When Robert Mugabe left Ghana for his country Zimbabwe in the early 60s, his main ambition was to save his people from the maltreatment suffered under white settlers.
This was the message he left for his students and colleagues at St Mary’s Training College, now St. Mary’s Senior High School in Takoradi, Ghana, where he taught English language between 1958 and 1960 before he departed from Ghana.
Mugabe succeeded in gaining independence for his country and ruled for almost four decades until he was forced to resign as the Zimbabwe’s president on Tuesday, November 21, 2017 at age 93.
Mr. Kwaw Nzulu who was taught by Mugabe at St Mary’s Training College recounted the zeal the former Zimbabwean leader had when he decided to return to his country.
Mr. Nzulu recalled on Onua FM’s Ghana Dadwene on Tuesday that former President Mugabe narrated how Zimbabweans were cowed into submission by the oppressive hands of the whites.
“Due to the white suppression in Zimbabwe, he was timid when he came here, especially when he sees the whites teaching us. He did not want to go closer to them. He was calm and always wanted to be with students,” he said in the Akan language.
Mr. Nzula who later became the headmaster in his former school said, “we took him round town for tour and when he sees the whites and blacks walking and doing things together, he was shocked and as asked, is that what is going on here? He was surprised we mixed with the whites”.
Mr. Nzulu however recalled that Mr. Mugabe was “strict as a teacher. He was an English teacher and had a very simple way of teaching. He ensured that we understood English and he made sure we read. We read six books a term”.
“He was around 33-years when his contract with the school ended and he told us he was going to fight for freedom of Zimbabwe…because of the way they suffered, he wanted to use that same means to punish the whites”.
The Mugabe’s student, who is now 74 years said the former president felt “the whites punished them so they will also punish them.
“When he went to Zimbabwe, he sent a delegation to us in the school and we sent him a parcel”.
By Kweku Antwi-Otoo|Onua 95.1FM|3news.com|Ghana