By John Masuku
Mushandirapamwe Hotel (kwaMushandz) was built in 1972 by a very prominent yester-year millionaire businessman Mr George Chirume Tawengwa (vaMatemai) born 6 March,1915 in Goromonzi. He worked with late showbiz and insurance guru Paul Tangi Mhova Mkondo.
Young George footed from Wedza to Harare in search of security and green pastures after a fallout with his father when he reportedly picked a piece of meat ahead of him during a meal.
He was father of two former Harare Mayors, ex-Hon Solomon Tawengwa and ex-Senator Charles Tawengwa. Solomon sold his Old Highfield house to former ZAPU leader Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo.Tawengwa’s many other sons also became successful entrepreneurs and farmers.
Tawengwa had seven wives who bore twenty children, having himself come from a very uncomfortable polygamous family background.
Mr George Tawengwa owned a fleet of about 150 buses, Mushandirapamwe Bus Service as well as retail businesses in Harare and Marondera.
In 1960 Tawengwa, a former goats/sheep sherpherd, hotel dishwasher, waiter, carpenter and hawker was the first black person to purchase a 1,872.90 hectare farm, Zimdale of Marandellas (Marondera) from a white farmer during the colonial era.Later, in the 1970s he bought five more commercial farms for cash around Wedza.
Room No. 30 at Mushandirapamwe Hotel was used by former President Robert Gabriel Mugabe for secret political meetings after 10 years detention.His plans to cross into Mozambique with former Secretary General Edgar Tekere to lead ZANU after Chairman Herbert Chitepo’s assassination in Lusaka,Zambia were hatched there.
Room No 31 was used by former Zimbabwe Defence forces commander General Solomon Tapfumaneyi Mujuru, aka Rex Nhongo when he returned from the liberation bush war as Zanla commander and was arranging Mugabe’s homecoming star rally at nearby Zimbabwe Grounds.
Ex-broadcaster and politician Webster Shamu advertised Mushandirapwe Hotel on the RBC African Service (Radio Zimbabwe) every Friday evening in the early 1970s before he left to join the liberation war. His signature tune was from parts of “Shambala” by Three Dog Night.
Legendary musicians like Elisha Josamu and New Tutenkamen of Joburg Bound and Itayi Centi Centi fame, Pied Pipers who sang Country Boy and Reggae Sounds of Africa, James Chimombe who hit the airwaves with Bindura and Cecilia, Oliver Mtukudzi among others played at ‘Mushandzs’. Kenneth Chogugudza and Jack Sadza aka ‘Jerry’ promoted most of the musicians.
Popular South African Smanje Manje and Mbaqanga groups like Izintombi ZesiManje Manje, Soul Brothers- with stylish organist Solly Rametsi, saxophonists Hosea Mashupye and Reggie Msomi,The Hurricanes (Say It, Rainmaker) among others stayed at Mushandirapamwe Hotel during their regular regional tours.
Mr George Tawengwa died on April 13,1982 aged 67 years and left a very rich legacy of go-getting, hardworking, perseverance and being focussed for future generations.
Courtesy: JM Archives
