One of Zimbabwe’s longest-serving traditional leaders, Chief Vezi Maduna Mafu, has died aged 86.
Chief Vezi Maduna was recovering from a stroke he suffered on 18 August 2019.
Nhlanhlayamangwe Ndiweni posted on Twitter on Saturday announcing Chief Vezi Maduna’s death. He said:
With a heavy heart and a sense of great personal loss I’d like to announce the passing of great paramount Chief Vezi Maduna Mafu at 1am this morning.
Maduna participated in Zimbabwe’s liberation struggle and was detained for a number of years for his involvement in the nationalist movement in the 60s and 70s.
Maduna started politics in 1960 during the time of the National Democratic Party (NDP) which was led by the now late Vice-President, Dr Joshua Nkomo.
When Zapu was banned in September 1962, he then crossed the border to Zambia and lived in Kitwe where he continued with his political activities until 1964, after, which he returned home.
In 1981 he was elected a Zapu councillor and became the first chairman of the Insiza Rural District Council. Chief Maduna was also elected the party’s vice-chairmen for Matabeleland South Provincial Authority.
More: Byo24; Chief Ndiweni