Tribute to the Mufuka Foundation

AN unmistakable gentleman walked into the office of the Masvingo Mirror newspaper sometime in 2006.

I was then an Advertising manager at the paper and did not have an idea who he was. I was informed he was Professor Ken Mufuka from the US. 

Prof Mufuka then penned a wildly popular Letter from America and he would come and collect his copy whenever he visited Masvingo on holiday.

It was really a big honour for me to have a chance to meet this legendary writer, academic and philanthropist in person.

Prof Mufuka soon left and it never dawned in my mind that I had come across my future mentor and a person whose ideas and generosity would impact me and lot of other people in Zimbabwe. 

However it was only after I had left the Mirror and had established Shekinah Media and started advocating for the development of Masvingo that Prof Mufuka got interested in the work that I was doing.

The second time we got in touch happened after I hosted an Investors Conference in 2012 where I had invited Dr Nigel Chanakira as the Guest speaker in Masvingo. 

“Supreme sister, how can we make Masvingo great?” was the first line that popped in an email he sent to me. 

I responded; “Let’s join together in the development of our great Masvingo”.

That is how Prof Mufuka became my mentor when I least expected it. Our conversation that day set us on a journey that has transformed me into a person that I am today and impacted a lot more people in schools, colleges and universities across the country.

Prof Mufuka started to teach me how to promote the socio-economic development in our country through a series of lectures he addressed at schools and colleges and our one on one conversations. 

He gave me confidence to face life and its challenges and to have courage and integrity in the face of adversity. He also encouraged me to tackle difficult assignments.

At one time he asked me to go and deliver a letter to  President E.D Mnangagwa at his Munhumutapa Offices. 

Imagine this was poor and lowly Angie from Masvingo, tasked with the role of hand-delivering a letter to the Commander-In-Chief of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces and the head of state and government!

I had to rise up to the occasion and assume the role of an envoy for a group of Zimbabweans in the Diaspora who had pooled their funds together and wanted some land to invest in hostels around the country for University students. 

The Professor had given me the assurance that I could do it and indeed I went through the process of delivering the letter to Zimbabwe’s President.  

Achieving that feat made me to appreciate the type of astute mentor I had in US based Prof Mufuka, a fatherly guide who would inspire me to be confident, forge links with the who is who in society and help me unlock many opportunities for other women in the Zimbabwe society.

In 2016 when we launched his book, Life and Times of Robert Mugabe  in Bulawayo, he introduced me to important people in Matabeleland. Little did I know that Prof Mufuka represented Zapu in West Indies during the liberation struggle. 

“I carried the late Joshua Nkomo’s briefcase when he came to the West Indies." he said. 

The professor introduced me to the likes of Japheth Ndabeni Ncube, and I wined and dined with the late Dumiso Dabengwa and Simangaliso Nkomo, the late Vice President Joshua Nkomo’s son.  We even visited Judith Todd's place in Bulawayo. Judith is the daughter to the former Prime Minister of then Southern Rhodesia, the late Sir Garfield Todd. 

Apparently Prof Mufuka and Judith were together at the University of Rhodesia during the 60s. We also met the Mabhenas. In Harare I got to interact with  the likes of Dr Ibbo Mandaza, Prof George Kahari and Mr Tobaiwa Mudede who is his nephew, Prof Hope Cynthia Sadza, the Founder of Women University of Africa. 

Prof Mufuka's late mother is of the Hungwe clan and he is always bragging about being the grandson of the Hungwe clan. He makes it a point to visit his Sekuru Josiah Hungwe, the likes of Mr Charles Majange, Dr Phineas Makurira, George Mashungupa, the Mudekunyes and not forgetting his best and longtime friend Fabian Mabaya.

The Mufuka Family Trust consists of Prof Ken (Patron) Mr James Nemerai, The board Chairman, Violet Nemerai ( Secretary) Mr Edmore Chigonga Treasurer, Prof Ralphinos Chabaya and Mr Walter Mufuka (Legal Adviser).

Prof Mufuka is involved in the research programs in the United Arab Emirates with Dr Gallie Kawanzaruwa. Dr Gallie is the Founder of Hatfield Elite Academy 

I recently invited Prof Mufuka  for an empowerment luncheon in Masvingo with Dr Gallie and Dr Devine Ndlukula, one of the most influential business woman in Zimbabwe and the whole of Africa. 

Ten years after he put me on the Mufuka Foundation mentorship, I am glad to say I have been recognized among 50 inspirational Women in Zimbabwe, won several awards, both business and philanthropic awards.  

Prof Ken Mufuka has capped these achievements by appointing me the manager of the Mufuka Foundation. The foundation mobilizes funds to sponsor less privileged students in Zimbabwe and the United States through the Mufuka Family Trust. 

Recently the Mufuka Trust Board appreciated my works and gave me a token of appreciation.

Let me hasten to say without the professor’s mentorship and support, I would not have received such recognition.

It was also through seeing his great works, writings and history that I became inspired to follow in his footsteps.

The then Prime Minister of Zimbabwe,  Robert Mugabe appointed Prof Mufuka as the first black  Director of Great Zimbabwe Museums and Monuments just after Independence. He is the one who facilitated the coming of Prince Charles and Princess Diana to Zimbabwe just after independence. 

Prof Mufuka noted that he was invited by the British Government to come and receive training on how to receive the Royal family. 

Reflecting on his work as Director of Great Zimbabwe Museums and Monuments, Prof Mufuka said;

“I did my job and served my community with passion. As the Professor of history, I was more involved in promoting our culture and heritage. I was also involved in the promotion of Tourism development hence I travelled around the country doing some research on how we could promote our tourism and culture that is why I co-authored the book Dzimbahwe; Life and Politics in the Golden Age 100-1500AD with James Nemerai, the former Education officer at The Great Zimbabwe Monuments,” he said.

Prof Mufuka went to Waddilove High School in Mashonaland  East together with  Dr Hope Cynthia Sadza, the co-founder of Women University in Africa. 

After graduating at the University of Zimbabwe, he later taught at Mazowe Boys High. He then went to St. Andrews University in Scotland where he received his Master of Letters degree. He also attended Queens University in Canada where he received his Doctor of Philosophy degree.

He then joined Lander University faculty in 1976 as the first black professor and has remained there all these years. He achieved full rank in 1988 and has written seven books, co-operated in twenty others and has published twenty nine learned articles. He is best known in Zimbabwe for his much acclaimed Letter from America in the Financial Gazette and Sunday Mail  (now in the Standard). In 1991, he received Reuters International Award for Best Correspondent and six other literary awards. In 2002, Dr. Mufuka earned Africa’s Best Book Award from the British Council.

His philanthropic work is typified by the help he gives to Zimbabwe students through the Mufuka Family Scholarship which allows students to attend Lander University in US. Over 50 students have benefited, among them medical doctors,  attorneys and numerous MBA’s.

The Mufuka Family Trust has also helped students at Masvingo Teachers College, Masvingo Polytechnic College, The Great Zimbabwe University, Africa University, Masvingo High, Mazambara High School in Gutu and Howard Salvation Army School

Prof Mufuka is also Lay pastor in the United Methodist Church and has served as Chairperson of the powerful Equitable Compensation Commission which advises the Bishop on pastoral standards and salaries in excess of eight years.

One of his tradition is meeting and throwing a party for his friends in Masvingo whenever he comes back home. He never forgets the birthday of his niece, Mai Mandaba, the former Senator and ZANUPF Central Committee member. 

His thrust is when you get help, you should be in a position to help others. I celebrate the great son of Africa, who is so passionate about his country. His love for Zimbabwe is unparalleled.

 *Angie is the Director and Founder Shekinah Media, Life Coach, speaker, Writer and Manager, Ken Mufuka Foundation.

She can be reached at mikiri.angie@gmail.com