HARARE - Professor Gordon Chavhunduka, president of the Zimbabwe Traditional Healers Association of Zimbabwe (Zinatha) has died.

According to George Kandiero, the Zinatha information and publicity secretary, Chavhunduka, 81, passed on yesterday at a Harare’s Avenues Clinic after a long battle with cancer.

He served as a member of Abel Muzorewa’s delegation to the 1979 Lancaster House Conference that led to Zimbabwe’s independence.

Chavhunduka became vice-chancellor of the University of Zimbabwe from 1992 to 1996.

He published several books on traditional medicine.

The academic also served as an advisor to Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai’s MDC party.

After his retirement from university life, he then served as president of Zinatha.

Mourners are gathered at his Mount Pleasant home at 40, The Chase Road while funeral arrangements were still being discussed at the time of going to print yesterday. - Staff Writer