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Cde Cleto Bhauren Zharare

Nqobile Tshili Chronicle Correspondent
ZANU-PF National Consultative Assembly member who was also the vice President of the Council for the Blind, Cde Cleto Bhauren Zharare has died. He was 84.

Cde Zharare succumbed to heart failure at his home in Bulawayo’s Famona suburb on Saturday afternoon.

His son and family spokesperson Patrick Zharare said his father had been a father to many.

“He died on Saturday afternoon at about 1:45PM due to heart failure. He was a father to many having assumed the responsibility of a father at a tender age,” he said.

Patrick said Cde Zharare was one of the founding members of Jairos Jiri Training Centre in Nguboyenja suburb where he assisted in improving the lives of many people living with disabilities.

“He was one of the first black clerks to work at The Chronicle. After that he moved to work at the Jairos Jiri as one of its founding members. In 1982 he was sent by government to train on disabilities in the United States. After he retired at the institution he remained a member of the institution where he became a director,” said Patrick.

He said at the time of his death his father was the vice president of the Council for the Blind.

“He was MP for Gokwe East between 1995 and 2000. He remained in active politics and was

NCA member representing the Midlands province,” said Patrick.He said Cde Zharare will be buried at his rural home in Nembudziya in Gokwe.

Zanu-PF secretary for the disabled Cde Joshua Malinga, said Cde Zharare was his former teacher at Jairos Jiri Centre.

He described him as a professional man who worked to improve the lives of people living with disabilities.

“It’s sad to learn about his death. I knew him when I was very young. I met him when I attended the Jairos Jiri Training Centre. He was one of the seniors at the institution. He was very supportive, very professional. He was a very clever man,” said Cde Malinga.

Cde Zharare is survived by wife Margaret, eight children and several grandchildren.

Mourners are gathered at Number 26 Hamilton Road Famona.