HARARE – Zimbabwe’s ambassador to the United Arab Emirates Jethro Ndombondayi Ndlovu has died aged 66.
Acting foreign affairs minister Professor Amon Murwira said Ndlovu, who was known to friends as Jerry, died early Saturday at a private hospital in Harare, days after testing positive for Covid-19.
ZimLive understands Ndlovu, who hails from Umzingwane in Matabeleland South, had travelled to Zimbabwe in December for the burial of his brother.
He tested positive for the virus while preparing to return to the United Arab Emirates in January, eventually leading to his hospitalisation.
Ndlovu, an engineer, previously worked for the Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe as director of airports and business development, before a stint as general manager of the Zimbabwe Mining Development Corporation.
He was a devout member of the Seventh Day Adventist church, regularly attending services at the Highlands parish.
Ndlovu received military training in Egypt during the war of independence, before joining the ZIPRA war effort. He joined the Air Force of Zimbabwe after independence in 1980.
Ndlovu is the latest high-ranking official to die from Covid-19 after four ministers and a High Court judge succumbed to the respiratory illness.
