CHINHOYI – VETERAN educationist, Michael Shambare, who was buried at the Mashonaland
West Provincial Heroes’ Acre after he was accorded the Provincial Hero status by President
Emmerson Mnangagwa, left an indelible mark in the province.
Shambare, who was the former Headmaster of Nemakonde High School and various other
schools in Mashonaland West Province, was accorded the hero status after the Second Republic
honoured him for his significant contribution towards a better society.
A God-fearing man, strict disciplinarian, and dedicated educationist, he improved all the schools
he worked for and retired after making Nemakonde High School, the best high school in the
town during his time. He moulded many professionals and businesspeople.
He headed Magunje Upper Top School and upgraded it to secondary school status before being
transferred to Nemakonde High School in Chinhoyi, where he eventually ended his career.
A former Nemakonde High School student, who is now a teacher at the school, David Fushayi,
applauded Shambare for the tremendous work he did.
“He was a headmaster, who always wanted to be an achiever and worked hard to realise his
goals,” said Fushayi.
Former Chinhoyi High School student, Blessing Mkumba who had the opportunity to rub
shoulders with the late hero when he went to Nemakonde High School for two weeks during
vacation examination coaching in 1995 said he was happy with the Government’s decision to
honour Shambare with the hero status.
Engineer Lesley Mhangwa, who is based in South Africa but attended Shambare’s funeral,
described the late headmaster as a disciplinarian who moulded many who became productive
members of society.
Addressing mourners at Shambare’s burial, Mashonaland West Minister of State for Provincial
Affairs and Devolution, Mary Mliswa-Chikoka, clarified that Government did not only use one’s
political career to determine the hero status, with the late music icons Oliver Mtukudzi and Soul
Jah Love and footballer David Mandigora being cases in point.
“The Second Republic recognises one’s contribution to society before coming up with decisions
on who should be declared a hero,” said Mliswa- Chikoka.
Shambare was a college mate of the former Mashonaland West Governor Faber Chidarikire at
Kutama College in the 1960s.
Hundreds at the burial included teachers, those who work in the education sector, several
captains of industries, and professionals who included Mashonaland West Rural Electrification
Agency Provincial head, Engineer Last Sauramba, United Kingdom-based Zimbabwean
entrepreneur, Laison Mumba, and Environmental Management Agency National Director of
Communications, Steady Kangata, and many others.
Shambare died on December 27, after a long illness.
