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Auxilia Katongomara Chronicle Reporter
LOCAL Government, Public Works and National Housing Minister Saviour Kasukuwere yesterday paid tribute to the late Bulawayo Town Clerk Middleton Nyoni for dedicating 33 years of his life to serving the people of Bulawayo. Nyoni was buried yesterday at Lady Stanley cemetery where hundreds of people from different parts of the country gathered to pay their last respects.

In a speech read on his behalf by Permanent secretary in the ministry George Mlilo, Cde Kasukuwere described Nyoni as one of the most outstanding individuals who passionately served the city. “Nyoni shall be remembered for his 33 years of dedicated and professional service to the Bulawayo City council and the local government sector. He was a self-made man, starting as a lowly accountant and rising through the ranks to the pinnacle of the organisation,” said Cde Kasukuwere.

He said Nyoni had a charming personality and was very intelligent. “His quiet diplomacy and integrity together with his ever increasing levels of wisdom put him in a good stead for this challenging position.

“A highly principled man he had deep love for the City of Bulawayo as demonstrated by his devotion to duty and feisty fights for the benefit of the council he served,” said Cde Kasukuwere. “The many people who knew him will miss an intelligent, vibrant individual with a rare friendliness and charming personality”.

Nyoni held a number of positions in many fora which had to do with local governance. At the time of his death, he was the deputy chairperson of the Town Clerks Forum. Bulawayo Mayor councillor Martin Moyo said Nyoni would be sadly missed because of his passion for development.

“Nyoni faced a plethora of challenges and it was his hands-on approach, wisdom and humility that allowed the city to overcome these and to develop relevant strategies to sustain the city in the turbulent environment,” said the mayor.

“The only way to do great work is to love what you do. Middleton Nyoni loved his job. His love wasn’t only for the day to day responsibilities but was driven by a desire to ensure that the lives of the ordinary residents and ratepayers of Bulawayo are transformed.”

“His mantra was people development. He emphasised that any city programme must improve on the lives of the ordinary Bulawayan. He leaves behind a legacy of people-focused development”.

His family described him as a loving father, brother, uncle who was principled, God fearing and unifier.

A memorial service for Nyoni was held on Thursday at the Large City Hall followed by a church service at Pelandaba Seventh Day Adventist Church where he attended church.

Nyoni joined the Bulawayo City council as a section accounting officer and rose through the ranks to become town clerk in 2009 a position he held until his death.

He battled cancer since August last year and succumbed to the ailment last Sunday in Harare where he had been admitted to a private hospital.