Foreign Affairs and International Trade Minister Sibusiso Busi Moyo has succumbed to the deadly COVID-19, the government has announced.
He was born in 1960 and was 61 years old when he died.
Moyo reportedly died at a local hospital.
In a statement, George Charamba who is the acting chief secretary to the President and Cabinet, said Moyo passed on this morning (Wednesday 20 January 2020).
“His Excellency the President, Cde ED. Mnangagwa regrets to announce the passing on early this morning of DR SB Moyo, Our Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade. The late Minister succumbed to COVID-19 at a local hospital.
“The nation will be kept appraised of further developments regarding this untimely demise of the late Minister, himself a decorated soldier and freedom fighter,” read the statement.
List of top officials dying of COVID-19
Moyo adds to a list of high ranking government officials that have succumbed to COVID-19.
Others on the list include Perrence Shiri, Elle Gwaradzimba and some officials in the military, among many others.
The death comes at a time when the country is making preparations to acquire COVID-19 vaccines from such countries as China and Russia with help from the World Health Organisation.
Currently there are several vaccines that have shown positive signs against the virus.
Some countries in the first world have already started the exercise of inoculating their citizens against the virus.
Covid-19 was first reported in China in December 2019, before spreading to other parts of the world.
Zimbabwe recorded its first case in March of 2020 when Zororo Makamba succumbed to the disease.
Currently, the United States of America has been the most affected country in the world in terms of cases and deaths.
In Africa, South Africa is leading in terms of statistics.
The late Minister Moyo rose to fame following his announcement of the 2017 coup in 2017.
He was also the husband to ZACC chairperson, Justice Loice Matanda Moyo
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Sibusiso Moyo succumbs to COVID-19