Ex-Bulawayo deputy mayor laid to rest

FORMER Bulawayo deputy mayor Alderman Amen Mpofu, who succumbed to a kidney ailment on Friday, was laid to rest at the Lady Stanley Cemetery in the city yesterday.

Mpofu died at Mpilo Central Hospital at the age of 67.

Before his burial, the Bulawayo City Council held a special meeting in his honour, where mayor Solomon Mguni said Mpofu first became councillor in 2003.

Mguni said Mpofu was re-elected in 2008 to 2013, and during those years, he served as deputy mayor.

"He was elevated to the dignity of alderman in May 2018," he said.

"His death comes as a shock and has left a vacuum which the city will not be able to fill for many years to come. The city has lost a gallant son and dedicated leader,'' Mguni said.

Mpofu is survived by four children and several grandchildren.

Other former councillors and aldermen described Mpofu as a fearless man who was honest and shunned corruption at all costs.

Former mayor Thaba Moyo said he worked with Mpofu as his deputy and knew him as a no-nonsense man who always stood his ground.

"One day when we were in an inauguration meeting with former Minister of Local Government, Ignatius Chombo, he challenged him for being insensitive about Bulawayo issues after he (Chombo) delayed approval of the Bulawayo budget,'' Moyo said.

A funeral service was also held at the Bulawayo Amphitheatre to allow residents to pay their last respects to their late leader.

The service was attended by several MDC Alliance members, among them Thabitha Khumalo.