavhunduka ended up as influential people who played a crucial role in forming the Movement for Democratic Change.

Makumbe—May His Soul Rest in Peace—had a larger than life personality, which was premised on four clear themes: candidness, humility, intelligence and fearlessness – all marinated with a rare sense of humour.

Born on 6 May in 1949 in Buhera district in Manicaland, he was a renowned academic, researcher and human rights activist. He became one of the most senior lecturers at UZ, teaching in the Department of Politics and Administration where he rubbed shoulders with the likes of Masipula Sithole, Hassu Patel, Ibbo Mandaza and Jonathan Moyo.

He produced many prominent graduates, among them the current Minister of ICT, Nelson Chamisa, and a host of others working in the humanitarian and democratic movements.

Makumbe played an active advisory role in the formation of the MDC in 1999 and was part of the party’s think tank. In addition to being the Chairman of the Zimbabwe Albino Association, he sat on a number of boards, among them Munhondo Trust (as Chair), which was instrumental in the local registration of The Zimbabwean.

He trained as a teacher at Mutare Teachers’ College in 1972 before moving to the University of Botswana for a BA general degree in administration. He worked there from 1979 – 1980 as an Assistant Dean of Students and then returned to independent Zimbabwe, where he took up a job as training officer at Rowa Training Centre in Mutare. Subsequently, he studied for a BA Honours in Administration at UZ and then a PhD in Administration from the University of Tasmania in Australia. He was also awarded an honorary Doctor of Law degree by University of Birmingham.

He published many academic research papers, books and journal articles and was a prolific and insightful newspaper columnist for The Zimbabwean and other newspapers.

I am told that he had a harsh time growing up, because of his albinism. Right at birth, the midwife who helped his mother deliver was shocked that she had given birth to a “white child”. The stigma trailed him through his childhood – he was bullied by other children and was generally excluded from social circles. “Being born ‘white’ in a black community has its share of problems – you do not fit in,” Makumbe said to me once.

The amazing thing is that he did not degenerate into a bitter man. Instead, the tribulations of growing up with the “wrong” pigmentation seem to have nurtured the candid and forthright dimension in his character and strengthened in him the desire to stand up for the oppressed.

In 2006, he formed the Zimbabwe Albino Association. The overall objective of this, he remarked at one time, was not to segment albinos and form them into a minority group. Instead, he had realised that albinos needed specific attention because of the sensitivity of their skins and sight, and therefore should come together to address those concerns. He also knew society needed to change its attitude towards them.

What always struck me about Makumbe was how direct he was with his views. He was not the diplomatic type and always expressed his feelings and views without beating about the bush – but in a pleasant manner.

Zimbabwe is very much the poorer without Makumbe because of his humility. He mixed easily with anyone, from beggars to celebrities. I remember one day when he visited the office and was being hustled by a car park tout asking for money to guard his car. He called him over and asked him how much he made a day from guarding cars, and why he would not go and find a job “in Graniteside”.

That offset a hearty conversation that was joined by more than a dozen other people. You would not believe that this was the famous John Makumbe! One of the touts asked him whether it was true that he wanted to run as an MDC parliamentary candidate. His response, prefixed by that cackling laugh, was: “Why not? Mugabe chased away the white people but he forgot to do that with me, so I want to show him he failed because I am white.”

Fortunately, he lived to see his daughter married. In late December, I called him on a Sunday to discuss remarks made by Angeline, the late Josiah Tongogara’s wife in a local weekly. I apologised for calling him when he was supposed to be in Church and, true to his humorous nature, he responded: “No, no, no! That is not a problem. In fact, I did not go to church today because, after marrying off my daughter, I feel so rich I don’t need more blessings.”

I always longed for the day when Makumbe would get into Parliament. I was convinced that he would bring fire into the house with his straightforward and fearless talk. I was also sure that he would become an instant darling with Zimbabweans across the political divide because of his humble approach to life. We have the tragedy of elitist politicians here, and Makumbe was certainly going to be a different genre.

Yet I was always doubtful that he would last the distance as a politician. He was too direct to survive in our world of politics that is sustained through dishonesty, lies and pretence. He was certainly going to rub some people the wrong way. I was also critical of him announcing his candidature for the Buhera West constituency too early, as that would give his rivals time to plot against him, but he insisted that the time was the best.