Another ZAPU founder member dies

ZAPU founder member, Amos Patrick "Jack" Ngwenya has died.

The 80-year-old nationalist died on Friday at United Bulawayo Hospitals after suffering a stroke and later succumbing to pneumonia.

The Zanu-PF national chairman, Simon Khaya Moyo, in his message of condolence said he was shocked to hear about the death of Ngwenya.

"I woke up to hear of the untimely demise of Ngwenya. He played a pivotal role in the liberation struggle and in administration at Zimbabwe House in Lusaka, Zambia. He had an all weather personality whose precision dominated tremendously to the success of the liberation struggle," said Moyo.

Moyo described him as an honest, patriotic, and courageous man of purpose who shunned corruption, greed and uncalled for self glorification.

He said Ngwenya was a simple but led a meaningful life and will be missed greatly for his standard jokes and sense of humility.

The Zanu-PF acting chairman for Bulawayo province, Killian Sibanda, also said the party was saddened by his death as he was a man whom they worked with well.

"We worked with him well in the party especially during the liberation struggle, we are hurt and we sympathise with the bereaved family," said Sibanda.

Ngwenya was born on 24 March 1932; he attended Mambale primary school, Tshelanyemba Upper Primary.

He went to live in South Africa in 1952 where he attended Pimville Secondary school for standard five and six. He was involved in the Southern Rhodesia African National Congress in 1957 where he was involved in political activism in Mpopoma.

In January 1960 he joined the National Democratic Party (NDP) as a Financial Secretary, he later became the Acting Secretary for the Bulawayo district Council of the NDP.

He became the first Zimbabwean in 1961 to initiate the first contact and negotiations with the leaders of the South African controlled Trade Union, The Southern Rhodesia Typographical Union.

In 1961 he was elected full time Provincial Officer of the NDP in Bulawayo. When Zapu was formed in 1961 he was appointed Regional Administrative Secretary for Bulawayo.

Ngwenya was sent to the then United Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) for military training and later moved to Finland in 1978.

In December 1993 he was assigned to assist the Bulawayo Provincial Administrator until his retirement in 1999 but due to his expertise in the field he was called back and finally retired in 2007.

In 2011 at the Zapu Congress he was elected to the National Council of Elders for Bulawayo Province.

Mourners are gathered at Block 88/7677 Mpopoma and he leaves behind his wife, Grace, two daughters, five grand children and four great grand children.

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