The Deputy Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development and MDC-T non-constituency senator, Tichaona Mudzingwa, has died.
The former MDC-T secretary for defence and home affairs died at the Avenues Clinic on Tuesday night after a short illness.
He was 69.
Mudzingwa, a widower, was born on December 23, 1942 in Buhera, Manicaland, in a family of six sisters and two brothers.
In a statement, the MDC-T said his passing away brought to five the number of party senators who have died since 2008.
A medical doctor and Zimbabwe’s first specialist war surgeon, Mudzingwa began his political career in the 1960s when he joined the National Democratic Party’s youth wing while still a student at Fletcher High School in Gweru.
A former member of Zanu PF and Zapu, Mudzingwa underwent military training as a guerilla fighter in Tanzania, Mozambique and Zambia. During the liberation war he was a member of the Zanla Military High Command between 1975 and 1980.
“He is the first medical doctor to receive full military training and to be deployed to the military front in Zambia and Mozambique from 1975 to 1980 when Zimbabwe attained its independence,” said the MDC-T.
- Chamisa under fire over US$120K donation
- Mavhunga puts DeMbare into Chibuku quarterfinals
- Pension funds bet on Cabora Bassa oilfields
- Councils defy govt fire tender directive
Keep Reading
After independence, he continued serving in the Zimbabwe National Army where he retired in 1994 upon attaining the rank of colonel.
Mudzingwa was a founder member of the MDC at its formation in 1999. From 2000 to 2006, he was the party’s secretary for health and security. In 2005, he was nominated MDC candidate for Buhera North, but lost the election to Zanu PF’s William Mutomba.
In March 2009, MDC-T leader Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai appointed him a non-consistuency senator and Deputy Minister for Transport and Infrastructural Development.
Despite his political commitment, Mudzingwa remained a practising medical doctor until his death.
Deputy Minister of Justice and Legal Affairs Obert Gutu (MDC-T) said: “He was a humble and moderating cadre who will be sadly missed as the struggle for democratic change reaches the finishing line. Indeed, he is a national hero and no one can take that heroism from him and may his soul rest in eternal peace.”
Burial arrangements are yet to be announced.Mourners are gathered at Number 380 Shelbourne Road, Uplands, Waterfalls, Harare.
