adminTogarepi Chideya.
Ambassador Chideya died on December 8 in Canada after a heart failure.
His body was expected home late last night.
The late envoy was husband to Zimbabwe’s ambassador to Canada Mrs Florence Chideya.
President Mugabe described Ambassador Chideya as a “faithful and loyal” servant.
“Even in retirement, he continued to serve his country, not least by supporting his spouse,” said President Mugabe.
“The nation has thus lost a faithful and loyal servant whose mission in life was to be of dutiful service to his country and people.
“On behalf of Government and my own behalf, I wish to express our heartfelt condolences to our ambassador to Canada, Mrs Florence Chideya and the Chideya family on their sad loss.”
The Chideya family, he said, should find solace in that the nation was together with them during the time of bereavement.
A family spokesperson said Ambassador Chideya’s body would lie in state at his Mt Pleasant home ahead of burial at Glen Forest tomorrow.
Ambassador Chideya was former ambassador to the Nordic countries, which cover Sweden, Denmark, Norway and Finland.
Born in Mazowe in 1944, Ambassador Chideya completed his secondary education through private studies in 1964.
He went to the United States where he read for a Bachelor of Arts degree in Geography.
He also read for a Masters in Educational Administration and a doctorate in Higher Education at the State University of New York between 1970 and 1976.
Ambassador Chideya joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1990 as a deputy secretary.
In October the same year he was appointed ambassador to the Nordic countries. In 1993, he was appointed High Commissioner to the United Kingdom and Ireland.
He returned home in 1999 and was appointed head of the special information unity in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
In September the same year, Ambassador Chideya was appointed director for Europe and Americas.
In 2001, he was appointed divisional head of protocol, legal and consular.
He also held several positions in the ministry before retiring in 2004.
He is survived by wife, Florence and two children.
Mourners are gathered at number 1 Quorn Avenue, Mt Pleasant, Harare.
Online Reporter