HARARE – Ellen Gwaradzimba, the Minister of State for Manicaland Provincial Affairs has died aged 61.
Gwaradzimba succumbed to Covid-19, according to deputy sports minister Tino Machakaire.
She is the second minister after Perrance Shiri, who was lands and agriculture minister, to die from the respiratory illness.
Machakaire, who posted news of Gwaradzimbas death on Twitter, said: “She succumbed to Covid-19. We have been robbed once again of a hardworking and dedicated cadre. I am praying for peace and comfort for her family and those of us who knew her.”
Born Ellen Munyoro, Gwaradzimba was born in Gutu in 1960 and studied at the University of Zimbabwe and eventually at University of Fort Hare in South Africa.
She did her primary education at Ngwindi in Hippo Valley before doing her secondary education at Mashoko Christian in Bikita.
She was elected senator in 2018 and appointed Manicaland minister a year later.
Gwaradzimba was Zanu PF Manicaland Provincial chairperson of the Women’s League from 2001 to 2009 and also held portfolios in the central committee.
She also served as principal lecturer at Mutare Polytechnic, dean of students at Africa University and lecturer at the University of Zimbabwe.
A combative politician, Gwaradzimba was embroiled in controversy when her son Remembrance Mudzana took over part of Farfell Coffee Estate, a farm which belonged to Richard Le Vieux.
When she was summoned by a parliamentary committee to discuss the farm take over, she threatened to report its chairman Justice Mayor Wadyajena to President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
She stormed: “Leave me alone. Why are you targeting me? Who sent you? I have BP and a heart problem, stop harassing me.”
Shiri became the first minister o die from Covid-19 in July. Since then, the virus has spread rapidly with a record 47 deaths reported on Thursday alone.
Zimbabwe has reported 25,368 Covid-19 cases which have resulted in 636 deaths.
