Veteran Zim politician Zvobgo dies

HARARE – Eddison Zvobgo, a founder of Zimbabwe’s ruling party who became increasingly critical of President Robert Mugabe, died on Sunday.

Zvobgo, a Harvard-trained lawyer and veteran politician, died at Anne’s Roman Catholic hospital in Harare after a long illness, the ruling Zanu PF party said. “His death is a great loss to Zimbabwe and the party,” said Nathan Shamuyarira, a party spokesman.A longtime ally of Mugabe, Zvobgo in recent years started criticising the president’s autocratic rule.Zvobgo opposed sweeping media and security laws passed in 2002 that led to the closure of Zimbabwe’s only privately owned daily newspaper and the arrests of at least 31 independent journalists.He became the subject of an internal party disciplinary inquiry last year after describing the laws as a weapon to stifle opposition to the government, but allegations of disloyalty were eventually dropped.Zvobgo had also been accused of holding private talks with the opposition Movement for Democratic Change as the ruling party abandoned formal dialogue between the two parties.After independence in 1980, Zvobgo served in the government for nearly two decades, mostly as justice minister.He remained a lawmaker in the Harare parliament until his death.Funeral arrangements were not immediately announced.Zvobgo’s wife Julia, a retired ruling party lawmaker, died in February at age… The couple had three children.- Nampa-AP”His death is a great loss to Zimbabwe and the party,” said Nathan Shamuyarira, a party spokesman.A longtime ally of Mugabe, Zvobgo in recent years started criticising the president’s autocratic rule.Zvobgo opposed sweeping media and security laws passed in 2002 that led to the closure of Zimbabwe’s only privately owned daily newspaper and the arrests of at least 31 independent journalists.He became the subject of an internal party disciplinary inquiry last year after describing the laws as a weapon to stifle opposition to the government, but allegations of disloyalty were eventually dropped.Zvobgo had also been accused of holding private talks with the opposition Movement for Democratic Change as the ruling party abandoned formal dialogue between the two parties.After independence in 1980, Zvobgo served in the government for nearly two decades, mostly as justice minister.He remained a lawmaker in the Harare parliament until his death.Funeral arrangements were not immediately announced.Zvobgo’s wife Julia, a retired ruling party lawmaker, died in February at age… The couple had three children.- Nampa-AP