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Patrick Chitumba Senior Reporter
WAR veteran and former diplomat Dr Kotsho Lloyd Dube has died. He was 79. Dube a Zanu PF Central Committee member and former National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) board chairperson died in his sleep at his home in Kumalo suburb, Bulawayo yesterday morning.

His widow, Agatha told mourners that her late husband who was a member of the PF Zapu delegation that attended the Lancaster House Conference on decolonisation of Zimbabwe died at about 1AM.

“We spent Sunday together and he was fine. He didn’t show any signs of illness. Around 7PM, we had tea and then went to bed,” said Agatha.

She said around 1AM she woke up to find Dube struggling for breath.

“Before I knew it, he was gone,” she said struggling to contain tears.

The family spokesperson and daughter to the late Dube, Nozipho said the family was devastated.

“Right now people are starting to come to pay their condolences and more details will follow,” she said.

Ambassador Phelekezela Mphoko last night said the country had lost a dedicated son who he said was an active member in the liberation struggle.

“Dr Dube and I met in 1966 and we stayed together at Lusaka House before the party deployed him to the United Kingdom.

“He was in the struggle and was involved in the youth movement of the then Salisbury in the 1960’s,” said Ambassador Mphoko.

The Minister of State for Provincial Affairs, Eunice Nomthandazo Moyo and the National Railways of Zimbabwe public relations manager Fanuel Masikati, were some of the mourners who were at the late Dr Dube’s Khumalo house to express their condolences.

Dube was born on June 25, 1935 in Malindi village, Matobo District.

In 1945 to 1951, Dube attended Zamanyoni Primary School up to Standard Six before proceeding to Mzingwane Secondary School for standard six.

From 1955 to 1956, he joined the Joint Matriculation Board for Universities of South Africa and Thekwani Secondary School.

Between 1961 and 1963, he was an Articled Law Clerk at Coghlan, Welsh and Guest Attorneys.

He worked at the then Bank of Rhodesia and Nyasaland from 1963 to 1965.

From 1965 to 1972, Dube represented PF Zapu at the United Nations and South America with operations based in New York.

Later his mandate was extended to cover United Kingdom, Scandinavia, and Western Europe with offices in London.

He was tasked with promoting Zimbabwe’s struggle, lobby and secure pro-freedom policy assets from governments, trade unions, students and the general public in countries of assignments.

In 1979, Dube moved to Lusaka- Zambia where he became the director of Information and Editor in Chief of PF Zapu publications.

He was a member of PF Zapu delegation to the Lancaster House Conference on Decolonisation of Zimbabwe from 1979 to 1980.

At Independence up to 1990, Dube was a member of the National Executive of PF Zapu and held the positions of secretary for publicity, secretary for education and national director of elections for PF Zapu in 1985.

Between 1988 and 1990, he was a member of the national integration committee tasked to implement the Unity Accord between Zanu-PF and PF Zapu.

In 1989 working as deputy secretary for administration, Dube saw the ascension of the late First Lady Amai Sally Mugabe to the helm of the Women’s league.

In October 1990, he did a diplomatic course before ambassadorial posting to France.

From 1990 to 1996, Dube was ambassador extra-ordinary and plenipotentiary of Zimbabwe to France, Spain, Portugal, the Vatican and UNESCO.

In 1997 to 2000, he was a member of board of directors for the Zimbabwe Investment Centre and vice chairman of the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation.

From 2002 to 2004 he was appointed ambassador to Nigeria before moving to Zambia in the same post from 2004 to 2006.

In 2012 to 2013 he was appointed chairman of the NRZ board of directors.

Dube is survived by wife, Agatha, three children and three grandchildren.

Mourners are gathered at house number 35 George Avenue, Khumalo.

Funeral arrangements are underway.