Family, friends and politicians from ZANU PF and the MDC formations attended the burial service for the Gutu North MP at Warren Hills cemetery. The mourners were led by Mukonoweshuro’s wife, Retsepile, and his son Bradley Thuso.

Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai said his MDC-T colleague’s death had left a gap ‘which can never be properly filled.’ The Minister died last week at the age of 58 after falling ill with a heart ailment. He had been admitted at Johannesburg’s Milpark hospital where he had been receiving specialist treatment for the past three weeks.

Many of Mukonoweshuro’s cabinet colleagues and party cadres from his rural Gutu north constituency were at Warren Hills, to hear the Prime Minister pay tribute to ‘a fountain of wisdom and a dedicated patriot who cared so much for democracy to take root in this country.’

In his eulogy Tsvangirai said Mukonoweshuro made his mark as an academic of repute at the University of Zimbabwe, where he spent years sharpening the minds of future leaders as a lecturer. The MDC leader noted that many of those who attended those lectures are now cabinet ministers and were at the burial.

‘When he joined politics, he was my chief advisor and one of the key negotiators in the first ever inter-party negotiations between the MDC and ZANU PF.

‘As my chief advisor, he was no psychophant and he always gave his honest opinion and advice on key issues. Even if you disagreed with him, he was firm on his position and left you with no option but to follow his sound advice,’ the Prime Minister added.

He continued: ‘Today is the National Heroes’ Day, a day to commemorate those who fought to free Zimbabwe and it is befitting that today we are burying a distinct person. He was a person who showed commitment, courage and had a vision not only for the community but the whole nation.’

The late Professor was born on 22 June 1953 at Gutu Mission Hospital. He did his primary at Gutu primary school and went to Zimuto and Tekwane for his secondary education.

In 1973 he went to the University of Zimbabwe but was arrested for student activism. He was detained for 14 months at Kadoma Prison. On his release, Mukonoweshuro left the country through Botswana for the United Kingdom.

In the UK, he studied for Bachelor and Master of Arts degrees before attaining a PhD in Political Science at Birmingham University. 

By Staff reporter and agencies