"Declare Ndodana Ncube a Provincial Hero” cries Hwange

In the Zambezi valley, West of Zimbabwe, Matabeleland North, Hwange, lies a rural plateu called Jambezi. It is 60 kilometres from Victoria Falls and 80 kilometres from Hwange Colliery Company town. The place is occupied by the multilingual people, the Dombe/Tonga, Nambya, Ndebele, Nyanja, Shona, Lozi just to mention a few. The indigenous of the place are largely Dombe and Nambya. This is where Ndodana Ncube, the Former national Super Featherweight “The Black Hammer” was born. His parents are from rural Jambezi in Mbizha under Chief Shana. He grew up in Hwange Colliery Company town, in No#1 where his father worked as miner. From a mining town, Ndodana rose to fame through boxing. He called himself the “the Black Hammer”. He was a young brother to me and many that deeply mourn him. 

Ndodana Ncube died in South Africa after spending nearly two months in intensive care following his collapse after a boxing match. He had been in a coma since March 27, when he collapsed soon after winning a bout against Lunga Stimela in Middelburg, South Africa. His death has drawn tributes from Zimbabwe’s boxing community and renewed attention on athlete welfare and medical preparedness in combat sports. Ncube turned professional on March 10, 2018, with a knockout victory over Tranos Zihove at Raylton Sports Club. He went on to win the national Super Featherweight title later that year. He later challenged for the African Boxing Union title but lost to Namibia’s Flame Nangolo in 2022.  At 28, he had to his record 11 wins, eight losses and three draws. 

At the announcement of his death, Zimbabwe mourned him on social media. The Zimbabwe National Boxing and Wrestling Control Board, together with the Ministry of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture, extended condolences following his death. But the deepest mourns came from Hwange, family, friends and relatives.  I wrote on my Facebook and X

It is sad that you had to leave earth through sport. You had a dedicated boxing career. From the backyard of Hwange to national and international recognition. When we were supposed to celebrate a well-run boxing sportsmanship, we instead lost you. Though it happens in boxing, it is painful that it happened to you. Not to you but to us as Hwange and rural Jambezi. 

Hwange is still mourning. “He will forever remain a champion” write many of his fans on social media. “Will the state declare him a provincial hero’, they ask many questions in hope for consolation