HARARE
–
Former
Vice
President
Phekelezela
Mphoko
has
died.
He
was
84.
Mphoko’s
death
was
confirmed
by
Presidential
spokesperson
George
Charamba
on
Friday.
“Regrettably,
I
can
confirm
he
is
late,”
Charamba
told
ZimLive.
Mphoko
had
been
battling
an
undisclosed
illness
and
died
while
undergoing
treatment
in
India.
His
wife
Laurinda
was
by
his
side.
Mphoko
served
as
vice
president
from
2014
until
2017
when
then
President
Robert
Mugabe
was
overthrown
by
the
military
in
a
coup
that
installed
incumbent
President
Emmerson
Mnangagwa.
Mnangagwa
had
been
co-vice
president
in
Mugabe’s
government.
A
former
shareholder
in
Choppies
Zimbabwe
and
a
keen
cattle
rancher,
Mphoko
served
as
Zimbabwe’s
ambassador
Mozambique,
Austria,
Botswana,
Russia
and
South
Africa.
His
diplomatic
postings
began
in
1987.
Born
on
June
11,
1940,
Mphoko
was
one
of
the
few
surviving
former
ZPRA
commanders
who
executed
the
armed
struggle.
He
was
known
by
his
liberation
war
name,
Report.
Under
Mugabe’s
rule,
Mphoko
was
also
assigned
to
head
the
ministerial
portfolio
of
National
Healing,
Peace
and
Reconciliation.
On
July
6,
2015,
Mugabe
assigned
Mphoko
responsibility
for
coordination
and
implementation
of
policy
in
his
government.
Former
information
and
higher
education
minister
Professor
Jonathan
Moyo
said:
“I
remember
the
late
former
vice
president
Phelekezela
Mphoko
as
a
selfless
national
liberation
hero
and
gentleman;
a
PanAfrican
not
through
slogans
but
in
his
household;
a
consummate
diplomat,
and
an
unassuming
and
reluctant
politician
whose
deeds
were
defined
by
humility.
The
news
of
his
untimely
death
is
shocking.”
Saviour
Kasukuwere,
the
former
local
government
minister
and
political
ally
of
Mphoko
described
him
as
a
“political
giant.”
“A
matured
nationalist,
VP
Mphoko
gave
all
his
life
in
service
of
the
country.
He
fought
in
the
struggle
for
independence
but
never
used
a
sickening
sense
of
entitlement
on
others,”
Kasukuwere
told
ZimLive
“He
detested
tribalism
and
soon
it
brought
him
into
conflict
with
power-hungry
and
corrupt
politicians.“
Tabeth
Kanengoni-Malinga,
the
former
minister
of
state
in
Mphoko’s
office,
said
he
“inspired
everyone
around
him.”
“I
had
the
distinct
honor
of
serving
as
minister
of
state
in
his
office,
a
role
through
which
I
came
to
know
him
not
only
as
a
visionary
leader
but
also
as
a
compassionate
and
principled
man
who
dedicated
much
of
his
life
to
liberating
Zimbabwe
from
colonial
rule.l,”
she
said.
“I
was
profoundly
moved
by
his
tireless
efforts
to
address
the
pressing
needs
of
our
people.
He
worked
relentlessly
to
promote
national
peace,
reconciliation,
and
equitable
development.
His
wisdom
and
humility
stood
out,
as
did
his
deep
and
genuine
concern
for
the
well-being
of
every
Zimbabwean,
irrespective
of
their
background
or
status.
“He
inspired
those
around
him
to
pursue
the
betterment
of
our
nation
with
commitment
and
integrity.
His
pivotal
contributions
to
Zimbabwe’s
liberation
struggle
and
his
dedicated
service
in
the
years
that
followed
will
forever
be
etched
in
our
history
and
our
hearts.“