Politburo member Ncube dies

Ncube died at Mpilo Central Hospital yesterday morning after succumbing to anaemia.
Acting Zanu-PF Bulawayo provincial chairman Cde Killian Sibanda said Cde Ncube played an  influential role during the liberation struggle.
“After receiving the sad news, we sat down as a party and resolved to recommend Cde Edson Ncube for a national hero status,” he said.
Zimbabwe National War Veterans Association president Cde Jabulani Sibanda said the nation, especially Matabeleland North Province, had lost a true hero.
Cde Ncube, who was a widower, was born in  1938 in Tsholotsho District and attended Matshudula School for his Standard One to Three before going to Luveve School in Bulawayo for his Standard Four up to Six.
He did his Ordinary Level through private studies and also learnt at Hope Fountain Mission from 1956 to 1958.
Cde Ncube worked as a school master from 1959 to 1969 before working at Boka Group as a sales representative.
He joined the ANC in 1959 and later the NDP, Zapu and the PCC and was also the chairman of the Progressive and Development Association, a wing of Zapu from 1962 to 1966.
In 1965, Cde Ncube was arrested for resisting the Unilateral Declaration of Independence and sentenced to 18 months in prison. In 1969, he was arrested again for rising against the referendum for a republic by the Rhodesian Front and was detained at Khami Prison for three years.
Cde Ncube was also detained at Marandellas Prison (now Marondera Prison) from 1977 to 1979 for recruiting and dealing with freedom fighters, the likes of Andrew Ndiweni and John Maluzo Ndlovu.
In 1981, Cde Ncube was elected the Zapu Matabeleland provincial chairman and was also co-chairman of the Matabeleland North Integration Task Force of PF-Zapu and Zanu-PF.
In 1989, he was elected Zanu-PF Central Committee Member and was later appointed the deputy national secretary for commissariat and culture, a position he held up to 1998.
He was elected Member of Parliament for Mpopoma constituency in 1990 until 1995.
In 2001, he served in the interim committee of Bulawayo Province until the elections in 2004 when he was elected Central Committee member of Zanu-PF for Bulawayo.
Cde Ncube is survived by five children and three grandchildren.
Mourners are gathered at 88/7670 Mpopoma.