Mugabe consoles Mnangagwa family

PRESIDENT Mugabe has sent a condolence message to the family of Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa following the death of Mr Philip Mnangagwa, the Vice President's brother. Mr Mnangagwa (84) died on Tuesday at his rural home in Shurugwi after a long battle with diabetes and was buried yesterday. Addressing hundreds of mourners at the burial at Mr Mnangagwa's plot in Shurugwi, Vice President Mnangagwa said President Mugabe had written a condolence message to the family.

He said President Mugabe's condolence letter will be given to the family.

"I got the message on the passing on of my brother when I was in a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday. President Mugabe on learning of the sudden death of my brother excused me from the Cabinet meeting. He then wrote a condolence letter to the family and the Government also assisted with this funeral," said the Vice President.

VP Mnangagwa said his brother, who had become the second eldest son in the larger Mnangagwa family, was known to President Mugabe. "He was one of the people who stayed with the President during the time he was a teacher at Mazvihwa Primary School in Zvishavane. President Mugabe wrote a letter because he remembers him very well," he said.

The Vice President said his brother was politically active in the liberation struggle while he was a teacher in Zimbabwe as well as in Zambia. He said his brother was one of the three people who visited him from the time he stood accused of terrorism to the time he was sent to prison after being sentenced to death for fighting colonialism.

"When I was appearing in court, he came along with my mother to visit me. That time it was difficult for people to visit me because the colonialists would also label them terrorists. But he turned a blind eye and came to support me," said VP Mnangagwa.

He urged the people to desist from amassing wealth without considering where their souls will go when death meets them. The VP said there was life after death which the people should prepare for. "Also we must not judge each other. A sin is a sin no matter how small. It is good to live a good life but we must prepare for the after life," said the Vice President.

The Minister of Defence, Sydney Sekeramayi, said Cabinet was grieving with the Mnangagwa family following the untimely death of Mr Mnangagwa.

"We received the news while we were attending a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday. We then decided to come and mourn with Vice President Mnangagwa. As Government and Cabinet we want to express our heartfelt condolences to the Mnangagwa family. May you find comfort in the Lord," he said.

Also present at the burial were Cabinet Ministers and members of the business community. Mr Mnangagwa was born on August 23, 1932 in Zvishavane and passed away on the same day (August 23) in 2016 after a long illness. He was resettled during the land reform programme at Mavhu-Mashava area of Shurugwi.

Mr Mnangagwa is survived by wife Margret, seven children — four sons and three daughters, 15 grandchildren and two great grandchildren.