Osiris Black

Mbuya Nehanda (Front)  Charwe Nayakasikana, the Zezuru spirit medium of Mazowe popularly known as Mbuya Nehanda is arguably one of the most debated personalities of her era. Her profile is the subject of various interpretations, constantly redacted to suit contemporary ideological needs. This article explores the process that led to the ascent of Charwe Nyakasikana in the national imagination as a way to appreciate why some historical figures are privileged over others. In elite theory, the ruling class of a particular society sets the political agenda. In Marxist terms, they dominate the economy, and by extension also determine the cultural norms and practices of that society. Post colonialism, the ruling elite embarked on a drive to unilaterally reclaim and rethink the history and agency of Zimbabwe as it transitioned from imperial subordination to nation building. Social engineering tactics deployed via myth making and jingoistic narratives to ideologically connect Zimbabwean ma...

    The Pedi used to occupy parts of present day Mpumalanga and the Northern provinces of South Africa. In recent times, they have been renamed – Northern Sothos (Zimbabwe) to distinguish it from Southern Sothos (Lesotho), Western Sothos (Botswana), and North Western Sothos (Barotse, Zambia).    The Pedi have also been referred to as the Highveld Sothos who live on the plateau around Polokoane in South Africa. According to oral tradition collected by Peter Magubane, ‘ the Pedi can be traced back to Maroteng, an offshoot of the Kgatla – today an important constituent of the Tswana’.         Tabane ruled the Maroteng, followed by Motsha; his grandson. Motsha’s son Thobele succeeded his father. However, the most powerful chief of the Pedi was Thulare (1790 - 1824), founder of an empire in the Northern parts of modern South Africa. Thulare was succeeded by his son, Malekutu, who was poisoned by one of his eight brothers, leaving the Pedi in disarray....

The history of the National University of Science & Technology (NUST).       On 10 August 1990, Professor Phinias Makhurane, then Deputy Vice Chancellor at the University of Zimbabwe met Dr Elijah Chanakira, then Permanent Secretary for Higher Education. The news was that Mr David Karimanzira, the Minster of Higher Education wanted to create a Foundation Committee to spearhead a new university in Bulawayo and the Professor was asked to serve as the Chairman. In 1982, he had chaired the University of Zimbabwe Vice Chancellor’s committee of inquiry into the failure rate at the university during the 1980 – 81 academic year. The committee noted that soon after independence in 1980, the secondary school system had significantly expanded. Government policy became universal access to primary and secondary education.    The large numbers admitted into form 1 classes in 1980 reached ‘A’ level in 1985. From 1986, there was a large demand for university places. The U.Z...