Wenslus Murape
Bulawayo Bureau
Former Vice President, Cde Phelekezela Report Mphoko, who died on December 6 in India where he had been receiving treatment, is expected to be buried today.
He was 84.
Cde Mphoko was born on June 11, 1940 in Gwizane, Bubi district, Matabeleland North province. He attended David Livingstone Memorial School in Ntabazinduna and Mzilikazi High School in Bulawayo, before studying at the Tsholotsho Agricultural Breeding and Experimental School.
His passion for agriculture saw him pursue advanced courses in semen collection, artificial insemination and embryo transfer at Austria’s Institute of Genetics from 1996 to 1999.
He furthered his studies in Agricultural Farming Finance at the University of Natural Science in the Free State, South Africa.
Cde Mphoko’s political activism began early, and he was arrested in 1963 for what the colonial regime termed political violence.
He later received military training in the then-Soviet Union and played a crucial role in the armed struggle.
He served in several capacities in Government after independence, including as Zimbabwe’s Ambassador to several countries and as Vice President from December 2014 until November 2017.
Cde Mphoko is survived by his wife, Luaurinda, three children — daughters Sikhumbuzo and Siduduzo, and son Siqokoqela — and three grandchildren.
