The Sunday Mail
Sydney Mubaiwa in ZAKA
Sydney Mubaiwa in ZAKA
Former Head of Cabinet Secretariat in the Office of the President and Cabinet Mr Francis Sonny Mapingire was yesterday buried at his rural home in Maroi village under Chief Bota in Zaka, Masvingo.
Mr Mapingure succumbed to cancer of the colon at a private hospital in Harare on Christmas Day. He was 57. Scores of mourners thronged Muroi village yesterday to pay their last respects to the gallant son of the soil.
Speakers extolled Cde Mapingire’s virtues and described him as a dedicated cadre.
Deputy Chief Secretary for Administration and Finance in the Office of the President and Cabinet Mr Martin Rushwaya described the death of Mr Mapingire as a loss to the nation.
“His loss is not only to you (Mapingire family), but to all of us in the Office of the President and Cabinet and the nation at large,” he said.
“Mr Mapingire’s untimely departure is a painful loss to the Zaka community, Masvingo province and the nation at large.
“We should, therefore, appreciate his fountain of wisdom and sense of equality that made him a strong and intelligent man who could not be moved by freak storms, but one who stood boldly against all odds.”
In a graveside eulogy, Public Service Commission chairperson Dr Vincent Hungwe echoed Mr Rushwaya’s sentiments that the nation had been robbed.
“His death has come at a time when the nation is taking practical steps to turn around the fortunes of this country and we are robbed of a person who was committed to his work in the highest Office of the President and Cabinet,” he said.
“We will all continue to cherish his contributions in the area of the Cabinet administration and other critical areas. May his family be comforted that he fought a good fight in his life.
“The country will continue to move on with its economic agenda inspired by his departure and his contributions to the development of Zimbabwe.”
In a letter read on his behalf, ZAOGA founder member Dr Ezekiel Guti described the late Mapingire as a humble man who feared God.
“Mapingire Francis, you fought a big fight, you walked a good journey. We have been robbed as a nation. May the Almighty God continue to guide your family. Rest in peace son of God,” read the statement.
Family spokespersonMr Munyaradzi Mapingire said the family had lost a supporting pillar.
“We are robbed of a kind and generous man of God who was supportive and loved by many. To us, he was a great father. He loved to talk to all of us and his children; he was a mentor and a teacher of the family,” he said.
Born on March 30 1962, Mr Mapingire did his primary education at Rudhanda in Zaka before transferring to Morgenster Mission in Masvingo.
He did his secondary education at St Anthony’s Mission before proceeding to Gokomere High School for Advanced Level studies in 1979.
Mr Mapingire started off his professional career as a teacher at Highfield 1 High School from June to July 1987 before joining the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare as an administration officer in August the same year.
The late Mr Mapingire joined the Department of National Scholarships as a senior administration officer in December 1989 before he moved to the Office of the President and Cabinet Secretariat in 2009.
He was enrolled at the University of Zimbabwe for an Honorary Degree in Economics in 1986 and at his untimely death, he was studying towards a Doctor of Philosophy Degree with the Midlands State University.
He is survived by his wife Jospheen and two children – Kudzaishe (24)and Anotidaishe (19).
Among the mourners at the burial were Deputy Minister of Finance and Economic Development Clemence Chiduwa, Executive Director of Presidential and National Scholarships in the Office of the President and Cabinet Dr Chris Mushowe, Zanu PF politburo member Josiah Hungwe, employees from the Office of the President and Cabinet and legislators.
Mr Mapingure succumbed to cancer of the colon at a private hospital in Harare on Christmas Day. He was 57. Scores of mourners thronged Muroi village yesterday to pay their last respects to the gallant son of the soil.
Speakers extolled Cde Mapingire’s virtues and described him as a dedicated cadre.
Deputy Chief Secretary for Administration and Finance in the Office of the President and Cabinet Mr Martin Rushwaya described the death of Mr Mapingire as a loss to the nation.
“His loss is not only to you (Mapingire family), but to all of us in the Office of the President and Cabinet and the nation at large,” he said.
“Mr Mapingire’s untimely departure is a painful loss to the Zaka community, Masvingo province and the nation at large.
“We should, therefore, appreciate his fountain of wisdom and sense of equality that made him a strong and intelligent man who could not be moved by freak storms, but one who stood boldly against all odds.”
In a graveside eulogy, Public Service Commission chairperson Dr Vincent Hungwe echoed Mr Rushwaya’s sentiments that the nation had been robbed.
“His death has come at a time when the nation is taking practical steps to turn around the fortunes of this country and we are robbed of a person who was committed to his work in the highest Office of the President and Cabinet,” he said.
“We will all continue to cherish his contributions in the area of the Cabinet administration and other critical areas. May his family be comforted that he fought a good fight in his life.
“The country will continue to move on with its economic agenda inspired by his departure and his contributions to the development of Zimbabwe.”
In a letter read on his behalf, ZAOGA founder member Dr Ezekiel Guti described the late Mapingire as a humble man who feared God.
“Mapingire Francis, you fought a big fight, you walked a good journey. We have been robbed as a nation. May the Almighty God continue to guide your family. Rest in peace son of God,” read the statement.
Family spokespersonMr Munyaradzi Mapingire said the family had lost a supporting pillar.
“We are robbed of a kind and generous man of God who was supportive and loved by many. To us, he was a great father. He loved to talk to all of us and his children; he was a mentor and a teacher of the family,” he said.
Born on March 30 1962, Mr Mapingire did his primary education at Rudhanda in Zaka before transferring to Morgenster Mission in Masvingo.
He did his secondary education at St Anthony’s Mission before proceeding to Gokomere High School for Advanced Level studies in 1979.
Mr Mapingire started off his professional career as a teacher at Highfield 1 High School from June to July 1987 before joining the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare as an administration officer in August the same year.
The late Mr Mapingire joined the Department of National Scholarships as a senior administration officer in December 1989 before he moved to the Office of the President and Cabinet Secretariat in 2009.
He was enrolled at the University of Zimbabwe for an Honorary Degree in Economics in 1986 and at his untimely death, he was studying towards a Doctor of Philosophy Degree with the Midlands State University.
He is survived by his wife Jospheen and two children – Kudzaishe (24)and Anotidaishe (19).
Among the mourners at the burial were Deputy Minister of Finance and Economic Development Clemence Chiduwa, Executive Director of Presidential and National Scholarships in the Office of the President and Cabinet Dr Chris Mushowe, Zanu PF politburo member Josiah Hungwe, employees from the Office of the President and Cabinet and legislators.
