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Marvelous Moyo Gwanda Correspondent
FORMER Gwanda South Member of Parliament Cde Orders Shakespeare Mlilo has died.
He was 64.His brother and family spokesperson, Engineer George Mlilo said Cde Mlilo succumbed to heart problems and died on admission to Premier Hospital in Bulawayo yesterday.

“He passed on in the morning (yesterday) at around 3AM on admission to Premier Hospital where he was being treated. He had been admitted at the hospital on Saturday,” said Eng Mlilo.

He said before admission at the Bulawayo hospital, Cde Mlilo had been receiving treatment at Manama Hospital in Gwanda.

Eng Mlilo, who is also the permanent secretary in the Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing, said the family had lost a pillar of strength as they looked up to Cde Mlilo who was the eldest child.

“He was a family unifier and we’re deeply saddened by his death. My brother dedicated his life to the struggle, even after independence he worked hard for development as a councillor and MP,” said Eng Mlilo.

Cde Mlilo was councillor for ward 19 (Mlambapheli area) in Gwanda District for 18 years and was the chairperson of the Gwanda Rural District Council for three terms where he represented people of Gwanda and initiated several developmental programmes.

In the 1990s he held the post of vice president of the Association of RDCs.

From 2008 to 2013, Cde Mlilo served as the MP for Gwanda South.

At the time of his death, he was a member of the Zanu-PF Matabeleland South provincial executive council where he was secretary for environment and tourism.

Matabeleland South Minister of State for Provincial Affairs, Cde Abedinico Ncube, who is also Gwanda South MP, described Cde Mlilo’s death as a great loss to Gwanda and Zanu-PF.

He said the late Cde Mlilo was a war veteran who participated in the liberation struggle. Cde Ncube said the province had since appealed to the politburo for him to be conferred with provincial hero status.

Mourners are gathered at number 5 Tudor Close, Matsheumhlope Suburb in Bulawayo.

His burial is expected to take place at his rural home in Mlambapheli in Gwanda District on a date to be announced.