By Never Kadungure
A close friend and work colleague of the late Higher Education Minister Dr Stan Mudenge says the 71 year old Masvingo North Zanu PF MP was in a jovial mood on the day he collapsed and died inside a Masvingo hotel last week Thursday.
Dr Washington Mbizvo, the permanent secretary in Dr Mudenge’s ministry told journalists “It seems like he was indirectly saying farewell. He was a happy man; he was in jovial mood; he was excited; although he was always like that.”
Mbizvo said “what was happening in Masvingo was something else; he was saying goodbye, I have fought my good fight.”
Mudenge who was declared a national hero by the Zanu PF politburo is survived by wife Mildred Kada (believed to be in her 20’s) and three children — Thando, Pedzisai and Rumbidzai, from previous marriages.
Mudenge’s two previous wives all passed away. First wife Kgogo died in 2001 while his second wife Eunice died in 2004. In May this year a visibly sick Mudenge tied the knot with Mildred Kada at his Zimuto rural home.
In June 2010, Mudenge was admitted at the Avenues Clinic’s High Dependency Unit in Harare for eight days after being diagnosed with cardiac failure. In March this year he spent a week in hospital with head injuries after being attacked by a bull at his Chikore farm in Masvingo.
Meanwhile Isack Stanislaus Gorerazvo Mudenge will be buried at the National Heroes’ Acre on Monday. Zanu-PF national spokesman Rugare Gumbo confirmed the burial yesterday. He said the thousands of people who are expected to throng the national shrine should be seated by 10am.
Zanu-PF secretary for administration Didymus Mutasa said the late national hero’s body is expected in Harare Sunday from Masvingo where it lay in state at his Zimuto rural home. Monday morning will see the body being taken to Stodart Hall in Mbare, Harare.