By MIKE MAKOMO
Published: August 4, 2009
HARARE – Vice President Joseph Msika died in Harare on Tuesday at the age 86, official close to the family said.
Msika, who served as a Zanu-PF vice president for a decade and held the same post in government, was admitted to the hospital two weeks ago and was in the intensive-care unit at St Annes Hospital.
He is said to have been discharged recently and died at home surrounded by family, our source.
Official government spokesman declined to go on record confirming the veteran nationalist’s death.
But a family source said: “He was in a great deal of pain: they sedated him and he died very peacefully.”
He said the family was discussing with the Presidency plans for a state funeral, which would be held in Harare probably at the Heroes Acre.
Msika has been sick for months and in June suffered a stroke and was rushed to hospital in SA. Msika had been hospitalised at Harare’s St Anne’s Hospital twice within a fortnight to correct “complications” arising from an operation he had in South Africa.
Mugabe staunchly refused to grant Msika’s wish to step down fearing the death could cause fierce jostling in his divided party.
Source: The Times
No comments:
Post a Comment