State assisted burial for Cont

Edwin Nhukarume

PRESIDENT Mnangagwa has granted Cont Mhlanga a state-assisted funeral.

The veteran playwright, film-maker and theatre director, died on Monday at the United Bulawayo Hospitals (UBH) after a short illness.

Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet, Dr Misheck Sibanda, said the intervention by the State was motivated by the contribution done by Mhlanga in the arts sector.

“His Excellency the President Dr E.D. Mnangagwa, has granted a State-assisted Funeral to the late National Arts Merits Awards (NAMA) legend, Continue-loving ‘Cont’ Mhlanga,” Dr Sibanda said in a statement.

“This 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.

“Only recently, the late (Mhlanga) had been appointed as the member of the national team for the creation of a strategy for the Zimbabwe film sector.

“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.

“May his dear soul rest in eternal peace.”