Former deputy minister Kwidini dies

Former Youth, Sport and Culture deputy minister David Kwidini has died after a long battle with a heart condition. He was 79.

Kwidini succumbed to congestive heart failure at Mater Dei Hospital in Bulawayo on Thursday afternoon.

In an interview yesterday, the late former minister's son David Kwidini Junior confirmed the death of his father, but referred questions to family spokesperson Cyril Ndebele.

Ndebele said Kwidini, born on March 15, 1933, had not been well for a long time.

"He had been ill for a while but had been moving around but not so well.

"He had what is called congestive heart failure and passed away yesterday at around 3pm at Mater Day Hospital," he said.

Mourners are gathered at number 33 St Hellen's Avenue, Parklands in Bulawayo.

Kwidini, a former principal at a number of teachers' colleges, lectured at the University of Zimbabwe before entering politics in 1985.

He contested and won the Tsholotsho seat on a Zapu ticket in the July 1985 general elections, but defected to Zanu PF in May 1986.

He was appointed Minister of Youth, Sport and Culture in the January 1988 Cabinet reshuffle, but went on to lose parliamentary primary elections for the Hwange East seat.