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From Joseph Madzimure  in VICTORIA FALLS
THE demise of founding father Cde Robert Gabriel Mugabe is a loss not only for Zimbabwe, but the entire Southern African region, whose political ideology he helped shape with other leaders of the then Front Line States, delegates attending the 10th Conference of Former Liberation Movements (FLMs) said here yesterday.

The Front Line States (FLS) were a loose coalition of independent Southern African countries committed to ending white minority rule and apartheid in South Africa and Southern Rhodesia. Comprising of Angola, Botswana, Mozambique, Tanzania and Zambia, the FLS were the building blocks of the Southern Africa Development Coordination Conference, the precursor to Sadc. Speaking to the media on the side lines of the FLMs  meeting that opened here yesterday, FRELIMO secretary for training cadres Cde Francisco Macanheia said Cde Mugabe’s death is not only a loss to Zimbabwe, but the entire SADC region.

“The people of Mozambique are in great shock over the loss of an African icon. We cherish his good works and his contributions during and after the liberation struggle,” said Cde Macanheia.

ANC director of media liason Cde Amos Phago said the death of Cde Mugabe is a loss to FLMs members.

“He is not only a hero to Zimbabwe, but Africa as a whole. He attended the institution of higher learning with some of our leaders.

“Cde Mugabe is one of the founding fathers of Southern Africa. He was not only a leader for Zimbabwe, but all Front Line States. The loss of Zimbabwe is the loss to the region” he said.

Chama Cha Mapinduzi representative Pereira Silima said Cde Mugabe was part of the ideology which enabled the liberation of the whole region.