BULAWAYO – Bulawayo’s director of engineering services Simela Dube has died, the local authority announced on Thursday.

He was 56.

Dube was taken ill after complaining of abdominal pain but died after admission at Mater Dei Hospital, mayor Solomon Mguni told ZimLive.

“The hospital has informed his family that he died of heart failure,” Mguni said.

Dube had been the city’s director of engineering services for nearly 15 years.

His service to the city was a constant struggle dominated by the city’s perennial water problems and ageing infrastructure.

He recently oversaw the US$33 million Bulawayo Water and Sewerage Services Improvement Project to replace obsolete pumps at Fernhill and Ncema pump stations.