Chief Kadungure Mapondera
He was arguably the last surviving gallant fighter of the First Chimurenga who waged a war of resistance against colonial occupation.
History records that he was born in Mazowe near Nyota Hills to VaBiri, the senior wife of Paramount Chief Gorejena Negomo and his birth is said to have been such a strenuous one that it needed the intervention of Mbuya Chahwe – the medium of the Nehanda spirit – who was also related to the Negomo family.
It was after Nehanda had made some offerings to the ancestors that the spirit of Chaminuka is said to have reincarnated as a ghost scaring away the spirit medium’s aides.
Nehanda was left alone in the Nyota Hills where she directly communicated with Chaminuka who prophesied that VaBiri will give birth to a baby boy who was to be famed as a great soldier.
When Nehanda descended the Nyota Hills, she was greeted by ululation from the women who had gathered around vaBiri’s hut after she gave birth to a baby boy who was immediately named Kadungure Mapondera Guvhute.
Indeed, Mapondera grew up to be a great soldier leading successful rebellions against white colonial rule. Mapondera was later arrested and tried in the then Salisbury in 1901 where he was accused of several crimes, including allegations that he wanted to wipe out the white community in the Mazowe area.
He was sentenced to seven years in prison, but died in 1907 in the arms of his wife who had visited him.
