Former councillor, headman, school head remembered

Online Reporter

AN emotional crowd of over 2 000 people gathered at Sharaude Business Centre in Mwenezi recently to bid farewell to retired school head, Henry Makura.

He was also the headman for Chabata Village.

Makura is credited for transforming Makawire Primary School in Mwenezi District between 1960 and 2001, from a modest pole and dagga structure alongside his late wife, Agnes, to a destination of choice for many learners in the area.

Commonly known as “Chamakweza”, the late Makura initially taught at Magadzire School in Gutu before being posted by the Catholic Church to Makawire School.

Most speakers at this burial on July 18 described him as “an impactful community leader and champion”.

A memorial service is set to be held at the Makura homestead on September 6.

The current Makawire School head Mr Jerryson Chikwava plunged mourners into fits of laughter when he summarised Makura’s leadership impact.

“When I do anything good for the school, the community praises me by saying ‘that is precisely what Makura used to do’.

“When I fail to perform well, they say ‘Mr Makura never did such a thing during his time'”.

Perhaps a most compelling description of the late Makura came from a South African academic, Prof Gregory Alexander.

“From the readings (of his contributions) I can gather he was a great example to family, academia, community and engaged in community and societal structures.

“This is what I call a true social activist who contributed largely to democratic citizenship. Makura is a legend in his own right, and will be remembered for transformative praxis. He represented Africa… a great ambassador for all of us,” said Prof Alexander.

The pinnacle of his illustrious career came in 1974 when his school was awarded the prestigious “Secretary’s bell”, a top national award of academic excellence.

No school in Mwenezi district has received the award since then.

Villagers said under his astute leadership, a large water reservoir was constructed, which harvested water from the Rukodzi hill located about 300 metres from the school.

That project supplied water to staff houses and the school garden. He also built an “upstairs” office, the only in Mwenezi.

A successful businessman and philanthropist par excellence, Makura also assisted many underprivileged learners to pursue their studies. During the liberation struggle, he was the conduit for material and manpower supplies in the Chizumba area (Gaza) in Mwenezi. He served as a councillor at one point.

His stern discipline and quest for excellence coupled with a humane leadership disposition, inspired generations of learners many of whom went on to become national and global notables.

Some of these people are Dr Charles Zvomukati Hove who worked for the SADC Secretariat in Botswana, Dr Knowledge Chinyanyu an Oxford academic, Retired Assistant Police Commissioner Munorwei Shava and Dr Elvis Shoko, a distinguished physicist and solar energy expert based in London.

The late Makura’s eldest son, Alfred, is an Education Professor at a South Africa university while another son Henry (Jnr) was at one point in the ZESA management under the late national hero Dr Sydney Gata.

The late education icon was buried with full Catholic religious rites next to his late wife Agnes.

The Makura clan has since unanimously nominated the late Makura’s eldest son, Alfred, to succeed his father and become Headman of the Chabata village.

In 2023, former learners from Makawire School formed the Makawire Ex-Students Association (MESA) to spearhead school development activities in honour of the late Makura.

On its part, the Makura family established the Henry & Agnes Makura Scholarship in 2002. It has an annual R1 000 award to a boy and girl who outperform others in the Grade 7 national examinations.

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