Story by Owen Mandovha
PROFESSOR Herbert Mapfumo Chinyanga (87), has been declared a National Hero in recognition of his outstanding contribution to Zimbabwe’s medical sector.
The conferment of National Hero status was announced at the family’s home in Greendale, Harare, on Sunday by ZANU PF Secretary for Health, Dr Douglas Mombeshora.
Dr Mombeshora said President Dr Emmerson Mnangagwa had recognised Professor Chinyanga’s distinguished service as the country’s first black anaesthetist.
“On behalf of the First Secretary of the ruling ZANU PF party and President of the Republic, Professor Chinyanga has been declared a National Hero for his outstanding contribution to the country’s medical field. The recognition bestowed on him truly shows the type of work he did for the development of the country.”
Family representative Archbald Chinyanga said the honour reflected the late professor’s lasting contribution to medicine.
“We are humbled by this recognition of National Hero status as he was instrumental in developing the medical field of anaesthetics in Zimbabwe, but as a family he left a void.”
Colleagues and former students described Professor Chinyanga as the Father of Anaesthesia in Zimbabwe, crediting him with helping establish the Department of Anaesthesia at the National University of Science and Technology (NUST) and the School of Medicine at Midlands State University.
Former student and anaesthetist Dr John Bgoya paid tribute to his commitment to teaching and research.
“As a Tanzanian expat, I was one of his earliest students in the 80s and he left a mark on the medical fraternity as a dedicated researcher and scholar who came back from Canada, where he was practising, to contribute to the development of the medical field.”
President of the Zimbabwe Anaesthetic Association, Dr Musvo Mapfanyangira, said: “As a young generation of anaesthetists, we all owe it to Professor Chinyanga for pioneering the field to be one of the best in Africa.”
Zimbabwe Medical Association president, Dr Kudzai Masinire described Professor Chinyanga as the doyen of anaesthesia in Zimbabwe.
“We considered him the doyen of anaesthesia in Zimbabwe for his sterling work in developing anaesthesia in Zimbabwe.”
Burial arrangements will be announced in due course.
