T S MATABELE
There is a
special link with Rotary, and in particular the
Rotary Club of Belmont. T S Matabele presented
the club with its bell, 25 years ago, and
Belmont, has consistently helped the Cadets in
many of their projects.
ZIMBABWE SEA CADET CORPS
BRIEF HISTORY
T
S Matabele was launched on Trafalgar Day, 21st.
October 1953. At that time, the Government had introduced a
system of compulsory Army Cadet Training at senior schools
in, then, Southern Rhodesia. Due to the efforts of a number
of retired British Naval Officers, resident in Bulawayo, it
was decided to try to establish a naval presence in the
Cadet Corps, and with Government permission, Training Ship
Matabele was set up, and based at the local military
barracks. Because it was not attached to any specific
school, it attracted those boys who were particularly
interested in the Navy, and also a nucleus of boys resident
at St. Joseph’s House, a Home for Boys. These boys went to
different schools, but if they belonged to T S Matabele, the
Principal was enabled to take them to one venue for their
training. This training was undertaken by the retired naval
personnel themselves, assisted by Army instructors for drill
and weapons training. The uniforms were obtained by
Government from Britain, and issued free of charge, and the
instructors, including outside volunteers, were paid a small
allowance.
All
of this ended in the early 1960’s when the Government was no
longer able to finance Cadets, and the Cadet movement
generally was disbanded. However, such was the enthusiasm
that T S Matabele decided to “go it alone”, and so continued
its activities as a voluntary organisation. Its Headquarters
was provided at the aforementioned St. Joseph’s House, and
the basement was dedicated to the Unit. Meanwhile, a similar
system had occurred in Harare (then Salisbury), but sadly,
due to lack of motivation and suitable volunteers, the Unit
closed down some twenty years ago, and has never been
re-started.
Under various C O’s, the
Unit survived and even grew. It remained well disciplined
and smart, but at one stage became reduced to only a few
boys, and nearly folded up. However, with the boys of the
Home forming a nucleus, and the enthusiasm of the Principal
and the then current CO, things improved, and numbers
increased.
The Unit then managed to
acquire a sailing headquarters at the Sailing Club at
Matopos Dam, about 25Kms. outside the city, where some boats
were launched. This did not last however, as due to the
security problems extant at that time. Facilities were then
made available at another Yacht Club at Upper Umgusa Dam and
a sailing HQ was set up there. An old “terrapin” house was
found, which folds up like a suitcase and weighs about 8
tons, and was moved out to form the H Q building. More
material was then obtained to build a “Nissan” or “Quonset”
hut as the boat-house. Electricity was connected, and the
Club provided water and toilet facilities. The Unit is still
based there for water activities. The Yacht Club as such has
folded up and the area is now run as a private recreation
centre. The Cadets help some weekends in running boats to
take people rides on the Dam.
The facilities at the Boys
Home came to an end seven years ago, as the Home closed down
and the Unit had to move out. A small piece of land was
found within a Municipal basketball court area in the centre
of town. The Municipality and the Highlanders Basketball
Club were generous enough to permit the sharing of the
facility with them to use as parade headquarters, and to
erect a small building. This was done, getting all the
building materials donated from many wonderful people and
firms, and not only in Bulawayo. The result was a concrete
under timber Club House, as a town Headquarters, which was a
14 metres long and about 5 metres wide. Electricity
connected, carpet on the deck, and air-conditioning; built
by the Cadets with their own hands. Regrettably, they have
since been rather unpleasantly evicted and have now built a
new Headquarters on another piece of land, arranged again
through the generosity of the Municipality. It has been a
very big project with much expense, but somehow, with
wonderful; generosity and help, the building is now
complete. The Cadets are established in their new home, and
it is without doubt the best Headquarters that any Unit
could wish for
The running of the Unit is
gradually being taken over by the senior Cadets themselves,
and they are responsible
now for training, camps and uniform issue, and equipment.
Cadets start with T S Matabele at 13½ to 14 years (entrance
to senior school), and they can remain as long as they like.
There is no parent’s organisation and no help of any
significance from the Government. The Municipality gives an
annual Grant-in-Aid, and this has been most generous. All
the finances have to be raised by the Cadets themselves, and
through their own efforts. They undertake many duties every
year, giving service to the public, and are well known for
the facilities they provide. In return, they ask for
donations from the organisations concerned, and that is what
they live on, and, apart from the grant, is the sole source
of income. The Cadets are very well known for their
smartness, efficiency, courtesy and keenness, and people are
very generous to them. Last year they worked and gave
service for 30 weekends out of a possible 52! The Cadets are
not paid in any way, and always give their services
gratuitously.
Cadets, on joining, are
required to undergo a general knowledge test and are
questioned on their enthusiasm and aptitude. On acceptance,
they pay a joining fee. There is no annual or monthly
subscription, but they are expected to pay their way to get
to parades and duties at Headquarters. Camps are held
periodically, and some of these deep in the bush, where map
reading and compass work is essential. They usually are
required to pay in for the camp, to cover their food and
transport expenses.
Uniforms are very
important, and are issued to all Cadets at no cost to them.
A few years ago the Unit received a donation of second hand
uniforms from UK, and they have been most useful. Other
items of uniform such as shirts, shorts, caps, cap- tallies,
stockings are all made locally, and most generously donated
in most cases. Boots are the greatest expense. These are
made at a local factory but cost us over $800 000,00 per
pair. If these were not supplied, many Cadets would have no
footwear!
As there is no parental
backing, T S Matabele relies entirely on their Patron, Capt.
P. J. Grindal, CBE RN, based overseas, to act as its mentor.
He is referred to for all matters of policy, and promotion
of senior Cadets to Officer rank.
The Unit presently has
four officers, including Lt.Bernard Murambiwa as the
training Officer, promoted up through the ranks. He was the
first Cadet to visit Japan in 1997. Mxolisi Hlabangana
(“China”) was the second Cadet to visit Japan in 1999, and.
he is now commissioned as Sub-Lieutenant. There have been
two other Cadets visiting Japan
In 2004, T S Matabele
received a special invitation from Bermuda, and two Cadets
were selected to go there for an International Camp in July
at no cost to themselves or the Unit. On their return, these
two lucky young men spent a further week with another
International Camp on board HMS Bristol, berthed in
Portsmouth, UK. HMS Bristol is a 7000 ton destroyer, now
used as a training base for a number of youth organisations,
especially Sea Cadets. This trip was highly successful, and
the Cadets acquitted themselves admirably. They are both
badged as Leading Seamen
There are about 30 Cadets
on the strength of T S Matabele, of which about 20 are fully
active, others being involved with many school and church
activities and study. They are all very proud of their
uniform and are well disciplined. Points are awarded at
every parade for turnout and uniform, and also for
attendance at duties. However, if a Cadet volunteers for a
duty and then does not turn up without reasonable excuse, he
looses those points. The total points accrued count towards
their promotion and trophy awards.
Training follows the
conventional lines as much as possible, with a particular
emphasis on radio communications, traffic control, map
reading and compass, ropes and knots and sailing. They have
twelve boats including canoes, pulling boats and a 24 foot
sea-going cutter.
T S Matabele is a unique
naval background Cadet unit in Zimbabwe, and the only one of
its kind. It has had a very dramatic and chequered career,
especially in the last three years under the difficult and
expensive circumstances prevalent. However, existence is
assured by the magnificent generosity of so many people and
organisations. These include sporting clubs, the
Municipality, the Army, and a vast phalanx of individuals,
all of whom are so keen to help continue with the activities
of T S Matabele.
There is a special link
with Rotary, and in particular the Rotary Club of Belmont. T
S Matabele presented the club with its bell, 25 years ago,
and Belmont, has consistently helped the Cadets in many of
their projects.
T S Matabele is a full
member of the International Sea Cadet Association, and has
contacts all over the world, which have been instrumental in
organising exchange visits, and assisting the Unit in so
many ways.
Apart from serving the
public of Bulawayo, and providing a training and occupation
for young people, both boys and girls, which keeps them off
the streets, the Unit gives them a purpose to achieve, and
fits them for a future life as worthwhile citizens of
Zimbabwe.
Bulawayo January 2006.
Provided by Rotary Global History committee member
Maureen Bonds
19 March 2006
