Zimbabwean ambassador to the UAE dies of Covid-19

UAE rulers offer condolences to Zimbabwe's President Emmerson Mnangagwa

Jethro Ndombondayi Ndlovu, Zimbabwean ambassador to the UAE, pictured with Shihab Al Faheem, from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, in November 2019, when he delivered a cShow more

Zimbabwe's ambassador to the UAE, Jethro Ndombondayi Ndlovu, has died of Covid-19. He was 66.

The diplomat, who was posted to the Emirates in 2019, died on Saturday in Zimbabwe's capital Harare.

Ndlovu is the latest of several high-ranking  figures in Zimbabwe to die from the disease.

Three cabinet ministers, Sibusiso Busi Moyo, Joel Biggie Matiza and Ellen Gwaradzimba, have died of Covid-19 this year.

The sister of Zimbabwe's President Emmerson Mnangagwa also recently died from complications resulting from the disease.

President Sheikh Khalifa sent a message of condolences to Mr Mnangagwa, expressing the country's sympathy for the death of his sister, a number of his ministers and the ambassador, reported state news agency Wam.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, and Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, sent similar messages to the Zimbabwean president.

Mr Ndlovu began his career as an inspector in the air force in Zimbabwe.

He later held senior positions in the country's mining and aviation industries.

Mr Ndlovu was the first Zimbabwean ambassador to the UAE.