Kutama College - History

History

Founded prior to the Second World War by C.Ks, Kutama was one of the first institutions to offer high school education to students of African descent in colonial Rhodesia. Its Jesuit origins are reflected in its official name, St Francis Xavier College. The school is part of Kutama Mission, a Catholic mission originally run by Jesuits but now run by the Marist Brothers, a Catholic order devoted to educational work. The other Marist Brothers schools in Zimbabwe are Marist Brothers Dete, and Nyanga High School There was another multi-racial Marist School, Marist Brothers Que Que based in the then Que Que].

The school's first Headmaster was Father Jerome O'Hea, an Irish priest after whom the local mission hospital is named. Its most famous Headmaster was James Anthony ("Jachi") Chinamasa, a Kutama College old boy and elder brother of Zimbabwean Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa. The present headmaster is Br Bernard Chirombe, who served as deputy headmaster under Mr Stephen Muchenje who retired at the end of 2008. Mr Chinamasa was only came in 1990s. There were other notable Headmasters in the 70s such as Mr Marume who's deputy was Cuthbert Musiiwa a well-known writer in pre Zimbabwe era. This was the period when Kutama was producing very good results and the school staff included former politician Mr Tazvishaya father of the late Charles Tazvishaya (former school captain) and Thompson Tsodzo another notable Shona Novels writer. Charles Tazvishaya was personal private secretary to Prime Minister Mugabelater after independence.