02 May 2007

By Tichaona Sibanda

MDC national chairman and one of the founding fathers of the party, Isaac Matongo, has died at the age of 60 from suspected heart failure at his home in Chisipite, Harare . He had a history of diabetes and blood pressure problems.

Party President Morgan Tsvangirai who was scheduled to leave the country Wednesday morning for a business trip was one of the first to be informed of his death just after 3am . He has since postponed his travels, according to the MDC’s secretary for Foreign Affairs Professor Elphas Mukonoweshuro.

Friends and party activists from around the world and across the political spectrum have paid tribute to Matongo whose bravery and acumen drew plaudits from Tsvangirai and leading MDC politicians.

Mukonoweshuro described Matongo as one of the most remarkable and colourful personalities ever to emerge from the MDC, saying the veteran trade unionist had worked tirelessly in the last two years to transform the party’s internal and external structures.

‘His persistence, toughness and good humour were legendary,’ said Mukonoweshuro, who last saw Matongo on Sunday after they returned from a trip in Johannesburg South Africa .

‘We were together in South Africa over the weekend for some party business and he was as jovial as ever. When we came back Sunday he drove me to my house and that was the last time I saw him. Yesterday (Tuesday) he had meetings with some labour union officials and they are telling us he was fine. So it’s a shock really,’ Mukonoweshuro said.

Matongo’s second born son, Stanley who lives in the UK , said his family were heartbroken by his untimely death. Stanley said he last spoke with his father on Tuesday night. He said as far as he knew he had been having trouble with his blood pressure that led to the swelling of one of his legs.

‘My wife and I were blessed with a baby girl three weeks ago and so he was telling me last night that he will be making arrangements to fly over in the next few weeks to come and see his new granddaughter. Naturally I am just shocked because we were on the phone until 10 pm and then 7 hours later I receive a phone call that he is dead,’ said Stanley.

A statement from the MDC said Matongo was born on the 12 th March 1947 in Masvingo and started his career as a labour unionist in the late 80’s. He was elected the vice-president of the National Engineering Workers’ Union (NEWU) in 1988 and at the same time worked for Precision Grinders.

He then served as the vice-president of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) together with the then Secretary-General, Morgan Tsvangirai and President Gibson Sibanda.

Matongo played a pivotal role in the conception and formation of the MDC in 1999. He, together with other labour and civic leaders, convened the historic All Working National Peoples’ Convention in 1999 which gave birth to the MDC to resolve the ever-deepening crisis in the country.

He was elected the founding national chairman, a position he held until the time of his death.

Party spokesman Nelson Chamisa said; ‘Matongo’s death comes as a blow not only to the party but the nation at large, particularly considering the challenges that our country is facing. His experience, wisdom and vision will be irreplaceable. The country has lost a leader, father and a peacemaker.’

Matongo is survived by his wife, eight children and 13 grandchildren. Mourners are gathered at No. 27-22 Crescent, Warren Park 1 in Harare.

Burial arrangements released late Wednesday said he would be buried on Saturday at his farm near Renko mine in Masvingo. His body will lie in state at his Warren Park home on Thursday. The funeral cottage will then move on to Masvingo on Friday where his body will lie overnight at his farm. -SW Radio Africa.

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