Harare (New Ziana) – The late Zimbabwe Investment Development Authority (ZIDA) chief executive Douglas Munatsi has been accorded a state assisted funeral.
Munatsi died when a fire broke out in his ninth floor Harare apartment in the early hours of Monday.
Police are still investigating the matter.
Chief secretary to the Office of the President and Cabinet Dr Misheck Sibanda said President Emerson Mnangagwa, who appointed Munatsi to head ZIDA in 2020, had made the directive.
“His Excellency the President, Comrade Dr E.D Mnangagwa has directed that the late Douglas Munatsi who passed on earlier in the week be accorded a state assisted funeral,” he said.
“The Office of the President and Cabinet will liaise with the bereaved Munatsi family to ensure this directive by his Excellency is effected.”
President Mnangagwa on Tuesday mourned Munatsi, describing him as a creative business leader.
“Through his knowledge and under his versatile direction, Zimbabwe was able to make an impression globally in a short space of time, registering positive ratings in the eyes of the global investor community,” said the President in his condolence message early this week.
“We have lost a creative business leader and a great patriot, making our nation all poorer for it. On behalf of Government and on my own behalf, I wish to console the Munatsi family, especially Amai Munatsi and the children who now have to face the world without a husband and loving father respectively.
“As we await completion of police investigations into this fatal fire incident, may they continue to find comfort and solace in the visible footprints the late departed made in serving this country.”
Munatsi was one of the founding shareholders and first chief executive officer of BancAbc.
New Ziana