Kutama College

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Classrooms and Administration Block of Kutama College, 1995.
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Classrooms and Administration Block of Kutama College, 1995.

Kutama College (officially St Francis Xavier College), is an all-boys high school located near the town of Norton in the Zvimba area, 80 kilometres southwest of the Zimbabwean capital Harare. Kutama has a student population of about 700 pupils, and is considered one of Africa's top 100 high schools. The school moto "Esse Quam Videri" is latin meaning "to be, rather than to seem". This is interpreted in the school as the more succint "be what you are", reflecting the school's aim to instill pride in its students. In addition to academic learning, students participate and compete in sports (including soccer, volleyball, basketball and table tennis), chess and (debating.

Like most high schools in Zimbabwe, which follow the traditional British school system, students at Kutama are divided into four houses. Each house has its own color: Champagnat (blue), Patrick (yellow), Chichester (red), and Michael (green). They are named after famous Marist Brothers, such as Marcellin Champagnat, the founder of the Marist movement.

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[edit] History

Founded prior to the Second World War by Jesuits, Kutama was one of the first institutions to offer high school education to students of African descent in then white-ruled Zimbabwe. 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 by the Marist Brothers, a Catholic order devoted to educational work.

Mr James A. Chinamasa, Kutama College Headmaster in the 1990s, with his wife.
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Mr James A. Chinamasa, Kutama College Headmaster in the 1990s, with his wife.

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 current headmaster is Mr Stephen Muchenje, who served as Senior Master (equivalent to "Deputy Headmaster") in the early 1990s.

[edit] Head boys

Year Head boy Deputy Head boy
1991 Gerald Chitsunge Rowland Mavhinyu
1992 Tyndale Banza Tarirai Rukara
1993 Terence Chikorowondo Rayton Kamhuka
1994 Tapfumaneyi Nyawanza Kumbiyani Chisoro
1995 Julius Tamangani Edward Chikwana
1996 Raphel Nyamayaro Tinashe Zinyama
1997 Arthur Katsvara Bruce Taruvinga
1998 Richard Chari Kassim Ussi
1999 Wellington Mugandani Morgan Gorerino
2000 Christoper Chikwenjere Tinashe Zinyemba
2001 Tawanda Rumhumha Saul Chitate
2002 Felix Muchemwa Dalinhlanhla Mhlanga
2003 Alton Mpungu Dzikamai Matara
2004 Tinotenda Mundangepfupfu Shingirai Mujaji
2005 Sabelo Saimano Desire Gijima
2006 Marshall Chimedza Tichaona

[edit] Kutama Old Boys Association

The Kutama Old Boys Association (KOBA) is one of the oldest 'old boys' associations in Zimbabwe, and actively invests in the continued growth and success of the school, as well as Zimbabwean society at large.

Kutama's most famous alumnus is Robert Mugabe, the president of Zimbabwe, who studied and taught there. Other alumni include author Alexander Kanengoni, freedom fighter James Chikerema and several ministers in the Zimbabwean government such as Ignatious Chombo. Kutama has also produced teachers, engineers, doctors, lawyers, chartered accountants, and businessmen. Rhodes Scholars from Kutama College include Tafadzwa Muguwe (2005). The young generation of KOBA continues to represent Kutama and help the school to deliver high quality education.

[edit] External links