By Obert Masaraure and Olivia Charumbira
At one point, we begged Cde Marx to transfer from Mashonaland Central to a less hostile province. His response was sobering: “I am a Communist; it is my role to change society. If I chicken out, who is going to do the job? Mash Central is my home, and I will never desert my people.”
Mackswell Basiyavo was an uncompromising, relentless fighter.
We held this conversation soon after a court proceeding where he was framed for abusing his child. We were deeply worried for his safety. The accusation was that he had not provided the child with enough food, and a neighbor, who was also a ZANU PF supporter, had reported him to the police. The child was placed in the custody of the Social Welfare Department, and Basiyavo was dragged to court.
The trial, however, only served to prove how loving Basiyavo was, both as a parent and a neighbor.
It was inspiring to hear how he juggled being a teacher, a single parent, and a political fighter. He was ultimately cleared by the courts of any wrongdoing.
The child abuse case was not the only battle he faced because of his deep love for his people and his nation.
On April 4, 2019, Cde Basiyavo, who also served as the Chairperson of the Guruve Residents Association (GRA), was abducted and severely tortured; his dreadlocks were forcibly cut. Through the GRA, Basiyavo had exposed massive corruption at the Guruve local authority.
Local security officials connived to silence him by any means necessary. Cde Max emerged from this ordeal with a declaration to fight on.
Basiyavo, a reputable science teacher, was known for achieving excellent results and for the strong bond he shared with learners who adored him for his excellence and hard work. At one point, school authorities chose to frame him with charges of abusing minors. Learners were coerced into writing letters alleging improper association with Cde Max.
Over a dozen learners wrote the same allegations against Mr. Basiyavo. The subsequent disciplinary hearing proved hilarious when the learners disowned the allegations and exonerated Basiyavo.
School authorities never felt comfortable working with Cde Marx—the nickname he earned for his political leanings—because he challenged authority whenever he detected corruption, mismanagement, or incompetence.
Zimbabwean leaders at all levels are not accustomed to being challenged; they often respond with brute force. At ARTUZ (Amalgamated Rural Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe), we, however, enjoyed the robust debates Cde Basiyavo would always trigger with his well-reasoned arguments. Our Union’s culture of debate was partly nurtured by Marx.
Cde Marx, a former police officer, was the founding Legal and Security Secretary of ARTUZ. Many a time, he offered to provide the Union President with security at Union gatherings—an offer the President always declined, given our conviction that we are one big family that can collectively take care of each other.
Marx graduated from Hillside Teachers College with a Teaching Diploma. The President first met him in Silobela, where he was stationed at Sibangani Secondary School and Basiyavo was at Malisa Secondary School. We were later to learn that he had been at Hillside together with Secretary General Robson Chere, Cde Masiiwa, Cde Wachipa, and Cde Nkiwane, among others.
The transition from student activism to Trade Unionism was easier for him than most of us. He had read Marxist literature and was very conversant with the role of the Trade Union movement in transforming society. We enjoyed learning from him.
At the workplace, he was suspended three times according to the records we have, and expelled once. One of the charges being “Absenteeism without good cause” because he was incapacitated to go to work owing to paltry salaries we get as Zimbabwean teachers. The continuous at work persecution was directly linked to his legitimate Trade Union work. He successfully challenged his expulsion and was reinstated on November 10, 2025.
Unfortunately, he was struck by a mysterious illness on November 24, 2025. He fell unconscious and never lived to tell his story. He was holding his assumption of duty forms. The health system failed him as he lay unconscious for days without any clear diagnosis. We will never know what exactly happened to him, but we will always remember that he was a man full of love who was tormented by the evil members of our society.
Doctors advised of brain damage, and our Cde had visible head injuries which may have led to him falling unconscious. We will never know how he sustained the injury. Kidney failure later kicked in, and he had zero sugar according to the report from experts.
Mackswell Basiyavo entered the world on September 15, 1975, and
exited on December 6, 2025. Fifty years well lived. A half-century dedicated to fighting exploitation.
Rest in Peace Cde Marx.
We will carry on the fight!
Obert Masaraure and Olivia Charumbira
+263776129336/775794274
