(Last Updated on January 17, 2013 by Editor)
HARARE – Zimbabwean vice-president John Nkomo has died after a long battle with cancer, President Robert Mugabe said on Thursday. Nkomo, 78, was said to have died at Saint Anne’s hospital in Harare.
“We have lost our vice-president John Landa Nkomo, he was suffering for a long time with cancer,” said Mugabe. “We have lost a real revolutionary, a fighter of freedom, a friend of the people, he will be dearly missed by all of us.”
Nkomo fact file
· Born August 22, 1934 in Tsholotsho
· Founding member African National Congress 1958 and 1959.
· Joined National Democratic Party in 1960
· Joined Zimbabwe African People’s Union in 1961
· Joined African National Council as deputy secretary general 1971.
· Attended Geneva Conference as PF Zapu delegate 1976.
· Injured in bomb blast that killed Cde Jason Ziyapapa Moyo 1977.
· Appointed Deputy Minister of Industry and Energy 1981
· Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare 1992 to 1995.
· Local Government Minister 1995 and 1997.
· Minister of Local Government and National Housing 1997 to 1999.
· Minister of Home Affairs in 2000 to 2002.
· Minister of Special Affairs in the President’s Office 2000.
· Speaker of Parliament 2005 to 2008
· ZanuPF national chairman 2006 to 2009; voted Second secretary and Vice president of Zanu-PF after VP Joseph Msika’s death.
· Senator 2009 and Minister of State in the President’s Office and National Healing and Reconciliation portfolio
· Sworn in as Vice President of Zimbabwe in December 2009.