Nathaniel Ngulube Abu Basutu: Death of Liberation War Veteran

The death has occurred of a distinguished cadre of the liberation struggle and war effort, Comrade Nathaniel Ngulube Abu Basutu.

Nathaniel Basutu joins a string of recently deceased committed sons and daughters of the soil who compromised and at times sacrificed promising careers and personal progression to advance the interests of the people of Zimbabwe.

Comrade Basutu was born in Shape, Gwanda District on 10 February 1947. He attended school 1955-59 at Shape Primary School, then 1960-63 at Mawaza Primary, and Ratanyana in 1964. After finishing primary school he attended Matopo Mission (65-66) for his secondary school and followed this by training as a teacher in Mtshabezi Mission (1967-68). In later lif he was to advance his education with a BA in Education with the Zimbabwe Open University (ZOU).  His teaching career kicked off in Khumbula Primary School in Tsholotsho. He combined teaching with religious education in his Brethren-In-Christ Church, something that seems to have been a key aspect of his unwavering sense of fairness and moral principles. Indeed, a lot of his early political activity was inseparable from his drive to promote education and social responsibility among youth. It is no surprise that as the armed struggle gathered pace Comrade Basutu crossed into Zambia where he and his friends received military training in Nampundwe.

 In the late 1970s, Comrade Basutu was roped into teaching in JZ Camp (named after liberation icon Jason Ziyapapa Moyo). He was subsequently moved to Solwezi Camp where he continued to mould many children, some of whom survived bombings and other traumatic experiences. The party sent Comrade Basutu to India where he trained as a fitter and turner. He used this background after Zimbabwe independence to work briefly in the water department of the Bulawayo City Council. He soon resumed his calling and went back to teaching, joining the staff of Inzwananzi School in Luveve, Bulawayo. He went on to become the Deputy Head in Mbizo Primary School near Ngwenya Mission, Ntabazinduna, in Chief Khayisa Ndiweni's area. He capped his education career with a stint as a substantive Headmaster in Kezi before formally retiring from the education sector in 2010.

Comrade Basutu's almost unbroken trail in the education sector ran parallel to his activism in national politics and involvement in developmental activities in and around Mahongola but also around Matebeleland. He was secretary to the ZAPU Youth Wing and he played a leading role in working towards the integration of structures in districts and provinces when ZAPU was coerced into the "Unity Accord" with ZANU-PF in 1987.  There are numerous accounts of how he assisted in the resolution of problems between communities and government structures and facilitating development projects. He also was a behind-the-scenes worker in the welfare and resettlement of ex-combatants from the Zimbabwe People's Revolutionary Army (ZIPRA) and former ZAPU refugees. In 2011-2013 he devoted some time to working with the ZIPRA Veterans Trust to try and reconstruct the story of forgotten liberation war fighters from Chief Mathe's area.

Nathaniel Basutu never lost his ZAPU roots. In preparation for the ZAPU Congress in 2010 Basutu was nominated as one of the 9 members of the Provincial Council representing Matabeleland South in the National People's Council (NPC). NPC makes Policy decisions in between the congresses which are held every five years. Basutu's name was also forwarded for proportional representation at the Senatorial level. Those who worked with Basutu agree that he was not just a teacher but a peace builder who valued people, was diligent and worked for what is right. He did not just pay lip service but honored his promises. He stood for the truth without fear or favour. He will be really missed not only by his kith and kin but the entire ZAPU family.  
 
Mourners have been gathered and keeping vigil at Comrade Basutu's urban and rural homes: 3870 Gwabalanda in Bulawayo and in Mahongola, Gwanda  North. He is to be buried in Mahongola on 4 June 2014.