Online Reporter
Herald Reporter
ZIMBABWE’s ambassadors accredited to different countries have sent a message of condolence following the death of long-serving diplomat and senior civil servant, Ambassador Stuart Harold Comberbach.
He died on September 4 in England.
Through their Dean, Zimbabwe’s Ambassador to Ghana, Kufa Chinoza, the diplomats described Amb Comberbach as someone dedicated to national unity given that he was one of a few white people who were prepared to work with the new Government of Zimbabwe upon attainment of independence in 1980.
“On behalf of Zimbabwe’s Ambassadors, Consuls General and their staff at their respective Missions and indeed on my own behalf, I would like to express our heartfelt condolences to His Excellency, President Dr ED Mnangagwa, the Government, the nation and the Comberbach family, on the sad loss of Ambassador Stuart Harold Comberbach on 4 September 2025 in England, United Kingdom,” reads the statement.
Ambassador Comberbach was born on September 27, 1952 in Salisbury, Southern Rhodesia (now Harare, Zimbabwe).
He graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Modern Languages, majoring in French, from the University of Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa in 1973.
He joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as a Cadet in 1971 and later as a full-time civil servant in 1974 following his graduation.
Amb Chinoza noted that Amb Comberbach’s diplomatic career spanned over four decades as it started soon after completing his university education.
He was one of a few white civil servants who continued to work with the Government after independence in 1980, demonstrating his commitment to national unity beyond racial lines, reads the statement.
Throughout his distinguished career, Amb Comberbach held various key posts that included Head of Zimbabwe Trade Mission in Johannesburg, South Africa from 1987-1994.
He also served as Zimbabwe’s Ambassador to Italy and Permanent Representative to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation in Rome from 1994 to 1999.
Back home, he served as Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Industry and Trade from 1999 to 2002 before returning to diplomatic duties when he was appointed Ambassador to Japan and South Korea from 2003 to 2014, promoting friendship and goodwill between Japan and Zimbabwe.
Added the statement: “In recognition of his exceptional diplomatic contributions, he was awarded the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Rays by the Government of Japan in 2015.”
Amb Comberbach was appointed to the post of Permanent Secretary in the office of the President and Cabinet with responsibility for Corporate Governance and State Enterprises.
He also became Special Advisor, Foreign Affairs and International Trade under the then Minister, the late Dr Sibusiso Moyo and later under Dr Frederick Shava, between September 2018 to September 2020.
Amb Comberbach became Zimbabwe’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Geneva, Switzerland from September 2020 to November 2024.
He was also instrumental in strengthening Zimbabwe’s international relations, notably playing an advisory role in the Second Republic in engagement and re-engagement with the international community and integrating international trade into the Ministry.
After completing his diplomatic assignment in Geneva, Amb Comberbach relocated to the United Kingdom to live with his daughter following his diagnosis with pancreatic cancer.
He is survived by wife, Benedict Ann “Dicky” Comberbach and three children.
