The United Kingdom-based Zimbabwean academic and law lecturer Alex Tawanda Magaisa has reportedly died.
Magaisa was a lecturer of law at the Kent Law School of the University of Kent and served as the Advisor of the then Prime Minister of Zimbabwe Morgan Tsvangirai from 2012 to 2013.
Prior to becoming Advisor to the Prime Minister, Magaisa worked as a core member of a team of experts tasked to advise on drafting the new Constitution of Zimbabwe.
The 46-year-old was known for his legal, political and social commentary work on issues affecting Zimbabwe and others. Developing nations through his blog, The Big Saturday Read.
The former special Advisor’s work was sometimes featured by Zimbabwean news outlets, including The Standard, Daily News, Newzimbabwe.com, and The Herald.
What Happened to Dr. Alex Magaisa?
On Sunday of June 5 this year, it was confirmed by several of his colleagues that Magaisa had passed away at Margate Hospital in the United Kingdom following a cardiac arrest.
According to reports, Magaisa suffered a cardiac arrest on Sunday at Margate Hospital around 10 am.
The Advisor was admitted to the hospital on Friday, and he eventually suffered a cardiac arrest on Sunday morning.
Fellow academic Ibbo Manddaza tweeted, ” Just received the sad news that Alex Magaisa is no more; a great loss to Zimbabwe’s intellectual community, to the struggle for a better and democratic Zimbabwe.”
Former Education Minister and CCC Treasurer General David Coltart tweeted,” I was gutted by the news that Alex #Magaisa @Wamagaisa has died suddenly. He was an intellectual giant, a superb patriot & great democrat. Alex’s sober analysis explained the truth of #Zimbabwe in a few has been able to do. Alex was also a good friend &collegue. RIP Alex.”
How Did He Die? Cardiac Arrest Linked To His Death
Political analyst and former Advisor to the late Morgan Tsvangirai, Dr. Alex Magaisa, died of cardiac arrest on Sunday around 10 am this morning at Margate Hospital in the United Kingdom.
The news was first shared by Zimbabwean academic and author Ibbo Mandaza before the journalist Hopewell Chin’ono confirmed it on Twitter.
Twenty-eight minutes before sharing the news, Hopewell Chin’ono had hinted that a dark cloud had befallen the country before informing his followers that he will share the information once the family of the deceased gave him the green light.
Dr. Alex Magaisa Family
Magaisa was born on June 5, 2022, in Chikomba District, Zimbabwe, and completed his high school education attending boarding school at St. Francis of Assisi High School in the Mashonaland East province.
The former Advisor then matriculated at the University of Zimbabwe, graduating in 1997 with a Bachelor of Laws degree.
During Magaisa’s time at the University of Zimbabwe, he met and influenced future founders of the Movement for Democratic Change, the likes of Learn more Jongwe, Job Sikhala, and Nelson Chamisa, who was then studying at Harare Polytechnic.