Ngoni Dapira

IT was an emotional night of embracing comradeship and pub traditions on Wednesday at Mutare Sports Club (MSC) during the farewell party for its astute chairman Tinashe Takaidza.

Takaidza who used to work at the christian based private voluntary non-governmental organisation Family AIDS Caring Trust (FACT) Zimbabwe is migrating to Malawi where he is set to start a new job in August. Officiating the event, the Minister of State for Manicaland Provincial Affairs and Devolution Honourable Advocate Misheck Mugadza said one of the pedestals of a good recreational club is grooming career people and business networks that feed into the developmental matrix of cities and the nation. He said Zimbabwe is producing learned and well groomed people that are contributing to the growth of Africa, urging Takaidza to represent well the country in Malawi and open networks for others there.

Minister Mugadza greeting one of the club members Joseph Mavu at the farewell party.

“As a club we are grooming our members. In fact, this club is just like Zanu-PF (laughs). If we were in Zanu-PF, Tinashe rose from the cell to the politburo. The club and Manicaland in general is poorer without you but we celebrate your career growth and wish you well in Malawi. We have been robbed of an asset but we will not be sad because he is advancing his career and wish him well. We know he will always be a part of this club no matter where he goes,” said Minister Mugadza who is also one of three trustees at the club since 2019, the highest level at the club. The other trustees are Pension Mandimutsira and Dr Elton Muusha. Minister Mugadza also previously served as the club’s president for five years from 2014-2019.

MSC vice chairman Justin Kwembeya said Takaidza started to serve as a committee member in 2019 up to 2021 then became the vice chairman in 2022 and eventually chairman in 2023 and 2024. The committee serves for one year.

“He was dedicated in developing the club and we want to assure him that we will continue with that spirit as a committee. The next time that he comes he will see improvements here,” said Kwembeya.

Club members enjoying a meal together.

Rangarirayi Mubata  a member at the club said Takaidza is family and echoed the same sentiments that the club has groomed many members who are now working abroad but are still a part of the club through their Whats App group and membership subscriptions.

“Our club is grooming members for better things. We now have the likes of Murisi, Caleb Mashaah and Brian Kutiwa who are now all out of the country, and we have even groomed our resident Minister Mugadza who is now at the helm of the provincial office (laughs), so this is a good sign that we are mentoring each other for better things. The good works that he (Takaidza) has done for the club speak well for themselves. Most of us at some point left to be members at Hillside, but we came back here because this is where our heart is,” said Mubata.

A group photo to cap a good night.

Takaidza said the love shown by the club members is overwhelming. “I came from Midlands as a young man but I’ve worked in Mutare all my life so this is home for me. I had no plans to leave, but it was only two months ago that I got this job offer in Malawi and decided to take it up. But I really want to thank you for this farewell and really appreciate that our resident Minister (Hon Advocate Minister Mugadza) took time from his busy schedule to officiate this farewell. I am really overwhelmed by this kind gesture and love,” said Takaidza.

Edwin Mapfumo another club member said he met Takaidza at the club but as they got to know each other more they later realized they were related through their totems. “Ever since then we became very close and our families were united. He is a solid character that gives it his best to help others whenever he commits to help. I wish him well,” said Mapfumo.

Mandimutsira said it is the responsibility of trustees and the executive committee members to uphold the traditions of the club for posterity.

Members toasting mixed beer from the five litre mug as a pub tradition.

As a tradition club members contributed to buy various types of beer which were mixed in a five litres mug.

“We do this on birthdays for members, club achievements and strides, end of year celebrations and when rugby or any sporting discipline at the club wins. As a club we do not just promote drinking but bond together and take pride in our pub traditions that give us a sense of belonging and pride as well as solidarity,” said Mandimutsira.

The club committee currently comprises of chairman – Tinashe Takaidza, vice chairman – Justin Kwembeya, secretary – Nick Muparutsa, treasurer – Fungai Makoni and committee members Sithabile Jimu, Tawanda Kanengoni and Kudzai Makoni.