News / Local
Prominent lawyer Makonese dies
12 May 2016 at 07:06hrs | Views
Makausi Thomas Makonese, the first black lawyer to run a law firm in Masvingo and probably the most prominent attorney in the province has died.
He was 58.
Masvingo Mirror reported that described at the funeral as an epitome of integrity in the law profession, Makonese died of lung cancer at the Avenues Clinic at 405pm last Thursday (April 28) 2016. He was buried at the Lawn Cemetery on Saturday after a church mass conducted by the head of Masvingo Diocese of the Roman Catholic Church, Bishop Michael Dickson Bhasera.
Makonese ran Chihambakwe, Makonese and Ncube Law firm in Masvingo.
Makonese who was the first president of the Law Society to be elected outside Harare was a leading member of several voluntary organisations including Legal Resources Foundation and the Rotary Club where he made immense donations and gave his time for free.
He also sent a lot of disadvantaged children to school and some up to University level.
Speaking at the funeral, the President of the Law Society ......Nyemba who was flanked by a large group lawyers said Makonese was a lawyer of immense integrity and was a good example to the young lawyers.
"Makonese was a man of immense integrity. He was totally against corruption. He did not tolerate corruption. He was genuine, well-meaning and had not one single bad record at the Law Society.
"We always invited him to our Summer School for his invaluable advice. This time when we looked for him for the same event, we were shocked to be told that he was in hospital," said Nyemba.
....Chihambakwe who is the founder of the law firm and one of Makonese's partners described the late as an excellent lawyer, hardworking and disciplined. He reiterated that he was a man who was against corruption.
"We employed him as a lawyer in 1981 and he is the one who opened our law firm in Masvingo. He became a partner around 1989 and had his name on the law firm's name in 1995. He was a dependable man and we relied on him for everything in Masvingo," said Chihambakwe.
Senior legal practitioner, .......Muzenda said Makonese was a"lawyer of lawyers", (gweta remagweta), an intelligent attorney and an avid reader.
According to his brother Mandava Gonese, Makonese was born on April 18, 1958 in Chikonye Village in Chief Nyamande in Gutu. He went to Mabhugu and Mutero primary schools before joining Gokomere up to A Level.
He did a law degree with the University of Zimbabwe and joined Government for a short stint as a magisterial assistant in Masvingo. In 1981 he was recruited by Chihambakwe to join Chihambakwe, Chirunda and Chikumbirike.
The company later became Chihambakwe, Makonese and Ncube in Masvingo.
Makonese was born to Felix Makausi, a businessman and was married to Martina Vhudzijena Makonese. They had three children Agnes, Pamela Francis and two grandchildren Tafara and Kyla.
He also had prominent brothers, .....Makausi (late) who a head of department at Zimsec and Mandaba Gonese who was a district administrator with various districts in Zimbabwe. He had sisters Eustina Musenda, Placida and Esther.
He was 58.
Masvingo Mirror reported that described at the funeral as an epitome of integrity in the law profession, Makonese died of lung cancer at the Avenues Clinic at 405pm last Thursday (April 28) 2016. He was buried at the Lawn Cemetery on Saturday after a church mass conducted by the head of Masvingo Diocese of the Roman Catholic Church, Bishop Michael Dickson Bhasera.
Makonese ran Chihambakwe, Makonese and Ncube Law firm in Masvingo.
Makonese who was the first president of the Law Society to be elected outside Harare was a leading member of several voluntary organisations including Legal Resources Foundation and the Rotary Club where he made immense donations and gave his time for free.
He also sent a lot of disadvantaged children to school and some up to University level.
Speaking at the funeral, the President of the Law Society ......Nyemba who was flanked by a large group lawyers said Makonese was a lawyer of immense integrity and was a good example to the young lawyers.
"Makonese was a man of immense integrity. He was totally against corruption. He did not tolerate corruption. He was genuine, well-meaning and had not one single bad record at the Law Society.
"We always invited him to our Summer School for his invaluable advice. This time when we looked for him for the same event, we were shocked to be told that he was in hospital," said Nyemba.
....Chihambakwe who is the founder of the law firm and one of Makonese's partners described the late as an excellent lawyer, hardworking and disciplined. He reiterated that he was a man who was against corruption.
"We employed him as a lawyer in 1981 and he is the one who opened our law firm in Masvingo. He became a partner around 1989 and had his name on the law firm's name in 1995. He was a dependable man and we relied on him for everything in Masvingo," said Chihambakwe.
Senior legal practitioner, .......Muzenda said Makonese was a"lawyer of lawyers", (gweta remagweta), an intelligent attorney and an avid reader.
According to his brother Mandava Gonese, Makonese was born on April 18, 1958 in Chikonye Village in Chief Nyamande in Gutu. He went to Mabhugu and Mutero primary schools before joining Gokomere up to A Level.
He did a law degree with the University of Zimbabwe and joined Government for a short stint as a magisterial assistant in Masvingo. In 1981 he was recruited by Chihambakwe to join Chihambakwe, Chirunda and Chikumbirike.
The company later became Chihambakwe, Makonese and Ncube in Masvingo.
Makonese was born to Felix Makausi, a businessman and was married to Martina Vhudzijena Makonese. They had three children Agnes, Pamela Francis and two grandchildren Tafara and Kyla.
He also had prominent brothers, .....Makausi (late) who a head of department at Zimsec and Mandaba Gonese who was a district administrator with various districts in Zimbabwe. He had sisters Eustina Musenda, Placida and Esther.
Source - Masvingo Mirror
