The Sunday Mail
Petros Kausiyo and Tinashe Kusema
The man behind the myth, the legend!
IT’S quite easy to get lost in his feeble burial, the bitterness he had at the end and most importantly the achievements and legacy he leaves behind.
But, Artwell Mandaza was much more than just a record setting trendsetter who raced and came close to beating a horse.
He was a larger than life individual who touched the lives of all those he came across.
October 21, 2019 will forever be remembered as the day Zimbabwe lost one of its biggest sporting personalities.
That is the day Mandaza breathed his last at Howard Mission Hospital.
His burial two days later – while tragic due to the absence of the relevant Government authorities, the Sport and Recreation Commission and the Zimbabwe Olympic Committee –
was symbolic of the way he had lived.
Before Mandaza’s burial in Chiweshe’s scorching heat, family and church members as well as some of the athletes he either raced with or mentored, took turns to sing his praises.
His son Willard, protégé Marko Mambo and confidante Mirirai Chabenga, stood out as they offered more insight on the man that Mandaza was.
To them, Mandaza was also a father, role model, saviour and teacher.
Mandaza will forever be remembered as a pioneer for excellence in athletics. He shot to fame in the 1970s when he won several accolades.
He was the first black person to attain several athletic feats at a time when the white minority community was holding monopoly over the sport.
Mandaza is regarded as one of Zimbabwe’s greatest athletes of all time.
In 1970, it only took him a mere 9,90 seconds to complete a 100m dash.
He also held national records in the 100m race (10,3secs), 200m race (20,8secs) 400m race (46,8secs) and 400m hurdle (52,18secs).
That was from 1969 to 1976.
Said Willard, “Artwell Mandaza was a lot of things to a lot of people – friend, mentor, legend and role model – but to me he was just dad.”
“Unlike some of my siblings who were more athletic, I was a chubby kid with my own dalliances in rugby, but my father never held that against me.
“That said, sport was his passion. He spoke of it with such reverence. One thing I can say for sure is that he is one of the few lucky ones who found their passions and lived life to the fullest.
“As a father, he was absolutely amazing. One of the biggest lessons he gave us all is that we should find our own paths and passions and follow them.
“My fondest memories of him are not necessarily on the track, but our father to son heart to heart talks, nature walks and just seeing him together with my late mum.
“He loved his family, and while he was away most of the times either training, running, coaching or mentoring young athletes, we never lacked in his time or affection.
“Contrary to the rumours that he blew his earnings, sport did not really give him much in terms of riches. He just found a means to feed, educate us and generally take care of his family,” said the young Mandaza.
Willard appealed to the relevant authorities to consider putting up a statue so that it stands as athletics’ beacon of hope and prosperity.
‘I’m based in England now and it hurts to see people being honoured for far lesser achievements, while back home my father’s legacy dies.
Mambo and Chabenga also spoke about this great man.
Said Mambo, “To me, Artwell Mandaza will always be Mr Mandaza, such is the respect I had for that man. I even rushed over here (Mandaza homestead) and was one of the first people here when news of his passing reached me.
“I met him during the early days of my career in 1990. That was in Mhangura. He approached me and told me that he had seen my potential.
“He gave me a few tips on my high knee and arm swing action. Results showed almost instantly.
“His advice and counsel was free and eye-opening and I loved how he kept tabs on me and my races, often calling me up to tell me more on how I could improve,” he said.
Chabenga also spoke from the heart. “Artwell Mandaza was my confidante, a father figure and saviour. “I had just had what many believed to be a career-ending hamstring injury. Many thought that my career as a short distance runner was over.
“Artwell tracked me down. He invited me over to his house for rehabilitation.
“He took care of everything – housing, food, my rehab and training. That was the beginning of our father-son-mentorship relationship.
“A few years back, when I. . . was working in Zambia, he called him and asked me to come back home. He said we had some work to do.
“I quit my job and rushed back here, we began to plough back into Mashonaland Central and established my academy.
“During one of his final visits to my house, he told me that his days were numbered. He gave me all his literature, His final demands and wishes.
“He wants his name and work to be remembered. We even laid plans for the Artwell Mandaza half-marathon, which we hope to launch next year,” said Chabenga.
These sentiments were also echoed by the Mandaza family.
Seven-time Zimbabwe Referee of the Year Felix Tangawarima could not attend the funeral as he was in Gambia on CAF duty.
However, the revered football official feels Mandaza deserved more than he got, both during his life and in death.
“It is a very sad day for athletics and my thoughts are with his family.
“Like many others, l was inspired when Mandaza achieved so much success on the track as he was representing Zimbabwe. As I travel the length of the globe, l see portraits of many legendary sports personalities who have done a lot for their respective countries.
“The more I see such potraits, the more I think of my beloved country. It’s a shame that there is no real hall of fame for our own legends despite the fact that we have thousands of them,’’ Tangawarima said.
Tendai Tagara, the National Athletics Association of Zimbabwe president, is one of the athletics coaches that Mandaza mentored during his long career in the sport.
“NAAZ will remember him as a humble man who always wanted to upgrade others.
“I am his product. I was in the first IAAF course in 1993 when Mandaza was one of the lecturers. Only eight people out of 30 passed to Level 2, and I was one of those eight.
“Partson Muderedzi and I were the only ones who were not from Harare, the other six were from the capital.
“Mandaza directed that we all be appointed national event coaches.
“That’s when I was appointed national event coach responsible for jumps at the 1995 All-Africa Games.
Tagara recounted how Mandaza’s participation at an international event stirred controversy.
“Mandaza made the Rhodesians return home at the 1972 Olympics.
“A reporter asked him his name. He said, ‘I don’t know.’ He was asked where he had come from. Again he said he didn’t know. During training, two more journalists had the same questions and he gave them the same answer.
“But, then after reflecting, Mandaza decided to speak up. The next time a reporter approached him, he said, ‘I am Artwell Mandaza from Rhodesia’.
“All hell broke loose. It was announced that Rhodesia had illegally come to the Games and was supposed to be denied access.
“This, of course, angered the white Rhodesians and Mandaza was detained when he arrived home.
“But, Mandaza always stressed the need for patriotism. He would always say, ‘Be positive when you cross the border, our differences are for when we are back home,’’ Tagara said.
Former Warriors coach Charles Mhlauri also revealed that he drew a lot of inspiration from the late Mandaza.
“Artwell Mandaza is a real hero, my thoughts and prayers to his family. He ran a good race.
“The war of liberation was fought on so many fronts – in the bush, through music, sport, etcetera. Mandaza fought a good fight during some of our darkest hours. It was a time when we were fighting for our space, recognition and rights. People like Mandaza gave us hope.
“If we could compete and beat colonisers in a sport, that was a huge step towards regaining our rightful space on the globe. He gave every Zimbabwean a reason to celebrate. It is unfortunate that as he took his final journey, he was very far from the multitudes that idolised him.
“He was the epitome of our success as black people. Sport is the modern way of resolving conflicts, and to a greater extent, Mandaza did justice to that,’’ Mhlauri said.
Mandaza is said to have mentored a lot of top coaches who include Stanley Madhiri, who is now based in the United Kingdom; the sports couple Mr and Mrs Nyaundi; Marisa, who was in the police force; University of Zimbabwe’s Elijah Tapatapa; the Mutizwa brothers and the late Bernard Dzoma.
