The Sunday News
Nokukhanya Moyo/Vusumuzi Dube, Sunday News Reporters
MDC-T Senator Victor Mapungwana has died.
Sen Mapungwana, who replaced Mr Matson Hlalo in the Upper House last year passed away on Friday after a short illness.
He was 50 and shy of turning 51 yesterday having been born on 18 February 1966.
Senator Mapungwana, who was MDC-T national executive member will be buried at the Lady Stanley Cemetery with the party’s president Mr Morgan Tsvangirai expected to be in attendance.
At one point Senator Mapungwana was the party’s national representative in the province.
Confirming the death MDC-T Bulawayo provincial chairperson Councillor Gift Banda said the party had lost a hard working cadre who would be sorely missed.
“Yes, Senator Mapungwana has passed away. As a party we are really saddened because he succumbed to a very short illness and we were all confident that he will recover,” said Clr Banda.
The party’s provincial spokesperson, Mr Mandla Sibanda, said on Monday they would hold a memorial service at the Amphitheatre before burial at Lady Stanley.
“Through consultations with the family, burial has been set for Lady Stanley on Monday but there shall be a service at the Amphitheatre at 9am. We are expecting the party president Mr Morgan Tsvangirai to attend the burial.
“Sen Mapungwana’s death came as a surprise because he was admitted to hospital on Tuesday and passed away on Friday morning. He was a hard worker, who has been with the party since the beginning up until his untimely death,” said Mr Sibanda.
Mourners are gathered at Number 65/2030 Mpopoma.
Senator Mapungwana was seconded to the Senate by the MDC-T after the unceremonious dismissal of Mr Hlalo which led to his recall from Parliament after he allegedly violated the MDC-T’s constitution by taking party issues to court.
