Mugabe mourns Sikhanyiso Ndlovu

President Robert Mugabe has sent a message of condolence to the Ndlovu family following the death of  former cabinet minister and Politburo member, Dr Sikhanyiso Ndlovu.

Dr Ndlovu died on Tuesday morning and after being declared a national hero, he will be buried at the national shrine in Harare on Saturday.

In his message, Mugabe said he learnt with a deep sense of sorrow of the death of Dr Ndlovu after a short illness.

The President described the late as a leading veteran nationalist and intern of the notorious Gonakudzingwa open prison.

"Dr Ndlovu stands out as a committed fighter for freedom whose life marks key points and transitions in Zimbabwe's struggle for independence. Alongside veteran nationalists who included the late Vice President, Dr Joshua Nkomo, he faced numerous arrests, detentions, restrictions and many other forms of direct pressure from settlers. He never  gave up or compromised on his goal of fighting for a free Zimbabwe," said Mugabe.

The President said on behalf of the party, Zanu-PF, the government, his family and on his behalf, he wishes to express his deepest sympathies to the Ndlovu family, especially the wife, Rose, and the children on this saddest loss.

In his message, the Zanu-PF Secretary for Information, Simon Khaya Moyo said the 'Duke' was a great patriot, a principled man who never at any phase betrayed the struggle for independence.

He was an educationist of exceptional calibre. He had studied and lectured in the United States of America. He left the comfort clearly at his disposal in the US and joined the struggle in Zambia. He contributed immensely in spreading education frontiers in various liberation war camps. After independence, he never abandoned his mission to spread education across the country hence his founding of ZDECO, which has become a household name," said Khaya Moyo.

Khaya Moyo added that Dr Ndlovu was a visionary and exceptional man who hated corruption, factionalism, tribalism and regionalism.

The Minister of Information, Media and Broadcasting Services, Chris Mushohwe said Dr Ndlovu will be remembered for his affable character and ready smile which endeared him to everyone regardless of their status in life.

"He was a very humble person throughout the journey of life in spite of impeccable nationalist and liberation war credentials," said Mushohwe.

The Victoria Falls community also described Dr Ndlovu as a man who dedicated his life to ensure the local populace is educated.

The resort town's Mayor, Councillor Sifiso Mpofu said he is saddened by the untimely death of Dr Ndlovu, who set a high standard in the education sector.

The late Dr Ndlovu served as the Minister of Information and Publicity, the Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, a member of parliament for Mpopoma-Pelandaba constituency and pioneered the Mpopoma-Zambezi Transport Trust.

At the time of his death, he was a member of the Zanu-PF Politburo as well as Central Committee.