Matabeleland South Provincial Education Director (PED) Lifias Masukume has died.
He was 53.
Masukume succumbed to Covid-19 this morning at the United Bulawayo Hospitals after a brief battle with the virus.
The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education has described him as a dedicated educationist who gave his whole career to service in the education sector.
Director of Communication in the ministry of primary and secondary education Mr Taungana Ndoro described the late Masukume as a visionary who worked hard to improve education in the province.
“I confirm that we have lost our provincial education director for Matabeleland South, Mr Lifias Masukume. This is indeed a great loss to the education fraternity, and we are devastated because we have lost a master educationist who dedicated his life and career to service in the fraternity. We have sadly lost him to the ravages of this pandemic. We are however grateful for his sterling work,” said Mr Ndoro.
In a statement, the Ministry of Primary and secondary and Secondary Education conveyed their condolences to the Masukume family and education fraternity.
“The Minister of Primary and Secondary Education Ambassador Cain Mathema, the Deputy Minister Honourable Edgar Moyo, the Permanent Secretary Mrs Tumisang Thabela, Chief Directors, Directors, Management and Staff of the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education would like to convey their sincere condolences to the Masukume family as well as the education fraternity at large on the untimely passing on of Matabeleland South Acting Provincial Education Director Mr Lifias Masukume,” read the statement.
The late Masukume’s career in the Civil service began in 1995 as a teacher at Nhwali Primary School in Gwanda District. He also taught at River Block Satellite Primary school until 2006 before being promoted to the position of District Development Officer in the Ministry of Women Affairs, Gender and Community Development in Insiza District until 2014.
Masukume rose to the rank of Deputy Director Skills Development Women Affairs in 2015 within the same Ministry.
The ministry said Masukume’s appointment as Deputy Provincial Education Director (Primary Schools) Matabeleland South Province came in 2016. Hebecame the Acting Provincial Education Director for Matabeleland South in 2017 until the time of his death on 23 July 2021.
He is survived by a wife and three children.
Masukume was described as a dedicated and loyal civil servant and educationist who was diligent in the execution of his duties.
“He was a people-person, a bubbly comrade who will be sadly missed throughout the education sector. May the Masukume family find comfort in the knowledge that the Education family grieves with them at this time of their bereavement,” read the ministry statement.
