Professor Gordon Chavunduka, the president of the Zimbabwe National Traditional Healers’ Association, has died.
Family spokesman, Chris Mbanga, a nephew to Chavunduka, said the well-known and respected educationist was rushed to the Avenues Clinic in Harare ON Friday where he succumbed to throat cancer that had afflicted him for a long time.
“He has been ill for close to a year and was now bedridden suffering from what the doctors have been saying is thoracic cancer. The doctors were actually surprised that he had lived this long, but he was fighting on.
“He slowly lost his voice and in the last few months he could no longer communicate. It’s tragic that we have lost such a great man,” Mbanga said.
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Interview Chris Mbanga
Professor Chavunduka was a well-known academic, who served as vice chancellor of the University of Zimbabwe from 1992 to 1996 before retirement. He was also an author of several books on traditional medicine.
Chavunduka, who was going to turn 81 this year, is survived by his wife and 5 children, including television personality Alice Chavunduka.
Mbanga told the VOA that his uncle is expected to be buried at his rural home in Dowa, Rusape in Manicaland Province next week.
Mourners are gathered at his Mt. Pleasant home in the capital.
MDC-T spokesman Douglas Mwonzora said Professor Chavunduka was a key member of the MDC who was instrumental in formulating Zimbabwe’s Policy on National Healing and Reconciliation.
Mwonzora said Chavunduka should be declared a national hero for his contribution to the education sector and the liberation struggle.
