A top Zimbabwe official has passed away unexpectedly.
Johannes Tomana, Zimbabwe’s ambassador to the Democratic Republic of Congo, died on Sunday at the age of 55.
According to ZimSeen, he had collapsed at his home in Honde Valley early Sunday morning.
He’s Gone
Prior to being appointed an ambassador, Tomana held several high positions in his government.
He had previously served as the Attorney General as well as sitting on the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission. He also served as the Prosecutor-General from November 2013 until June 2017.
ZimLive reported that the ambassador had started to complain about stomach pains just prior to his collapse. He was then in the process of being transported to Harare, but he died on the way.
An unnamed relative stated, “We shared our concerns with Ruda police in Honde Valley and we were informed that CID Forensics is on its way from Harare.”
The “concerns” mentioned were that family members believed his food may have been poisoned.
Controversy has seemingly followed this man his entire career. The latest being when he publicly stated that 12-year-old children can consent to have sex.
When his tenure as Attorney General ended, it was because then-President Robert Mugabe accused him of, among other charges, defying court orders. When he tried to return to private practice, his license was denied.
The license was denied because the Law Society of Zimbabwe stated that he had failed a “fit and proper” person test. I don’t know what that is, but it sure sounds like they did not hold the man in high regard.
As often happens, political appoints are about who you know, and current President, Emmerson Mnangagwa, clearly supported him, making him an Ambassador.
Among his other fans was academic Ibbo Mandaza, who, in a tribute to Tomana, stated, “Tomana was one of the finest lawyers that Zimbabwe has produced, it’s a pity that his detour to political and diplomatic office deprived some of us of his tremendous legal skills.”
