Minister Pandor sends condolences to Zimbabwe after foreign minister Moyo's death

Zimbabwe's Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister Sibusiso (SB) Moyo has died, reportedly due to Covid-19 complications.

The Zimbabwe Herald reported this morning that acting Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Jenfan Muswere confirmed his death, but gave no further details.

However, SABC News foreign editor Sophie Mokoena, who was one of the first to break the news, tweeted that the cause of death was Covid-19.

International Relations and Cooperation Minister Naledi Pandor in a statement said she learnt with shock of Moyo's death.

She praised him for his "dedication and commitment to strengthening the deep bilateral relations between South Africa and Zimbabwe".

Pandor also said Moyo "displayed true pan-Africanism" in the way he led on issues regarding South Africa and Zimbabwe's relationship, but also in multilateral bodies, and that this will be missed. 

The former military man played an important role in overthrowing former president Robert Mugabe by leading communications at the time. Moyo was the one who made a statement to the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation following the "house arrest" of Mugabe and denied that a coup had taken place.

He was appointed foreign minister by President Emmerson Mnangagwa shortly after Mugabe was overthrown in November 2017 and retired from the military soon after.

Some have speculated that Moyo was in line to succeed Mnangagwa as president.