Gweru (New Ziana) – The late national hero and Zimbabwe Mass Media Trust (ZMMT) board member, Prof Emeritus Ngwabi
Mulunge Bhebe, who succumbed to diabetes on Friday, will be buried on Saturday at the National Heroes Acre in Harare, a family spokesperson said on Monday.

Speaking unofficially, the spokesperson said the government was due to announce burial arrangements later on Monday for the late scholar, who was the founding vice chancellor of Midlands State University (MSU) among other scholarly positions he held at home and abroad.

Prof Bhebe died on Friday aged 81,and was declared national hero by the government in recognition of his vast contribution to the development of tertiary education in the country, and to the struggle for independence.

“Professor Bhebe wanted to be buried alongside his mother at his Chiwundura Farm, but since he was close to ED (President Mnangagwa), the two agreed that if he dies, he would be buried at the National (Heroes)
Acre. So we respect government’s decision,” said the family spokesperson.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa is expected to preside over the burial on Saturday, ironically a day after presiding over a graduation ceremony at MSU main campus in Gweru, Prof Bhebe’s former turf.

He was one of the country’s leading historians, and scholars, recognised as such even abroad where he was feted with countless scholarly accolades.

Apart from his academic prowess, Prof Bhebe was also a top administrator, and sat on many company and organisational boards, in addition to the ZMMT.
New Ziana