Alex Ndhlovu
President Mnangagwa has sent a message of condolence to the Knuth family following the death of Mrs Annastasia Knuth, nee Chakanetsa who died on Monday.
Mrs Knuth died from complications arising from her battle with breast cancer.
“I received with great sadness and shock news of the death yesterday morning of Mrs Anne Annastasia Knuth, nee Chakanetsa.
I was pained to learn that she succumbed to complications arising from her battle with breast cancer at her home surrounded by her children and grandchildren.
Her death highlights the ever-growing rate of incidences of breast cancer among our women population in Zimbabwe which we must address seriously in order to avoid further loss of life to this silent killer disease.
A seasoned journalist by profession, Mrs Knuth began her career in the Civil Service as a Senior Information Officer in the then Ministry of Information, Posts and Telecommunications in the early 80s.
She belonged to the pioneering crop of black civil servants who, with their demonstrable professional skills and qualifications, were recruited into the Civil Service in order to bring about transformative change in the organization from being a predominantly white-led institution to reflect the new multi-racial nature of the Zimbabwean society.
The late Mrs Knuth rose through the ranks to the position of Government Chief Public Relations Officer with the onerous task of branding the newly Independent State of Zimbabwe.
She did not disappoint through her notable achievements as a public relations officer.
Because of her strong organizational skills, she would later be transferred on promotion from the Information Ministry to the Office of the President and Cabinet as a Director, State Occasions.
She retired from Government at the helm of the Directorate as its Chief Director.
She leaves behind an enduring legacy of professionalism, hard work and patriotism,” said President Mnangagwa in a statement.
“In retirement, Anne was a budding commercial farmer focusing on horticulture and commercial grain.
Being a farmer was her modest contribution towards ensuring that Zimbabwe became food self-sufficient and a net exporter of horticultural products and grain.
Sadly, her dream has been short-lived, and our Nation is poorer with her passing on.
On behalf of Government, my family, and on my own behalf, I wish to express my deepest condolences to the Knuth and Chakanetsa families, especially, to her children and grandchildren, who have lost a beloved mother and grandparent.
May they derive comfort from the knowledge that the services she rendered to Government and the Nation are highly appreciated”.
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