Highfield, Harare - Political History

Political History

It is impossible to separate Highfield and its history from the Zimbabwean second war of liberation also known as the Second Chimurenga, also see Chimurenga and the Bush war. This is because Highfield is the birthplace of the Zimbabwe African National Union party now ZANU PFa party led by the now infamous Robert Gabriel Mugabe the president of Zimbabwe. Indeed the suburb did host some of most influential players who ochestrated the war to end minority white settler rule in Zimbabwe. These include The Reverend Ndabaningi Sithole the first president of ZANU, Joshua Nkomo president of ZAPU, Herbert Chitepo first black lawyer in Zimbabwe, the current Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe the first secretary General, Maurice Nyagumbo, Leopold Takawira, Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa, Michael Mawema and others. Takawira a teacher by profession became the first vice president of ZANU, had taught at and later became the headmaster of Chipembere primary school in Highfield before joining ZANU; Tatenda Taibu attended this school.

Robert Mugabe's house can still be seen in Old Highfield, where it stands, riddled with bullet holes. Mugabe remains a constituent member of Old Highfield and has always cast his vote at Mhofu primary school, a walking distance from his previous residence.

Highfield suburb was considered a security risk by the Rhodesian colonial government such that it was surrounded by a security fence, (A fact quoted by Robert Mugabe during his speech in March 2007 to warn and remind the Opposition MDC party, that he was a hardened man and no push over because of imprisonment and how he had endured and overcome Restriction within a fence "like a goat.") During this time, all residents moving in and out of the area were branded and needed to produce papers stating their business in and out of the area. The bombing of the fuel storage tanks in Workington by Zimbabwean freedom fighters in 1979 was ochestrated in, and launched from Highfield. This incident together with the flagging support from South Africa is widely considered as one of the immediate factors that forced the Rhodesian Minority government to the negotiating table and led to the Lancaster House Agreement that brought democracy and majority rule to Zimbabwe.

Robert Mugabe and his ZANU party held his 'star rally' campaign for the first democratic elections in Rhodesia at the Zimbabwe grounds in Highfield. This is where he made his famous speech of how ZANU was organised into districts, cells, ..... and that it was inevitable that he would win by a significant majority in the impending elections. The Zimbabwe Grounds comprise 5 football pitches, a cricket ground, tennis and basketball courts. The grounds are surrounded by Old Highfield section on the greater part and share borders with Takashinga cricket ground (home ground to Andy Flower and Tatenda Taibu), Zimbabwe Hall, Highfield Library, a Nursery School, Anglican Church and Chipembere primary school Annexe. The grounds are within a stone throw from Gwanzura football stadium.

Security forces clashed with opposition party members and church members at the Zimbabwe grounds during a 'peaceful' meeting on 11 March 2007 that was meant to "bring back democracy to Zimbabwe". "It seems therefore that Highfield, and indeed the Zimbabwe grounds remain the launchpads for political and democratic change in Zimbabwe." This might explain why the Zimbabwean Government was so heavy handed in dealing with those brave enough to have attended the meeting. These clashes resulted in the fatal shooting of Gift Tandare, a member of the Movement for Democratic Change (a party led by Morgan Tsvangirai Morgan Tsvangirai major faction/ and Arthur Mutambara minor faction). The family were apparently denied permission to bury him in Harare because the government feared reprisals from the MDC supporters. Gift Tandare was buried in his rural home and "he stands a good chance to down in Zimbabwean history as a national hero."

Again in November 2007 Mugabe held a rally at the Zimbabwe Grounds which he termed the "Million Man March".

Highfield boasts some of the best social amenities in country with 11 government owned primary schools and 6 High schools.It has other private schools(colleges) offering mostly secondary school education and post school courses, the most common being computers, secretarial, cut and designing etc.