The late businessman who was born in Shurugwi adopted Mutare as his home where he grew his business empire from humble beginnings. The famous English writer William Shakespeare once said, “Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them,” of which for the late Matangaidze, he had to achieve his greatness from the ground.

…Big send off for socialite, businessman Matangaidze

Ngoni Dapira

PROMINENT Manicaland based business mogul, Hlanganiso Tandiwe Matangaidze, was buried yesterday (Wednesday) at the Manicaland Provincial Heroes Acre in Mutare after overwhelmingly and  unanimously being endorsed for conferment as a provincial liberation war hero, the Zanu-PF Manicaland chairman and deputy Minister of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage, Cde Mike Madiro revealed yesterday during his remarks at the funeral service.

People from all walks of life swarmed Manicaland Provincial Heroes Acre to pay their last respects to the socialite and shrewd businessman who was better known as ‘Matan’ which was a shortcut for his surname, whilst those who were more close to him called him ‘Shumba’, which was his totem. The Manicaland business community and politicians from across the divide came in their numbers to see off the prominent socialite and businessman. To show how he was a true man of the people, it was not only the rich and powerful that were visible, but even some well-known vagabonds came to pay their last respects, speaking highly about how he used to assist the less privileged with monthly food hampers.

MDC Alliance Mutasa South legislator Regai Tsunga (suit) with his younger brother Arnold (behind) and other local socialites from various professions chat during the funeral service yesterday.

The deceased Matangaidze who was 55-years old, passed away on admission at Murambi Gardens Hospital in Mutare last Saturday around 9am, after he succumbed a long illness from renal failure and chronic diabetes.

“Shortly after the news of his death came to our attention, I received many calls that immediately pressed for him (Matangaidze) to be conferred a provincial liberation hero status. This hero status is not because he was my friend, but as we all are hearing today, it is because of his tremendous works not only in business but socially as a generous giver to the needy in our community,” said the Mutare North legislator Cde Madiro during his remarks at the service.

The guest of honour, the Minister of State for Manicaland Provincial Affairs Dr Ellen Gwaradzimba said the late Matangaidze lived a full life and leaves behind a legacy of philanthropy that will be hard to fill-up. She said the late had extraordinarily steered economic development in Manicaland post independence, which was considered as the second liberation war that Zanu-PF has been and is still fighting for it to truly emancipate its majority indigenous populace.

“Matan did not fight in the liberation war as most of our gallant liberation war heroes laid here, but he boldly served his country as a foot soldier post independence to fight the second liberation war of economic independence and empowerment of our indigenous populace…He had a correct orientation of patriotism for his country and he steered economic development in Manicaland as a true son of the soil…He was also an active member of Zanu-PF and was part of both the provincial as well as national Zanu-PF party Fundraising Committee,” said Minister Gwaradzimba.

The late businessman who was born in Shurugwi adopted Mutare as his home where he grew his business empire from humble beginnings. The famous English writer William Shakespeare once said, “Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them,” of which for the late Matangaidze, he had to achieve his greatness from the ground.

Flashback: The late Hlanganiso Matangaidze (second from left) during his tenure as ZNCC national president in 2014, with members from the Chamber Trade Sweden (CTS) along with ZNCC past president, Divine Ndhlukula (extreme left) and former Minister of Industry and Commerce Dr Mike Bimha (centre).

The late Matangaidze beyond doubt lived his American dream. When he first came to Mutare in 1985, he was not into business but a mere ambitious youth that had just been employed as an assistant manager at the Bank of Credit and Commerce (BCC) now known as the Commercial Bank of Zimbabwe (CBZ). Before that Matangaidze who held a BA Honours Degree in Economic History from the University of Zimbabwe as well as a diploma from the Zimbabwe Institute of Bankers had first worked at the National Archives in Harare and later as a committee clerk at the Parliament of Zimbabwe.

However, it was his experience from BCC where he worked for over seven years and rose from assistant bank manager to bank manager that became his formative years and paved way for his destiny in the business world. He was also credited to have championed the black empowerment cause by government in the early 1990s as he facilitated loans which capitalised several indigenous entrepreneurs in Manicaland. In 1994 he started his own business when he founded Matan Holdings which started off with Matan Trucking. From there up to the time of his death, his entrepreneurial shrewdness saw him grow many enterprises comprising of Green Valley Farm which produces wine, Wise Owl Hotel, Pillaton Construction among many other venture subsidiaries in the entertainment and mining sector.

Up-to-date he remains a pacesetter as he remains the only Manicaland based businessman that won the Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce national Businessman of the Year award in 2006, and he is the only Manicaland based businessman that has served as the national ZNCC president in 2014. Socially, in his past-time Matangaidze was also an avid football lover. He served as chairman of Buffaloes Football Club from 2012 to 2015 where the then secretary general who is now the current chairman, Tendai Chitowa spoke highly about his pivotal role towards assisting the team financially and morally to survive some tough times during its stint in the premier soccer league.

Tapiwa Matangaidze (with flower), the young brother of the late paying his last respects.

The family spokesperson, the younger brother to the late, Tapiwa Matangaidze said as a family they were humbled by the provincial hero status conferred to their late brother.

“Born in a family of seven comprising of five girls and two boys Matan was number six and I was the last born. He was however always considered the champion of our family, our hero, and as the Matangaidze family we are today greatly humbled that the province of Manicaland and Zanu-PF party has honoured our brother by bestowing him the provincial liberation war hero status,” he said.

Many of his business colleagues said Manicaland had lost a ‘unifier’ that united the local business community. “We all share many memorable experiences at his Wise Owl Hotel. He always wanted to unite us to work together towards developing our province as Manicaland based businesspeople. We have lost a true statesman and a unifier that had developed genuine love for Manicaland,” said businessman and colleague Didymus Matongo, during a meeting held on Sunday by the Manicaland Business Forum, in honour of their departed member.

The late Matangaidze is survived by his wife Vongai and son Mudiwa.