Staff Reporter

President Emmerson Mnangagwa has described the late former Cabinet Minister, Dr Christopher Mushohwe as a person who was active and keen in educational programmes.

Dr Mushohwe, who was the former Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services and Executive Director of the Presidential and National Scholarships Programme, died yesterday at the age of 69 after a long illness.

 In a statement yesterday, President Mnangagwa said Dr Mushohwe was instrumental in setting up educational programmes for war veterans who were serving in Government.

 “Always showing a strong internal drive and an insatiable urge to improve him, Dr Mushohwe used his scarce time to study through distance education until he became a holder of two doctorates. This was an extraordinary feat for a man holding such sensitive and onerous positions.

“He also was instrumental in setting up an educational programme for senior war veterans in Government, which was run from Zimbabwe House. Later, he played a pivotal role in ensuring greater access to education for able, yet disadvantaged Zimbabweans, through the Presidential Scholarship Programme which educated thousands,” said President Mnangagwa.

President Mnangagwa said Dr Mushohwe was a patriotic Zimbabwean who participated in the liberation struggle as a war collaborator before serving in different portfolios at independence. He added that Dr Mushohwe was a significant person in the Party`s provincial structure of Manicaland province.

Meanwhile, Dr Mushohwe has since been declared a national hero. The nation will soon be informed about the burial arrangements.