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Cde Nelson Samkange

Lincoln Towindo Online Reporter
Zanu-PF Central Committee member and former Mashonaland West Provincial Governor Cde Nelson Samkange has died.
Cde Samkange died around 4 am after falling ill at his farm in Chinhoyi.
Zanu-PF Mashonaland West provincial chairman Cde John Mafa confirmed the death.
He said Cde Samkange complained of breathing problems and was rushed to Chinhoyi Provincial Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

“We have lost one of our senior cardes in the province and we are very saddened by his death,” said Cde Mafa.
“The province has written to party Headquarters requesting that he be accorded National Hero status.”

Cde Samkange was educated at Waddilove Institution, Marondera and Goromonzi High School where he was among the first black Zimbabweans to write Advanced Level examinations in 1955.

He then proceeded to the University of Zimbabwe where he graduated with a degree in economics.
He later worked as a journalist before leaving the country in 1964 to work as a representative of the liberation movement overseas.
At Independence, Cde Samkange was appointed tourism attaché in London.

He later returned home to serve in various positions at the Zimbabwe Tourism Development Corporation, now the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority.

In 1999, he was appointed chairperson of the Zimbabwe Newspapers board.
He later served in Parliament where he represented Zvimba West constituency before being appointed Mashonaland West Provincial Governor.