The Diocese of Mutare & The Carmelites in Zimbabwe - the Irish ...

Father Fallon did not stop with his irrigation project. He applied and was successful with the aid of Father Fives
in getting funds to erect dormitories, dining rooms and kitchens for the school. Father Sean designed the buildings
himself, they were functional, simple and were suitable to the climatic conditions of Nyanyadzi.
For some unknown reasons, the Mission escaped pretty well during the war years, the Freedom Fighters were all
over the place and often made their presence felt, especially during 1978. Later during 1978, the Freedom
Fighters visited the Mission and ordered that the Mission close at once. The Primary and Vocational schools
closed but the people were allowed to attend Mass and the Father and Sisters remained at the Mission for some
time. By 1979 life became very difficult because of ‘demands’ and the Father and Sisters left for Umtali. The
Mission was not destroyed at any time during or after the war.
Carmel College, Mutare (1964)
The Irish Christian Brothers had a boy’s school in Bulawayo, the Jesuits had Saint Georges in Salisbury and the
Carmelites began to develop Carmel College in Umtali. Father Sean Coughlan who was the Regular Superior in
Umtali together with his Council put a lot of thought into what eventually became Carmel College in Umtali.
Father Coughlan consulted everybody before the final decision was made, yet there was some indifference among
the brethren about the College. During 1963 the plunge was taken and land was acquired from the Municipality
of Umtali. In the beginning a junior and senior school was planned and a boarding facility was envisaged for the
senior section. Sixty acres was acquired for ‘Religious and Educational purposes’, it was a magnificent site which
overlooked Umtali and was about two miles from the town. The cost of the land was five thousand pounds!!
Work was started on the site during 1963 by John Sisk and Co. and finished during 1964. During 1963, as the
building of Carmel College had just started, Father Barty McGivern and Brother Augustine Parsons started ‘the
school’ at the Parish hall, beside the present day Priory.
During the early years of Carmel College, Brother Albert Breen was instrumental in the development of the
grounds and playing fields. Albert set about turning the ‘bush’ into playing fields, cricket-creases and tennis courts.
Large amounts of money were spent on the lay-out and arrangement of the fields and on the necessary equipment
for the sports.
1964 was a good year for the country but in 1965 Mr Ian Smyth declared the ‘Unilateral Declaration of
Independence’ or UDI. Nevertheless for the next few years the College functioned pretty well as it was a day
school. Father McGivern left the College and Father Cyprian Kennedy took his place. Father Kennedy was born
in the country and went down well with the white community. He was a visionary and he prevailed on the Local
Superior of the Carmelites to extend the boarding facilities at the school and develop a science laboratory, his wish
was approved and both facilities were developed. During 1969 the Secondary section of the school was opened but
it became apparent very soon that the number of pupils was hopelessly inadequate.
By 1970, Father Tom McLoughlin as Commissary Provincial had to close down the Secondary section of the
school and concentrate on the Primary section. This was a death blow to the school as pupils who had completed
Primary Education had to seek places in other schools for Secondary Education. After the closing of the Secondary
section every effort was made to make a success of the Primary school.
During 1971 Father Cyprian Kennedy left Carmel College and was appointed Administrator of the Cathedral in
Mutare. Father Sean Coughlan was elected Assistant General at the Carmelite General Chapter in Rome and
after a few months he had to reside in Rome. Father Martin Farragher was appointed Prior of the College and a
Mr Michael Browne was asked to be Headmaster. Again there was an injection of money for advertising in an
attempt to save a sinking ship but the numbers kept dropping. Umtali was a border town, people were beginning
to leave the town, the town was taking on the appearance of a garrison town, talk of war was ‘in the air’, things
were not good for the school. As time went on there was some consideration expressed that Marymount and
Carmel College could complement each other, both in subjects and teachers. Again there was also some
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