Cancer stricken Khupe takes sick leave

Deputy Prime Minister, Thokozani Khupe is down with breast cancer and has taken an indefinite leave from government. Khupe confirmed to Radio VOP on Wednesday that she is not well and her doctors had advised to take a rest.

“Yes, I was not feeling well, but I think I am getting better now, my doctor has advised me to take some rest. But please tell me, who told you about all this,” asked Khupe.

Breast cancer is a cancer that starts in the tissues of the breast. Most women have a higher risk for breast cancer if they have a close relative who has had breast, uterine, ovarian, or colon cancer. About 20 – 30% of women with breast cancer have a family history of the disease.

Khupe has been the Deputy Prime Minister of the Government of National Unity since 11 February 2009. She is the first woman appointed to this post since Zimbabwe’s independence. In 2010 she was elected as the President for the United Nations Aids/Global Women Power Network for Africa.

The network is responsible for creating a new and sustainable network of female legislators and ministers from Africa to fight HIV/Aids and implement the agenda for accelerated country action at national and regional levels.

Since 2000, she has been also the deputy chairperson of the Zimbabwe Parliamentary Women’s Caucus and has recently been appointed Humanitarian Coordinator. Thokozani Khupe has three children. Radio VOP