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Bongani Ndlovu Saturday Leisure Correspondent
VETERAN educationist and cultural grouping Amangwe Zimbabwe Chapter chairman, Walter Njabulo Mbambo has died. He was 75. Mbambo, who will be buried today at Lady Stanley Cemetery, died at Mpilo Central Hospital in Bulawayo on Monday after a long battle with oesaphagal cancer.

The Amangwe clan in Zimbabwe, which originated in KwaZulu Natal, is spread across southern parts of Zimbabwe, Swaziland and South Africa. It has been separated from its kinsman for 180 years.

The Amangwe people comprise the Ndiweni, Mbambo and Zwane surnames. It is strongly believed that one of them, Cikose Ndiweni, was mother to King Mzilikazi, which was why King Mzilikazi appointed Ndiweni chiefs in his nation.

The cultural grouping decided to reunite with their kith and kin in 2012 thereby organising the visit of their King Ntshosho II from Entshenteka, KwaZulu Natal.

The King duly obliged and visited his subjects during the annual Amangwe clan cultural celebrations held at Chief Wasi’s homestead in the Macingwane area in Mangwe district Matabeleland South Province.

In an interview with Saturday Leisure yesterday, Amangwe Zimbabwean chapter spokesperson Nkosinathi Ndiweni said they had  lost a leader par excellence.

He said Mbambo was an inspiration to the clan and also the community he lived in.
“We have lost a visionary. We also lost a father and grandfatherly figure as a community and a clan,” said Ndiweni.

He said his legacy would not be forgotten and they would follow in his footsteps.
Mbambo was born on March 10, 1938 in Makokoba.

He did his primary education at Mzilikazi Primary School before proceeding to Empandeni Mission in Plumtree for his secondary education.

In 1960 Mbambo started his teaching career at Wankie, present day Hwange, before transferring to Magwegwe Primary School the same year.

Mbambo briefly left the teaching profession when he joined the Bulawayo City Council as a youth development officer at Inyathi Training Club in Mpopoma where he specialised in football training and music.

He returned to the teaching profession in 1972 at St Patrick’s in Makokoba where he retired in 2003.
During his long life, Mbambo was active in football as he was one of the founder members of Bulawayo Wanderers Football Club which was later renamed Eagles Football Club, where he served as the treasurer.

In the 70s Mbambo was part of a jazz group called Abaculi Besigodlweni that was popular during that time.
Mbambo also served in the Magwegwe North residents association and was the education secretary for ward 29 under the Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association.

He is survived by his wife Situtu and eight children.