Prof Boniface Chivore’s death big loss to educatio...

Prof Boniface Chivore’s death big loss to education: UZ Vice chancellor

Zim Now Writer

University of Zimbabwe Faculty of Education senior lecturer, Professor Boniface Samuel Chivore, who died on Sunday aged 72 at his farm at Chipinda near Mbungo in Masvingo, has left a huge gap that will be difficult to fill in the training of teachers in the country.

Prof. Chivore was the architect of mass training for teachers through programmes such as the Zimbabwe National Integrated Teacher Education Course at independence, aimed at fillking the skills gap in the education sector.

Prof Chivore died in an ambulance while being ferried from his farm at Chipinda Resettlement to Makurira Memorial Clinic in Masvingo.

UZ Vice Chancellor, Professor Paul Mapfumo confirmed the death, describing it as a huge loss to education and, in particular, teacher training programmes as he was involved with all teachers’ colleges linked to UZ.

The late professor’s son, Vunganai Chivore, said mourners are gathered at the deceased’s farm at Chipinda.

Burial arrangements are yet to be confirmed to allow the deceased’s children to travel from abroad although it is most likely to be end of this week. The family has sought hero status for Chivore, who played a role during the struggle for independence as a youth from 1965.

Prof Chivore joined UZ in 1985 and in 1993 he became a professor. He held various positions at the University, including that of acting chairman of the Department of Teacher Education, chairman M.ED Curriculum Evaluation, Editor Zimbabwe Bulletin Teacher Education.

“This is a big loss. It is a very long road to build an academic. The accumulated experience and knowledge that comes with a Professor is irreplaceable; it means loss of institutional memory, loss of expertise in particular strand of an area of development in terms of skill and knowledge. In this case it is in the area of education, that is teacher education as well as curriculum development and distance education.

“These are areas that Prof Chivore was very good at. He was responsible for the teacher education programme and he has worked with the teachers’ colleges that you see in the country so we lose a lot in terms of capacity as well as the thinking as we are shaping now our education sector in the country; we were drawing on his expertise. Of course, there were young ones coming but they were being mentored by the likes of Prof Chivore.

“He was now a post-retiree but once a professor, always a professor,” said Prof Mapfumo.

Prof Chivore did 43 consultancies on various areas, mostly on the education sector and had over 100 publications inclusive of books and review articles.

He was born at Jichidza in Zaka. He did his primary and secondary education at Jichidza Primary and Zimuto High respectively. He left for the UK and came back to Zimbabwe just after independence. He worked for the Ministry of Higher Education before joining UZ.

While in the UK, Prof. Chivore also trained as a nurse.

“Prof Chivore was a dedicated, selfless cadre who contributed immensely to the liberation struggle. During his stay in the UK, he was an active member of Zanu PF UK Branch, where he was the chairman and contributed in resource mobilisation,” said Vunganai.

During the Lancaster House negotiations, Chivore housed and hosted Zanu luminaries. At independence, he initiated the opening of the Zintec teachers’ training programme, which trained thousands of teachers to cater for the Government’s programme of education for all.

“Masvingo and the province at large have lost a seasoned, renowned, principled and dedicated nationalist,” added Vunganai.

Prof. Chivore is survived by seven children, two daughters and five sons and 14 grandchildren.