Tafadzwa Ndlovu Herald Reporter
Zimbabwe Electoral Commission chief elections officer Mr Lovemore Chipunza Sekeramayi, who died in Lesotho last Wednesday, was buried yesterday in Marova Village, Chihota.
Mr Sekeramayi (67) was attending a workshop for SADC electoral bodies in Lesotho when he was found dead in his hotel room.
The cause of death has been cited as heart and lung failure.
Speaking at the burial, ZEC chairperson Justice Rita Makarau said Government should improve working conditions for civil servants for them to live decently after retirement. “As the Electoral Commission family, we knew that Mr Sekeramayi had a medical condition as he was diabetic and had hypertension,” said Justice Makarau.
“I want to decry the working conditions of us the public workers because we do not get enough on our tables.
“From his age, he could have retired, but because the money is not enough, one is forced to go on and pursue other things so as to take care of the family.
“In this case, I think that is what happened because if everything was in order, he should have been home resting not in Lesotho where the Lord took him. We urge the Government to consider our plight so that we can retire when it’s time.”
Defence Minister Dr Sydney Sekeramayi said his late cousin was warm-hearted, dedicated and kind.
“He was supposed to have attended a meeting that fateful morning, but he did not show up,” he said.
“Several phone calls to his room were made, but still there was no reply until measures of getting into the room were made and he was then found dead.”
Malawi Electoral commissioner Ambassador Chinkwita Phiri said Mr Sekeramayi had done an excellent job observing recent elections in his country. Several ministers, service chiefs and businesspersons attended the burial.
Mr Sekeramayi joined the civil service in 1982 and worked as a district administrator (Makonde), provincial administrator (Mashonaland Central), Deputy Registrar-General (administration and finance) and Deputy Secretary in the Office of the President and Cabinet.
He is survived by his wife, Mrs Esther Sekeramayi, and three grandchildren.