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Mashudu Netsianda, Senior Reporter
EX-POLITICAL detainee and brother to the late Vice-President Dr Joseph Msika, Cde Gibson Msika, has died.
He was 85.
Mr James Msika, who is the family spokesperson, said Cde Msika died yesterday morning at his home in Bulawayo’s Mpopoma suburb after succumbing to prostate cancer.
Prior to his death, Cde Msika was the only surviving member in the late VP Msika’s family. He participated in the country’s liberation struggle and was detained in the 1960s for political activism.
Between 1959 and 1960, Cde Msika was PF Zapu’s district secretary for youths for Mpopoma/Pelandaba. In 1960, he was appointed the party’s organising secretary in the district until 1962.
Between 1958 and 1961 he worked at the then Rhodesia Post office as a dispatch clerk before he was fired for participating in politics.
He later joined the Rhodesia Omnibus Company now Zupco before he was arrested on political grounds.
At independence, Cde Msika became PF Zapu’s deputy provincial organising secretary for Bulawayo.
He played an instrumental role in the 1987 Unity Accord signed between PF Zapu and Zanu-PF.
Mr Msika described the late former political activist as a humble man who contributed immensely to the country’s struggle for independence.
“He developed a serious back-ache after he was detained by the Rhodesian government for participating in politics. At prison they were forced to carry 20 bags of 70kg of maize meal on their heads as punishment and he was hospitalised several times. During Zanu-PF congresses and national conferences, Cde Msika loved to wear his safari suit which was given to him by former Zambian President Kenneth Kaunda,” said Mr Msika.
Born on December 13, 1931 in Mazowe, Mashonaland Central province, Cde Msika attended Nyatsuro Primary School in Mazowe, St Albans Mission in Chiweshe and Cyrene Mission School in Matobo district between 1937 and 1945.
Cde Msika is survived by wife Jennifer and four sons.
Mourners are gathered at Number 47035/16, Mpopoma suburb in Bulawayo.
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