By John Masuku
“Uchandifunga, uchanditsvaga, uchandishaya” (you will remember me, look for me and fail to find me) is the unforgettable motivational phrase often said in captivating, unignorable humour and a very deep Ndebele accent by our former Maths teacher at Highfield Secondary School (now Highfield High 1).
Gumz, Yours Truly as he was affectionately known was a man of many talents – he was a Maths and Science teacher, football administrator par excellence, television and movie actor.
Gumede taught me in Form 1 and 2 in 1970-71 together with many other surviving and departed sports and corporate luminaries, who on reunions would repeat the phrase originally used to encourage us to work hard and pass Maths, a major requirement for many jobs even to this day.
Gumede was a great influencer, even to other learners he did not teach directly during his time at the school between 1969 and 1975.
As a football coach and referee, the renowned football administrator nurtured many yesteryear greats, who later turned out for top teams in the then Rhodesia National Football League like Oliver Kateya (Dynamos) Shakeman Shacky Tauro, Peter Augustino (Caps United) and medical doctor Rodrick Muganhiri (Black Aces) all late, who I was privileged to report about on national radio commentaries as I teamed up with the late Jonathan Mutsinze, Jackson Sithole and later Lisbern Nasasara on the then African Service of the Rhodesia Broadcasting Corporation (RBC) from 1974.
In the corporate world, Gumede taught and influenced many renowned leaders who were at “PaSecondary”, as the school was affectionately known since it was then the only one that admitted pupils with higher pass grades from over a dozen primary schools in Highfield high density suburb.
In our ‘Class of 1973’ O-Level WhatsApp chat group informally led by Michael Mataure, a former Chimanimani legislator, we have chartered accountant Freeman Kembo, owner of a huge thriving clothing factory in Harare, who regularly donated some of the branded tracksuits and press jackets to our former teacher.
There is also economist and former diplomat Mutsvene John Marangwanda, whose Longden Steel company erected the steelworks of the Mbuya Nehanda statues in the Harare central business district, not forgetting former banker and businessman Ignatius Pamire, a former Dynamos chairman, and renewable energy engineer Charles Murove.
Pretoria-based Dr Simbarashe Sibanda, a renowned agricultural scholar and international researcher and probably one of Gumede’s top Maths students at the time.
Gumede believed in simplifying his subject through everyday illustrations and storytelling to the extent of using Shona, which he was still learning after arriving at the school in 1969 from Gwelo Teachers’ Training College, which is now the Midlands State University.
Gumede was born on 14 October 1945 in Bulawayo and grew up in Mzilikazi’s R Square.
His father was a teacher and he would also train as a teacher at Gweru Teachers College (now MSU) and on finishing his course was deployed to Highfield Secondary School in Harare.
He was a teacher in Harare for seven years before moving to Mzilikazi High School in 1975. He was the sportsmaster at the school and also underwent a referee’s training course.
Gumede’s involvement with Highlanders dates back to 1974 when he was a teacher in Harare and was the club representative in the capital city.
When he returned to Bulawayo he was part of Bosso’s finance committe, before he became chairman in 1978 after taking over from Landcut Gumbo.
He served Highlanders as chairman from 1978 to 1980.
He was appointed as ZIFA board as committe member at Independence. He was invited to serve in the board by the then Minister of Sports Teurai Ropa Nhongo (Joice Mujuru). He served for three years after that elections started being held for the ZIFA Board. When the new commitee elections were held, he lost to Gibson Homela a former Zimbabwe Saints player and coach.
Gumede spent a year out of football. Then Highlanders had a white chairman called Malcolm King who resigned in the middle of his term and Gumede was called to replace him. He was supposed to serve from 1984 to 1985 but left saying he had enough of Highlanders problems. Gumede was persuaded by the late Vice President Joshua Nkomo to come and serve the club.
During his chairmanship Bosso managed to acquire three properties in Robert Mugabe Way and a house Luveve in 1986 used for camping known as Hotel California. Then Highlanders secured their clubhouse in 1987. Initially, Highlanders office was near Big Bhawa and Mkambo markert in Makobaba. The team shared the offices with a tailor. They later moved started renting offices in town at CABS Building before deciding to buy their own property.
Gumede would return to ZIFA in 1987 when they were problems at the national association. He left for Botswana in 1991 and worked at Notwane Football Club. He returned to ZIFA again in 1998 as the association’s first chief executive officer. He was pushed out during the feud at ZIFA by the then chairman Rafik Khan.
He made his last return to ZIFA in 2010 as vice President with Cuthbert Dube as the president.
Gumede’s last dance with Highlanders came in 2014 when he was appointed CEO and served until 2016. He was appointed Highlanders president, a ceremonial role in 2021.
Gumede also acted in movie More Time and also acted in radio dramas like Harry Nleya’s Sayijeni Gatsheni and Sakhelene Zinini.
Gumede died on 29 December 2021. Additional reporting by Fanuel Viriri.