Prominent Mugabe apologist and University of Zimbabwe (UZ) senior lecturer Vimbai Gukwe Chivaura has died. He passed away at Avenues Clinic in Harare on Tuesday morning where he had been admitted following an undisclosed illness.
His young brother, Vengai Chivaura confirmed the news in a Facebook post where he mourned the death of the renowned academic.
“It is with a heavy heart that I announce the death of my great brother Dr Vimbai Gukwe Chivaura who passed on this morning at Avenues clinic. I am heavily saddened by the passing on of my brother, a great leader, mentor, teacher, a man who stood up, fought and advocated for his beloved country Zimbabwe’s rights, a Zimbabwean icon, and a man who was a great pillar of strength in the Gukwe and Chivaura family. Burial arrangements will be announced after some family meetings,” Vengai said.
At the time of his death, Chivaura was a senior lecturer at the University of Zimbabwe where he taught literature, media and communication studies in the Department of English.
His publications as co-editor include Community Based Theatre in Zimbabwe, The Human Factor Approach to Development in Africa, and a play in Shona and English, Mavambo: The Beginning. He has several chapters in anthologies, articles in international journals, and feature articles in local newspapers.
He was also the founder member and Chairman of Theatre Arts Department au UZ. He was actively involved in national service and extension work which include HIV/STD/AIDS awareness education and counselling, and the preservation and promotion of African indigenous knowledge systems, languages and culture.
He previously also served as coordinator for International Exchange Programs (UZ), Chief Executive Officer of Zimbabwe Inter-Africa News Agency, (ZIANA) and member of the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC).
Chivaura was also a visiting scholar at several universities in the U.S. including the Claremont Graduate School, Michigan State University, Kalamazoo College, University of Massachusetts at Amherst, Bard College, State University of New York at Buffalo, and Fort Valley State University, Georgia. Financial Gazette
