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Peter Matambanadzo Senior Reporter
Former president of the Zimbabwe Council of Chiefs, Chief Jonathan Mangwende has died. He was (77). Mashonaland East Provincial Affairs Minister Simbaneuta Mudarikwa yesterday said Chief Mangwende died in South Africa. “Chief Mangwende had been in South Africa receiving treatment and he passed on this Monday,” he said.
Minister Mudarikwa said arrangements to repatriate Chief Mangwende’s body to Zimbabwe were in progress and funeral arrangements would be announced in due course.
Chief Mangwende was unanimously elected president of the Chiefs Council in July 1991, succeeding Chief Zephania Charumbira who died earlier that year.
He served until 2005.
Chief Mangwende trained as a teacher at Nyadire Teachers’ College in Mutoko in 1957 and in 1969 he was appointed chief. He was elected to the third Council of Chiefs in 1973 and was also elected senator in 1974. He was a member of the Chibero Agricultural College Council from 1973 to 1975.
Chief Mangwende is survived by 17 children, 32 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren.
Mourners are gathered at his homestead in Mukarakate Village in Murewa.
Online Reporter