City mourns Eric Bloch

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Tributes continued to pour in for prominent Bulawayo-based economic commentator Eric Bloch, who died at his Kumalo home on Saturday evening after a long illness.

Tributes continued to pour in for prominent Bulawayo-based economic commentator Eric Bloch, who died at his Kumalo home on Saturday evening after a long illness.

RICHARD MUPONDE /MTHANDAZO NYONI

Business, civic society leaders and academics described Bloch as an intellectual par-excellence who contributed immensely to the well-being of the country through his economic views and the various boards he served on.

Bloch’s son Mark said his father would be buried tomorrow at the Jewish section of the Athlone Cemetery along Donovan Street in Northend.

“We are through with the arrangements. He will be buried at 10am at the Jewish Cemetery in Athlone Cemetery,” he said. “A service will also be held there before his burial.”

However, it was the outpouring of tributes that showed Bloch was revered as a pillar and economic thinker who pushed for the economic revival of the country.

Former Solusi Adventist University vice-chancellor and current Zimbabwe Schools Examination Council chairperson Norman Maphosa said Bloch’s influence cut across borders.

Solusi conferred Bloch with an honorary doctorate during Maphosa’s tenure as vice-chancellor.

“We had recognised his exploits and contributions on economic analysis. He was very supportive,” he said.

“He was basically a prominent Zimbabwean who sat in many boards across the country.

“He was also an advisor to former Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe governor Gideon Gono.

“He was a professional and community person involved not only in boards in Zimbabwe, but in South Africa as well and deserved the honour of a doctorate.

“He was very supportive to Solusi University by creating networks.

“He was so prominent that his works were noticed across the economic and political influences.

“His influence locally and internationally was that of a person who had achieved a doctorate and we saw it fit as an institution to confer him with the doctorate.

“He will be really missed by many people in Bulawayo and his contacts across race and economic arena.

“He was broad minded and intellectual, well read and the breadth and width of his intellect could be seen when he conducted the National High Schools Quiz.”

Bulawayo United Residents’ Association chairperson Winos Dube said Bloch’s death came as shock to them.

“We are really hurt as the people of Bulawayo because we have lost a man who had a keen interest in the development and prosperity of the country. His death is a huge blow to us,” he said.

Bulawayo Progressive Residents’ Association organising secretary Ambrose Sibindi said Bloch’s death was a blow for the drive to revive the city’s silent industries.

Sibindi said Bloch had become the voice for the revival of industry and commerce in Bulawayo and it was rare to come across an individual with so much passion for one’s city like him.

“He was very sharp, especially on economic issues, and so his death comes as a blow to the nation and he will be ever remembered,” he said.

“He had a passion for the revival of the city’s industries and his death came at the time when we needed him most as a city.”

Affirmative Action Group vice-president Sam Ncube echoed similar sentiments saying Bloch was one of their business advisors and it was going to be hard to find someone like him who put his head on the block for the revival of Bulawayo industries.

Ncube said Bloch virtually laid down his life for the revival of the city.

“It’s a big loss to the Bulawayo business community in particular and Zimbabwe in general. He was approachable and a friend of business,” he said.

Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce regional marketing officer Velile Dube said Bloch played a major role in calls for the resuscitation of Bulawayo industries and his death was a big blow to the local business community.

“It’s a very sad loss to Bulawayo because he contributed to the revival of our industries,” he said.

“We have definitely lost an economic cornerstone.”

Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries president Charles Msipha said Bloch was forthcoming with business ideas and his death came as a shock to them.

“He was very generous and deeply committed economically,” he said.

“He was the pillar of the business community in Zimbabwe and Bulawayo in particular, and we are poorer without him.

“He was not shy in offering his ideas for the national growth.”