The ManicaPost
Wellie Shumba
Post Correspondent
SATURDAY, March 14, 2021 was a dark day as people converged at the Shumba homestead to bid farewell to Nathaniel Shumba (or Nati as he was called by his close associates) at Biriiri in Chimanimani Ward 17.
Nati died on March 11 in Gwanda following a heart problem.
He was buried on March 14, 2021.
Nathaniel was born on May 20, 1957, to Mr Tickey Pangwe Shumba Mhlanga and Mrs MareruShumba (nee Mupambare or Muyambo) in Chimanimani.
His father had a strong political orientation to see a liberated Zimbabwe. This aspect could also be found in Nati, his youngest son.
In addition to his father, some of the teachers who helped in shaping young Nati included Miss Beaula Mtisi (now Mrs Mushayabasa), Mr John Mtisi, Mr Joseph Matsekete-Beta, Mr Medzai Makaka, Mr Joseph Ndamuka, Mr Edward Munhutu and Mr Elmon Rusinga.
For some reason, most of the primary school teachers were close relatives to Nati, with Miss Mtisi and Mr John Mtisi being Nati’s cousins.
The other politically active people who influenced the community from the area included Mr Peter Ndangana and his brother, Cde William Ndangana, Mr Arthur Matsikenyeri and the Mataures.
CdeNdangana is well known as leader of the Crocodile Gang, which attacked Pieter Johannes Andies Oberholzer in 1964 in Biriiri and then hid in the mountains as he was looked after by Mr Obed Mutezo.
Nati did his seven years primary school at Biriiri and completed his Grade Seven in 1971.
He then went to Biriiri Secondary — a United Baptist Church institution — from 1972 to 1975. He distinguished himself academically and was a football player and athlete. He could take up any position on the soccer pitch, be it as defender, midfielder or goalkeeper.
Nati was a product of his schools and the community. The political consciousness in Biriiri and Chimanimani areas was generally high.
Chimanimani became a hotbed of political activities and debate and this had an influence on youths such as Nati. The mountainous terrain, its proximity to Mozambique and the lack of a barrier to separate Rhodesia from Mozambique created an easy passage to join the struggle and facilitate the guerrilla war.
One Saturday afternoon in July 1975 after a football match against Mt Selinda High School at Biriiri, Nati and a group of other boys crossed into Mozambique. They were ferried by the car of a well-known courier from Biriiri, dropped in the Mutsvangwa area of Chimanimani and then walked across the border to Mozambique.
Nati trained in Chimoio, Mozambique, and later proceeded to Morogoro, Tanzania. He then received further training in Ethiopia, Romania and North Korea.
He was to be followed by a number of his family members who joined the struggle, among them Ezra, David, Luke, Leonard and Mucharemba.
A lot more people also left Biriiri and Chimanimani for training in Zambia and Mozambique.
During the war he operated in Mutoko using the name Major Nyika.
After independence, he joined the civil service as an accountant and served in Zvishavane, Chivhu and Gwanda.
He took voluntary early retirement in the 1990s to concentrate on his business. He remained a loyal ZANU PF cadre until his untimely death.
At his funeral, the District Development Coordinator for Chimanimani, Cde Joseph Manyurapasi, advised the community that the country’s leadership has found it proper to confer upon him a liberation war hero status. Nati lived a hardworking and modest life. He was humble and would rarely talk about his achievements.
Nati was a true liberator and patriotic Zimbabwean was at home in Chivhu, Gwanda or Zvishavane. He was a true Zimbabwean.He is survived by wife Evelyn Makonese.
Cde Nathaniel, thank you for your sacrifices. You will be greatly missed.
