News / National
Zimbabwean professor dies in Russia, family struggling to raise funds
04 Sep 2013 at 05:28hrs | Views
A 79-YEAR-OLD Zimbabwean professor Joseph Cyprian Sanero Lunga, who had been based in Russia, died on Sunday.
His body is stranded in the European country, as his family is struggling to raise funds to repatriate it.
Lunga's daughter Nothando, based in Harare, said the family had resolved that the academic be buried in the United Kingdom where he taught at a number of universities.
"He (Lunga) died in Russia on Sunday morning after undergoing a minor surgery," she said.
"We have been trying to raise funds for his body to be brought home but we have failed.
"We have decided that he be transported to the United Kingdom, to be buried. There are some family members in that country who will receive him."
Nothando, however, said her father's body was still in Russia.
"The body is expected to get to the UK at the weekend for burial. No exact date has been set," she said.
"(The date) will be advised after the arrival of the body."
Lunga was a professor of English history and culture and business management studies at Perm State Technical University.
The multi-qualified professor read first degree in social work and the second in Roman-Dutch law.
He also had degrees in organic chemistry, social science, sociology, a master's in business management and in public-sector management.
Lunga was also a chartered member of the British Institute of Managers.
According to The Moscow Times of Russia, "As a professor at the University of Nottingham, Britain, he (Lunga) travelled the world in the 1980s and '90s on teaching tours.
"In 1982, he first arrived in the Soviet Union to teach social services and social work and conduct research on Soviet social programmes.
"Over the next 14 years, he visited Moscow, St Petersburg, Latvia and other places in the former Soviet Union," the paper reported.
"Soon after his retirement in 1996, the Russian government contacted the British government to request experts to work in particular fields.
"That was when Lunga was invited back to Russia. They offered him a position in Perm, and he readily accepted."
The publication said Lunga also taught strategic business management at the regional management centre.
His body is stranded in the European country, as his family is struggling to raise funds to repatriate it.
Lunga's daughter Nothando, based in Harare, said the family had resolved that the academic be buried in the United Kingdom where he taught at a number of universities.
"He (Lunga) died in Russia on Sunday morning after undergoing a minor surgery," she said.
"We have been trying to raise funds for his body to be brought home but we have failed.
"We have decided that he be transported to the United Kingdom, to be buried. There are some family members in that country who will receive him."
Nothando, however, said her father's body was still in Russia.
"The body is expected to get to the UK at the weekend for burial. No exact date has been set," she said.
"(The date) will be advised after the arrival of the body."
The multi-qualified professor read first degree in social work and the second in Roman-Dutch law.
He also had degrees in organic chemistry, social science, sociology, a master's in business management and in public-sector management.
Lunga was also a chartered member of the British Institute of Managers.
According to The Moscow Times of Russia, "As a professor at the University of Nottingham, Britain, he (Lunga) travelled the world in the 1980s and '90s on teaching tours.
"In 1982, he first arrived in the Soviet Union to teach social services and social work and conduct research on Soviet social programmes.
"Over the next 14 years, he visited Moscow, St Petersburg, Latvia and other places in the former Soviet Union," the paper reported.
"Soon after his retirement in 1996, the Russian government contacted the British government to request experts to work in particular fields.
"That was when Lunga was invited back to Russia. They offered him a position in Perm, and he readily accepted."
The publication said Lunga also taught strategic business management at the regional management centre.
Source - southerneye
