by Christopher Makaza
President Emmerson Mnangagwa has sent his condolence message to the family of the late academic, author and former associate professor of history at the University of Zimbabwe, Professor Chengetai Jonas Mudadirwa Zvobgo, who died at St Giles Medical Rehabilitation Centre in Harare yesterday, after a long illness related to a stroke he suffered a year ago.
In his condolence message, President Mnangagwa said he was deeply saddened and pained to receive the news of the death yesterday, of Professor Zvobgo, young brother to the late national hero, Dr Eddison Zvobgo.
‘On behalf of Government, my family, and on my own behalf, I wish to convey my heartfelt condolences to the Zvobgo family, especially the Professor`s children, Knowledge, Wendy and Clara, who have lost a loving father and their pillar of strength, May they all take comfort from the knowledge that our prayers are with them during this, their darkest hour of grief.
‘While we were aware that he had not been well for some time after suffering a stroke for which he was receiving treatment at a local rehabilitation centre, our prayers and expectations were pinned on his speedy recovery and wellness. Regrettably, this was not to be,’’ said the President.
President said the country notes with great satisfaction that the late Professor Zvobgo has left behind a rich legacy traceable in the academic world through distinguished service as a history professor of repute. He went on to say that Professor Zvobgo`s contribution to the body of knowledge in both Zimbabwean and African history is well recognised including several books and academic journals to his credit and will be sorely missed by the academic community to which he was a respected figure.
Professor Zvobgo graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in History from the University of California (UCLA); a Master of Arts in African History from UCLA; a Post-Graduate Diploma in Education from Makerere University (Uganda) and a PhD in African History from the University of Edinburgh in Scotland.
He was a distinguished academic who authored several journal articles on Zimbabwe.
Professor Zvobgo published books such as “A History of Zimbabwe, 1890-2000” and “Postscript; Zimbabwe, 2001-2008”; “The Wesleyan Methodist Missions in Zimbabwe, 1891-1945”; “A History of Christian Missions in Zimbabwe, 1890-1939” and “The Struggle for Zimbabwe 1935-2004 Eddison JM Zvobgo.’’
