The story of a Historian Orator and Author: Mr Muso

By Brian Maregedze

The Zimbabwe’s New Curriculum under the ministry of primary and secondary education has witnessed the emergence of new names in textbooks authorship. Manners Msongelwa popularly known as Mr Muso recently joined this breed of emerging authors in Historical studies for secondary school learners. Mr Muso co-authored a form 3 textbook, New Trends in History with other writers, namely; Constain Tandi and Phylis Mutasa published by Edulight Publishers.

The pedagogue of History from primary to tertiary level remains an indispensable facet in our everyday life not only in Zimbabwe, but, the world over. To some, history as a subject is pursued for the acquisition of knowledge(s) in a way to uphold the heritage of a people. Four years ago at a High school Seminar organized by Advocate Arthur Marara in Harare, l met with the Historian Orator and author, Manners Msongelwa a.k.a Mr Muso. With Mr Muso, the learning of History is not only for fulfilling public examinations demands but for everyday living and sharing of long lasting memories.

It is no wonder in his social media circles, Mr Muso offers reading material whenever possible and yes, as a teacher by heart, he also belongs to the pioneers of the History Teachers Association. Mr Muso is currently the president of History Teachers Association of Zimbabwe. An interesting dimension added to his work ethic is that of inspiring his students with a strong moral ethic as a foundation to excel in all academic and life endeavors. It is on this accord that it is paramount to pay a tribute to his contribution. Moreover, it is imperative to acknowledge his genuine intellectual role in building a primary source of understanding our past, reclaiming its significance in the present to map the future. 

We are living in a swiftly transfiguring world such that emphasis on historical teaching seems in some circles to be trivialized. During the first generation of Zimbabwe’s independence, the learning of history has undergone various transformations. The major being the introduction of the New Curriculum as per recommendations from the Nziramasanga Commission which sought to ground the education system in 

Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKSs). The Hillside trained teacher, Mr Muso made an inspiring initiative two year ago from which learning of history goes beyond the vicinity of school yard. The pedagogue of history has been made easy since Mr Muso created History audios and video learning material covering a miscellany of both African History and Regional and International Affairs topical issues. The audios and video learning material are also affordable such that everyone interested in learning History can buy and access them without any obstacle countrywide. This is in sync with global trends in embracing information communication technologies (ICTs) in the education sector. With Coronavirus (Covid-19) impacting negatively on the normal operations of the education system, its high time efforts are made to accelerate usage of ICTs as much as possible. This however, may be a privilege inaccessible to many learners who don’t have access to electricity and e-learning gadgets.

More interesting is how Mr Muso has revived the ‘Von Rankian’ Seminar approach to the learning of History at high school in a way that he has become the Historian Orator of the New Curriculum. Based on high school History Seminars I have since attended with Mr Muso as the Host Speaker, it is undeniable that his indefatigable oratory skill and engaging energetic stance distinguishes him to stand among the best speakers that learners enjoy having around. With his reverberating tone when delivering lessons, testimonies of students on his credence aloft.

The new history textbooks are well engaging with ICT activities allowing learners to explore more on the topics studied. Cross cutting themes including human rights, gender among others are dealt with. However, the illustrations of book covers are androcentric in representation. Given the positive contributions in historical studies on gender dynamics in Zimbabwe, it's advisable for Edulight publishers to rethink such an important overlooked aspects. This is so, given the androcentric illustrations on book covers, Book 1, book 2 and book 3 with Constrain Tandi contributing to the books. Historiographical trends complementing social history representation is therefore vital.

For information, I encourage History teachers and students, as well as those with passion for History as a subject to Call/App +263 717 453 073 or +263 717 453 080. Web: www.study.co.zw or email; info@learningfactory.co.zw

Brian Maregedze is an author, historian and columnist. Author of; A Guide to Sources of African History: For Advanced Level Examination Candidates, 2018. https://www.amazon.com/Guide-Sources-African-History-Examination/dp/1985640600,  Link to the e-book. Researcher with Leaders for Africa Network (LAN), a Pan African think tank. Membership with Zimbabwe Historical Association [ZHA]. Comments, email; bmaregedze@gmail.com

Medicine and religion at war: Covid-19 and [re]emerging narratives in Zimbabwe

By Brian Maregedze

As a student of History, I have been following various narratives on the novel Corona virus (Covid-19) and the various conflicting narratives in explaining the disease and the best possible responses to take. Covid-19 broke out in December last year in the Wuhan of China. Pandemics are the natural domain of medical practitioners. However, religious voices have been clamouring for space to offer explanations, sometimes contradicting scientists and health experts. Preventive such as social distancing sometimes take a back seat to theories bordering on the conspiratorial.

Based on medical research on the disease, Corona virus belongs to a large family of viruses which may cause illness in humans and animals. These cause respiratory infections ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases including Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). Remarkably, the new virus was known before the outbreak began in Wuhan late last year but a potential discussion around it was muzzled by the state. The source of Covid-19 has not been definitely established though it has been linked to the wet market of Wuhan.

Religious leaders have tried to keep up with the novelty. United Family International Church (UFIC) leader Emmanuel Makandiwa claims to have predicted a disease that will come out of the sea. Other religious voices like Mambo Dhuterere are making headlines for blasting fake prophets amid the global fight against the pandemic (Daily News, 28 March 2020). The gospel musician and preacher made this reference in light of failure by self-styled prophets to predict the pandemic in their December 2019 cross-over services. Although Mambo Dhuterere was cautious on pointing out that there are some true prophets, he received much criticisms from those who didn’t agree with him.

Zimbabwe has many self-claimed prophets and I don’t seek to pay much attention to whether they’re true or false. Efforts to prove that some among Zimbabwe prophets forewarned on this pandemic way before it made headlines have been replayed in social media networks. Emmanuel Makandiwa indeed attracted both local and international media spaces. To the ardent followers of UFIC, this has been a moment of serving under a genuine prophet of God. The celebratory messages and confessions circulated on social media spaces, Facebook, Twitter and WhatsApp, sometimes Instagram. The Sunday Mail, a leading state-controlled weekly made such a report, attracting much criticism from those whom I shall call rationalists (The Sunday Mail, 22 March 2020). Rationalists in the sense that they are critical of Pentecostal prophets and critical of religion in general. 

On the other hand, the apocalyptic flock argues that these are the last days that were predicted in the Bible. Sylvia Browne and Lindsay Harrison’s End of Days: Predictions and Prophecies about the End of the World (2008) took another space with some pages of its contents circulating on social media. In the book, it’s noted that, “in around 2020, a severe pneumonia-like illness will spread throughout the globe, attacking the lungs and the bronchial tubes and resisting all known treatments.” Also noted in the same book is that, “almost more baffling than the illness itself will be the fact that it will suddenly vanish as quickly as it arrived, attack again ten years later, and then disappear completely.” This is a publication which has resurfaced after having been written twelve years ago. Unfortunately, Sylvia Browne died in 2013 without having to witness her work making another influence it never had over a decade ago. A fact checking website, Snopes.com noted that the SARS virus had occurred a few years back before she published the book and this could have inspired the book.

Equally much talked about is the Seventh Day Adventist Ellen G. White with believers in this cause arguing that the outbreak of the pandemic has been an open secret for a long time and there is no need to panic.

What I have grasped as falling under medicinal aspects relates to responses and perceptions associated with Covid-19 as they are represented in media narratives.  The aspect of vaccines attracted a lot of social media conspiracy theories. It is, however, not new in Africa to find indigenous people being critical of western medicine. According to a report in the Fact & Fiction section of The Standard, some of the issues that have generated a lot of attention to the point of creating confusion among readers tie together Makandiwa, Bill Gates, vaccines and microchips. This followed Makandiwa’s sermon on 5 April, arguing that there is a plan to inject electronic implants into people under the guise of Covid-19 vaccinations. The electronic implants were claimed to be carried out by the Microsoft founder Bill Gates through his Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. This was however debunked by the World Health Organisation as falsehood. Added to that, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation argued that the reference to ‘digital certificates’ was to create an open source digital platform with a goal of expanding access safe, home-based testing and, as such, no implants are involved.

Notably, Zimbabwe’s minister of defense and war veterans, Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri made international headlines for claiming that the Covid-19 was unleashed by God to deal with western countries for imposing sanctions on Zimbabwe. The Zimbabwe minister was quoted saying, “Corona virus is the work of God punishing countries that imposed sanctions on us. They are now keeping indoors. Their economies are screaming just like they did to ours. Trump should know he is not God.” Along the same lines, Buhera South legislator Joseph Chinotimba argued that the Corona virus was sent by God to cleanse the world.

Important lessons from the above circumstances are indicative of how under pandemics, humanity has a crisis of faith and a crisis of comprehension. Crisis of comprehension involves lack of understanding, or inability to grasp, a certain phenomenon or experience. Medicine and religion are at loggerheads.

For feedback e-mail: bmaregedze@gmail.com