Andrew
Online Reporter
President Mnangagwa has accorded arts guru Continueloving “Cont” Mhlanga a State-assisted funeral in recognition of his achievements as an internationally acclaimed playwright, filmmaker and creative director.
Mhlanga succumbed to pneumonia on Monday morning.
He was 64.
In a statement on Tuesday, Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet Dr Misheck Sibanda described Mhlanga as a trailblazer in the country’s creative and cultural industries.
“His Excellency the President, Dr E.D. Mnangagwa, has granted State-assisted funeral to the late National Arts Merit Awards (NAMA) legend, Continue-loving “Cont” Mdlala Mhlanga, who passed on yesterday at the United Bulawayo Hospitals (UBH) after a short illness,” reads the statement.
“This is in recognition of his great achievements as an internationally acclaimed playwright, filmmaker and creative director who came as a trailblazer in our country’s creative and cultural industries.”
Mhlanga was recently appointed a member of the National Team for the Creation of a Strategy for the Zimbabwe Film Sector.
Dr Sibanda said his death leaves the arts sector with a huge void.
“On behalf of the Office of the President and Cabinet, and indeed on my behalf, I wish foremost to express my deepest condolences to the Mhlanga family who have lost a beloved father and breadwinner, and to the cultural and creative arts community in general, who are the poorer with the demise of one of Zimbabwe’s most respected icons the arts sector has ever produced.”
Tinaye Agere
Online Reporter