Marumahoko Hotel: End of an era

By Hon Eng. Leslie Mhangwa (M.P. Chinhoyi) 

FARE the well Marumahoko Hotel (now demolished structure at Chinhoyi Main Rank under reconstruction)...As muzukuru mwana wehanzvadzi I will pen a tribute to Willie Ben Dube Marumahoko—the entrepreneur behind the hotel that served the African population for 60 years!!!

I heard a few days ago that officially the Marumahokos have left the property that was owned by the Shambares but due to the agreement their patriarch had entered into with WBD Marumahoko, an entrepreneur who had gone to WENELA and came back with a camera... Worked as a cameraman in his native Mhangula  then Old Location had turned into an entrepreneur in the late 50s early 60s and spreading his wings beyond photography which he did with Zimbabwe Photographic Studio in town...

He rented a place briefly at his muzukuru's husband premises - Chigangaidze before Mr Shambare courted him and convinced him to bring his Machikichori Restaurant to his two bed hotel and take over running the place.

The agreement had a clause that allowed WBD to develop and on vacating Shambare would simply build an equivalent to the developments...From 1965/6 thereabout Marumahoko name became synonymous with accommodation. Coupled with his political activism all big names in Rhodesian black politics slept in that hotel!!!

The name grew from leaps and bounds and this great principled businessman would be known for his no nonsense approach to lowering morals. He would even deny accommodation if he suspected the lady you are booking with is not your wife. He would chase you away for any uncouth behaviour while playing "FLIPPER" OR SLUG.. 

He invested a lot of his own resources to the betterment of Chinhoyi and the liberation of Zimbabwe. Together with TK Ranger they ran the Sinoia Underground Movement.. He would sponsor many guerrillas children's fees in addition to using his ganda-ganda to ferry guerrillas for training across the Sipolilo Border. 

He was a long time Detainees Chairperson despite not being a Zanu party member for most of his life!! Upon the land reform as recognition for his contribution to the struggle he was offered a farm in his ancestral lands.

I learnt a lot from Sekuru and yesterday I shed a tear not because I did not like the deal but because the hotel carries so much memories including my father getting to meet my mother in 1968 while she worked at her brother's hotel. Even in the early days of my political mobilizing I used the same premises and it carried a lot of weight as it reminded me of the old man and his emphasis that politics should not be about money but about serving. It exhorted me to remember that a good name is very important!!!

The rare moments that I got left at the counter by sekuru came with a lot of trepidation because he was a perfectionist. Only three vazukuru were on the trusted list- mukoma Lloyd, Ray and mhamha Pelagia Marumahoko Mafemera. I came close to these three with Deloris but the rest were not trusted. A hopeless traditionalist who was imposing on his beliefs and ways.

He once slapped me mumunda for talking too much and being distracted "ndichikanda beans dzakawanda mugomba." He warned me saying.. "very soon ndichakurova." Before he ended the statement, I had been clapped.

I vividly remember at UNi in first year when I ran away from the demonstration after I had been beaten a few days earlier by the black boots and went to sekuru to narrate my experience hoping for sympathy only for him to castigate me for not staying to be in solidarity with others.

I remember how he would force even customers kuombera vachivamhoresa and asking us kuti maoko akatsva here kana tisina kuombera. I remember him always saying unonotinyadzisa kwaunoroora.

Though a very strict father, he was big in love. At any given time both his town and rural residences had more than 10 occupants in the form of extended family. He was a glue that kept the Marumahoko and even his maternal family the Musiyamhanjes together. His giant feet are too big to fill for my cousins and I pray this episode brings them to introspect and be each other's keeper

Chinhoyi should immortalise such luminaries!!!! He passed on a decade ago but this new takeover feels like sekuru dying the second time!!!! Congrats to the entrepreneurs for bringing new breath of fresh air and the deal came after prolonged court battles. I am happy for Chinhoyi and saddened at the same time for the legacy of my sekuru!!!! -  NewsAnchor 2026