Mkondo buried

Youth, Indigenisation and Empowerment Minister Saviour Kasukuwere described Mr Mkondo as a hero for black empowerment.
“He is one of the people who cleared the path for black economic emancipation whose fruits many Zimbabweans are enjoying today,” he said.

He told the mourners that Mr Mkondo assisted Zanu-PF to open its first bank account and was still a signatory to it at the time of his death.
Minister Kasukuwere lashed out at some individuals who claimed that the indigenisation and economic empowerment programme was a political gimmick. He said the empowerment programme was initiated soon after independence by the likes of Mr Mkondo, John Mapondera and Ben Mucheche among others.

Founding president of the Indigenous Business Development Centre Mr John Mapondera said it was regrettable that their request to have Mr Mkondo conferred with hero status was turned down.

He said Zanu-PF Harare Province, through which they made their request, said Mr Mkondo was not in their structures.
“It is sad to note that a hero status request  was turned down yet his contribution in the country’s economic liberation is unquestionable,” said Mr Mapondera. He said they would pursue the matter even after Mr Mkondo’s burial. IBDC president Mr Ben Mucheche said black economic empowerment was their brainchild together with  Mr Mkondo after a realisation that although the country had won political freedom, a lot needed to be done on the economic front where many Zimbabweans were involved in small businesses while the whites enjoyed a larger stake.