Byo mourns Sikhanyiso

News
BULAWAYO residents on Tuesday expressed sadness at the death of former Zanu PF politburo member Sikhanyiso Ndlovu.

BULAWAYO residents yesterday expressed sadness at the death of former Zanu PF politburo member Sikhanyiso Ndlovu.

BY NQOBILE BHEBHE

They said although Ndlovu was a Zanu PF member, he was a “bit different” compared to many of his colleagues.

In a snap survey in Mpopoma constituency, where Ndlovu once served as a Member of Parliament, residents described him as a generous person, who had the community at heart.

Sikhanyiso-Ndlovu-1

“We will miss Ndlovu. His death has robbed us of a generous man, who was passionate about uplifting lives of the less fortunate in the community. He was different from other party members,” said Sikhangele Moyo, a vendor at Dr Sikhanyiso Ndlovu Duke Business Enterprise complex in Mpopoma.

Jabu Nkomo, board chairman of the John Landa Nkomo Memorial Trust, said Ndlovu’s death had robbed his organisation of a wise counsellor.

“Ndlovu had humbly accepted being a member of the board of trustees of the John Landa Nkomo Trust. The trust only celebrated its first anniversary in August, and it was yet to benefit from the wisdom and guidance of this hero of the liberation struggle. Dr Ndlovu, an educationist of note, was eager to assist the trust in ensuring that the focus on programmes left by the late VP John Landa Nkomo would not die,” Nkomo said.

National University of Science and Technology (Nust) lecturer, Lawton Hikwa said Ndlovu separated his political role from professional engagements.

Highlanders Football Club chief executive officer Ndumiso Gumede said the club was saddened by Ndlovu’s death.

“He was a Highlanders member and we are deeply saddened by his death. We knew that he was poorly, but we thought he would recover,” he said.

Gumede said Ndlovu was always helpful to the club especially when they wanted government assistance.

“He wasn’t reluctant to pass through the office and give advice on club matters. If we needed assistance with matters that involved higher offices, he was useful in accessing those portfolios,” said Gumede.

Voluntary Media Council of Zimbabwe (VMCZ) executive director Loughty Dube said the late former Information minister had respect for the media and was not driven by malice.

“Sikhanyiso Ndlovu was a person who worked well with the media, he was always supportive of Press Club initiatives and was patron of the Bulawayo Press Club.

“He reflected his understanding of the media and that translated even in his government duties, he had respect for the media and was not driven by malice in his interaction with the media.”

Last year, Ndlovu lamented corruption in the country, particularly among his Zanu PF colleagues, saying the scourge threatened to destroy the former liberation movement.

He told the Bulawayo Press Club that corruption had reached alarming levels among Zanu PF members.

“When we were in the war, we never thought that some of our colleagues would turn out to be so corrupt.

“The looting, the corruption is so much, so alarming to the extent that it leaves you wondering what one would be thinking. You wonder how they consume their loot and keep on looting. This corruption is a cancer that can destroy Zanu PF if it is not stopped. We should stop it now,” he said then.

A handful of mourners were gathered at Ndlovu’s Sunninghill home yesterday afternoon to pay their condolences.