Maravi

(TALKZIMBABWE) Vice President Msika feared dead

Vice President Msika feared dead
Ralph Mutema
Tue, 04 Aug 2009 18:11:00 +0000

VICE PRESIDENT Joseph Msika is believed to have died at age 85 after a battle with illness, South African public radio reported Tuesday. No official statement has been released by the government of Zimbabwe and efforts to reach the foreign office or the Zimbabwean embassy in the UK to get confirmation were fruitless.

South African radio, however, said that VP Msika died Tuesday in a hospital in Zimbabwe. According to the report the vice president was admitted to hospital in South Africa in June after falling ill at a summit of eastern and southern African leaders.

Reports in Zimbabwe at the time said he had suffered a stroke. He had had poor health since 2005.

Msika had been state vice-president since 1999.

Mrs Joice Mujuru, wife of former army general Solomon Mujuru, is the other vice-president.

Both vice presidents Msika and Mujuru maintained their positions after President Robert Mugabe formed an inclusive Government with the two formations of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC-T) in February.

Under the terms of the power-sharing agreement, President Mugabe gets to name two vice-presidents from his Zanu PF party. Party chairman John Nkomo is deemed a strong candidate to replace VP Msika.

Labels: JOSEPH MSIKA, VICE PRESIDENCY

posted by MrK @ 1:38 PM