Town secretary Singo buried

Beit Bridge Town Secretary and renowned academic and businessman Dr Sipho Singo (56) was buried on his farm in Mazunga on Saturday.

He recently succumbed to heart failure at the Polokwane Provincial Hospital.

Speaking during a memorial service for Singo ahead of his burial, Zimbabwe's Home Affairs Minister, Mr Kembo Mohadi, said the country had been robbed of a great leader and strategist. "We have lost one of the greatest minds and implementers in the country, who had a strong passion for development. He was committed to ensuring the speedy transformation of Beit Bridge Town into a modern economic zone and city," said Mohadi.

He described Singo as passionate development agent who would be difficult to replace. Mohadi said that, before his death, Singo had come up with a host of measures to speed up the completion of the Beit Bridge redevelopment programme. "Our town has become a model of development because of Dr Singo's hands-on approach and quality leadership skills," said Mohadi.

"We had lined up a number of capital projects together, including the setting up of a university in Beit Bridge, and I want to assure you that as leaders we will carry forward that vision."

Zimbabwe's ambassador to Egypt, Mr Aaron Maboyi Ncube, said Dr Singo was a man who took developmental issues seriously. "We will greatly miss this son of the soil who dedicated most of his life to working towards the development of our town and the country as a whole.”

Singo's condition deteriorated on the day before his death and he was rushed to Musina Hospital the following day. He was referred to Polokwane Provincial Hospital, where he died upon admission.

He is survived by his wife Agnes and daughter Tendani, aged five.

News - Date: 07 February 2014

Mashudu Netsianda

Mashudu Netsianda is our correspondent in Beit Bridge, Zimbabwe. He joined us in 2006, writing both local and international stories. He had worked for several Zimbabwean publications, as well as the Times of Swaziland. Mashudu received his training at the School of Mass Communication in Harare.

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