President mourns Dos Santos, Abe

Sunday Mail Reporter

President Mnangagwa yesterday described former Angolan president José Eduardo dos Santos, who died in Barcelona, Spain, on Friday after a long illness, as a Pan-Africanist and illustrious liberator “who steadfastly devoted his entire life to the service of his country”.

He was 79.

Separately, the President also mourned ex-Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe (67), who was assassinated during an election campaign rally in Nara, Japan, on the same day.

In a condolence message to Angolan President João Lourenço, President Mnangagwa said the former statesman leaves behind a rich legacy.

“On behalf of the Government and people of Zimbabwe and indeed on my behalf, I wish to convey my deepest condolences to you, your Excellency, the dos Santos family and the government and people of Angola, for the sad loss of a leader who steadfastly devoted his entire life to the service of his country,” he said.

“As we join you in mourning the sad loss of this illustrious liberator and Pan-Africanist, may you draw comfort from the fact that he leaves a rich legacy of sacrifice and struggle for peace, development and self-determination, not only for his own people, but for the entire African continent, which he dearly loved.”

In a separate letter to Japan’s prime minister Fumio Kishida, the President said Zimbabwe will always cherish cordial relations that flourished between the two countries during Mr Abe’s tenure.

“It was with a profound sense of shock and grief that I received the devastating news of the assassination of Mr Shinzo Abe, former prime minister of Japan,” he said.

“On behalf of the Government and people of Zimbabwe, and on my own behalf, I extend to you and through you, to the government and people of Japan, as well as the Abe family, our deepest condolences on his tragic death.”

Mr Abe, he added, will be remembered for promoting world peace.