Cephas G. Msipa was born in Siboza Village near Zvishavane on 7th July 1931. Educated at Dadaya Mission School. Mr. Msipa began his working career as a teacher in Zvishavane in 1950. In 1960 Mr. Msipa married Charlotte Masuku who was also a school teacher from Lower Gweru. In 1959 Mr. Msipa and his family moved to Harare where he was appointed Headmaster of Shingirayi School in Mbare. By 1961 Cephas Msipa had become actively involved in politics. In 1965 he was detained by the Rhodesian government for his political activities and he remained incarcerated in Gweru Prison until 1970.

Outside of politics Mr. Msipa has been involved with many charitable organisations over the years including The Red Cross and Help Age Zimbabwe of which he was a founding trustee and remains its patron today Mr. Msipa retired from public office in 2008, but remained actively engaged in his community until the time of his death in October 2016. His career began in education and was always central to his philosophy that education is the cornerstone of development. The C G Msipa Scholarship Trust is his legacy to ensure the continued development of the Midlands Province to which he dedicated his life.