News / Regional
Zapu's Abu-Basuthu dies
04 Jun 2014 at 19:34hrs | Views
ZAPU national people's council member for Matabeleland South, Nathaniel Ngulube Abu-Basuthu, died on Saturday at Maphisa Hospital on the same day he was admitted.
He was 67.
Abu-Basuthu would be buried in the Mawongola area of Gwanda today.
Zapu Matabeleland South provincial secretary Mildred Mnkandla said Abu-Basuthu complained of feeling unwell and was rushed to hospital where he subsequently died. Mnkandla said Abu-Basuthu's death came as a huge blow to the party.
"We learnt a lot from him; he was a team leader, a confident man who commanded a lot of respect.
"We learnt a lot from him in terms of conflict resolution. He was open and frank and one did not have to be his friend for him to tell the truth. If you were his friend and was wrong about an issue, he would tell you the truth as it was," she said.
Abu-Basuthu's friend Meeting Nkala said the late freedom fighter trained in Mtshabezi as a teacher between 1967 and 1968.
Nkala said Abu-Basuthu then taught at Khumbula School in Tsholotsho before crossing the border into Zambia to join the liberation struggle.
He said Abu-Basuthu taught at JZ1 Camp before it was bombed and then moved to Solwezi.
"After Solwezi, he went to India for further training with the likes of (Transport minister) Obert Mpofu," he said.
"After independence he taught at local schools like Nzwanazi before being promoted to the position of deputy headmaster at Ntabazinduna School.
"He was promoted to headmaster at a school in Kezi, a position he held until his retirement between 2010 and 2011."
A service was held for Abu-Basuthu at Nyaradzo funeral parlour yesterday afternoon before his body was taken to Gwanda for burial today.
It was attended by Zapu president Dumiso Dabengwa and senior party officials. The service was also attended by officials from the Education ministry and Zanu-PF officials.
He was 67.
Abu-Basuthu would be buried in the Mawongola area of Gwanda today.
Zapu Matabeleland South provincial secretary Mildred Mnkandla said Abu-Basuthu complained of feeling unwell and was rushed to hospital where he subsequently died. Mnkandla said Abu-Basuthu's death came as a huge blow to the party.
"We learnt a lot from him; he was a team leader, a confident man who commanded a lot of respect.
"We learnt a lot from him in terms of conflict resolution. He was open and frank and one did not have to be his friend for him to tell the truth. If you were his friend and was wrong about an issue, he would tell you the truth as it was," she said.
Abu-Basuthu's friend Meeting Nkala said the late freedom fighter trained in Mtshabezi as a teacher between 1967 and 1968.
Nkala said Abu-Basuthu then taught at Khumbula School in Tsholotsho before crossing the border into Zambia to join the liberation struggle.
He said Abu-Basuthu taught at JZ1 Camp before it was bombed and then moved to Solwezi.
"After Solwezi, he went to India for further training with the likes of (Transport minister) Obert Mpofu," he said.
"After independence he taught at local schools like Nzwanazi before being promoted to the position of deputy headmaster at Ntabazinduna School.
"He was promoted to headmaster at a school in Kezi, a position he held until his retirement between 2010 and 2011."
A service was held for Abu-Basuthu at Nyaradzo funeral parlour yesterday afternoon before his body was taken to Gwanda for burial today.
It was attended by Zapu president Dumiso Dabengwa and senior party officials. The service was also attended by officials from the Education ministry and Zanu-PF officials.
Source - Southern Eye
