He was 65.
Makumbe collapsed this morning and was pronounced dead at Arcadia Medical Centre around 11am.
Last week he collapsed and was taken to the Avenues Clinic in Harare where he spent some time in the intensive care unit.
Makumbe was the chairman of Munhondo Trust, the shareholder of The Zimbabwean newspaper. He was a collumnist for the newspaper and was an outspoken critic of Robert Mugabe and the Zanu (PF) regime.
Late last year he announced his intention to contest as an MDC-T candidate for the Buhera West constituency.
He published a number of academic books, journal articles and reports.
He is survived by his wife, Virginia and three children.
Mourners are gathered at 12 Ashburton Avenue, Msasa Park.
Burial arrangements are yet to be made.
"We have lost an indefatigable fighter for human rights, a brilliant academic and a decent human being," said the publisher and editor of the Zimbabwean, Wilf Mbanga.
Condolence Message for Professor John Makumbe
The Board, staff and membership of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) are deeply saddened to learn about the unfortunate and sudden death of Professor John Makumbe who passed away on Sunday 27 January 2013.
Professor Makumbe was a highly respected member of Zimbabwe's academic community and the broader civil society and his counsel and guidance contributed immensely to the democratisation cause.
ZLHR will always treasure Prof Makumbe's contribution to fighting injustice, standing up to dictatorship, and above all moulding all manner of young Zimbabweans to stand up for their beliefs and principles and exhibit courage and morality in their pursuit for a better Zimbabwe. He did so with, humour, empathy and non-violence – qualities which exhibit the true nature of his leadership and serve as an example to all.
We extend our most sincere condolences to the Makumbe family, friends and colleagues as we grieve together with them during this difficult time.
May God grant John eternal rest and may his memory and deeds live on and be remembered for posterity. – zlhr
CHRA MOURNS PROFESSOR JOHN MAKUMBE …A MAN OF THE PEOPLE
The Board, Staff and Membership of the Combined Harare Residents Association (CHRA) would like to join the Makumbe family, all progressive civil society organizations and the nation at large at the untimely passing on of Professor John Makumbe. We acknowledge that the nation has been robbed of an astute, sound and progressive academic who dedicated his life to the development of Zimbabwe. Indeed Prof J, Makumbe was a champion of good governance, human rights and foot soldier who fought for the rights of the marginalized especially the albino community. Throughout his entire life, he made great strides in advocating for the realization of a better Zimbabwe and good leadership that respected the will of the people.
No Zimbabwean history can be written without mentioning John Makumbe. He has been very vocal when it came to issues of leadership renewal at all levels of governance a position which Zimbabwean civil society has always advocated for. At the time of his death, Professor John Makumbe was the chairmen of Munhondo trust, a shareholder of the Zimbabwean newspaper and was also a columnist. Each and every week he wrote articles that mirrored against the people’s position and the Zimbabwean newspaper will never be the same again without his weekly contributions. He was the man behind the civil society-Zimbabwean collaboration which saw many organizations further distributing old copies of the newspaper for free to their respective members in an effort to ease the challenges of access to information.
His death exposes the anomaly in the country pertaining national heroes accreditation which has become a ZANU PF affair because under a normal arrangement, he deserves to be declared a national hero due to his immense political, academic and social contributions. He will be greatly missed by many for he was a person who always brought a balance to national political discourse and can safely be confirmed as a former centre for political discourse enquiry.
He is survived by wife Virginia and three children. Mourners are gathered at house number 12 Ashburton Avenue, Msasa Park. Burial arrangements are yet to be made.
May his dear soul rest in eternal peace.
Chra remains committed to good-local governance practiced on a non partisan basis
Post published in: News
Please accept my deep condolences over the shocking news of the untimely death of Professor John Makumbe this morning. The Zimbabwean body politic and your paper in particular are all the poorer for his passing. Although I never knew him in person, it felt like I did from reading his weekly column in your paper. And speaking about his column, in the current issue it says he is away, and I was just wondering whether it was because of ill health or something else. Whatever the case, I am still in a state of shock and also feel a deep sense of personal bereavement, and in that I speak for many many others if judging from the feedback from others both here in the UK and back in Zim.
Let perpetual light shine upon him, may he rest in peace
Benjamin
Even under the Smith Government John Makumbe induced respect among the civil servants of the Ministry of African Education.
He was a man who transcended labels by being very clever and very good.
Sad to hear this. The voice of reason is no more. Here goes a real warrior. RIP comrade