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He was 58.
Minister Mukonoweshuro, who was an MDC-T national executive member and Gutu South legislator, succumbed to a heart complication at a hospital in Johannesburg, South Africa, yesterday morning.

Minister Mukonoweshuro went to South Africa three weeks ago to seek specialised treatment.
His body is expected home today.
In his condolence message yesterday, President Mugabe said the minister will be accorded a State-assisted funeral. 
“I learnt with sadness of the death early this morning of Professor Eliphas Mukonoweshuro, our Minister of Public Service in the inclusive Government.
“Professor Mukonoweshuro had been unwell for some time, with his condition taking a turn for the worse in the last few weeks.

“I granted him leave to seek medical attention in South Africa hoping he would quickly recover,” President Mugabe said in a statement.
He added: “Sadly, we have lost him and we all grieve with the late departed’s family, especially his distraught and bereaved wife and son.
“He will be missed by all of us in the inclusive Government, which he served with commendable commitment.

“I have directed that he be granted a State-assisted funeral, itself a modest gesture to a man who served his country well, both as an academic and as a minister of Government.
“The State will also assume full responsibility for the repatriation of the body.”

Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai described Minister Mukonoweshuro as a dedicated member of the MDC-T and Government.
“I note with sadness the untimely death of Minister Mukonoweshuro. He was a dedicated son of Zimbabwe who served his country for many years as a lecturer at the University of Zimbabwe before joining MDC.

“He was a dedicated member of the Government, particularly on the issue of salaries and the welfare of civil servants, an issue that was very close to his heart,” he said.
“The family must derive comfort in that it is not only the family but the country at large that has lost a gallant son of the soil.”
Mr Tsvangirai last night led an MDC-T delegation to the minister’s house in Mt Pleasant.

Addressing mourners, he said: “His illness was sudden and I am not happy with the lack of solidarity that we displayed as a party. I only heard of it by Ian Makone this week that his condition was serious. However, it’s a burden we have to accept,” he said.

Family spokesperson Mr Siyaniso Mukono-weshuro said burial arrangements would be announced in due course.
MDC-T national organising secretary Mr Nelson Chamisa described Minister Mukonoweshuro’s death as a tragic loss to the party and the nation.

“I was constantly in touch with him as he was in South Africa and we never knew it would be such a tragedy. He left us at a time when we thought he was recovering,” he said.
“We have lost one of the most decorated intellectuals in the garden of our beloved land. He was such a gifted patriot as evidenced by his deeds. If you look at the way he worked as a professor at the

University of Zimbabwe, one would appreciate his efforts in the betterment of the country.”
Mr Chamisa said in the inclusive Government, Minister Mukonoweshuro continued to work tirelessly to improve the plight of civil servants.
Professor Jonathan Moyo, who worked with Minister Mukonoweshuro at UZ from 1988 to 1993 described him as an exceptional academic.

“It is a clear sad loss to the country in general, especially the political leadership and academia. He was gifted with an exceptional mind. There are many Zimbabweans who benefited from his wisdom and I believe his best was yet to be seen.

“He is one of the brightest stars that this country has ever produced. He kept us on our toes when we were still lecturers, but he was shy to engage in public debates hence he was not one of the loudest opposition elements,” Prof Moyo said.

Minister Mukonoweshuro was born on 20 June 1953 in Gutu.
He did his primary education at Shumba Primary School in Gutu and went to Zimuto High School for secondary education.
He did his A Level at Thekwane High School before enrolling at the UZ for a degree in political science.

He was arrested and jailed for political activism as a student before escaping to Botswana.
Minister Mukonoweshuro got a scholarship to study in Sierra Leone and furthered his studies in the United Kingdom.
Prof Mukonoweshuro rose from being a lecturer to a professor of political science and became Dean of Social Studies at UZ.

He joined the MDC in 1999 where he was secretary for international affairs and international co-operation up to 2007.
Minister Mukonoweshuro was also a special advisor to Mr Tsvangirai. In 2008, he was elected MP for Gutu South and was appointed Minister of Public Service in 2009, a post he held until his death.

At this year’s MDC-T national congress, he contested for the party’s secretary-general’s post and lost to Mr Tendai Biti.
He was later appointed into the MDC-T national executive.

He is survived by his wife Retsepile and son Bradley.
Mourners are gathered at No 11 Woodgate, Pendennis, Mt Pleasant, Harare.