Matabeleland South PA Mpofu dies

Mpofu died at United Bulawayo Hospitals (UBH) yesterday at about 1am after succumbing to injuries sustained in an accident last week.
The accident occurred at the 47km peg along the Shangani-Mbembesi Road when the car he was travelling in veered off the road and overturned following a tyre burst.
He sustained severe body injuries and was rushed to UBH where he was admitted in the intensive care unit (ICU).

When Chronicle visited the Mpofu family at its Waterford home in Bulawayo, a gloomy atmosphere engulfed the place with neighbours and relatives beginning to gather to console the family.

The Mpofu spokesperson, Mr Bukhosi Mpofu, who is Mpofu’s eldest son, said the family has been robbed of a charismatic father who had served his family and the community diligently.
“I am short of words and the only thing I can say is that my father will be greatly missed. He worked hard to make our lives better and that of his community.

“His condition deteriorated from Saturday as his blood pressure kept fluctuating. The doctors said he also had an inflammation of the brain,” said Mr Mpofu.
He said his father was likely to be buried on Saturday.

Mpofu was born on 29 September 1954 in Fort Rixon, Insiza district, where he did his lower primary education.
He went to Wanezi Mission where he continued his education up to Standard Six and then proceeded to Mtshabezi Mission for a certificate in education.
Mpofu then went to teach at Doyana area where he met his wife in 1975.

From there he worked at David Livingstone Primary School as a qualified teacher.
After Independence, Mpofu continued serving as a teacher at primary schools that include Matshayisikhova in Luveve and Fusi in Gwabalanda.

He was then promoted to education officer, staffing officer, regional director before becoming the PA for Matabeleland South.
Mpofu was also a board member of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) and a referees’ assessor for the Zimbabwe Football Association (Zifa).

He is survived by a wife and eight children.
Mourners are gathered at Number 23 Holland Road in Waterford.