‘Tomana died shortly after witnessing his late parents’ tombstones unveiling’ – sobbing son revealed
Staff Writer
Briefing President Emmerson Mnangagwa who visited the late Johannes Tomana residence Wednesday, the former’s son Ricky described his father’s condition on the day they set out to travel to their rural home in Honde Valley as a ‘bit sickly.’
“We left Harare on Wednesday, but before leaving, he vomited and we asked if everything was right and he complained about weak joints. I asked if it was possible to proceed with the journey but he insisted on going.
“On our way we would ask him to eat but he would refuse just asking for water saying it would stabilize him,” the visibly broken son said.
For a moment I wondered where and how this young man managed to brave the occasion at a point when adults at the funeral were so broken that they could not utter a word.
His was a rare ordeal, sharing an account of how the most important man in his life, his role model, friend brother and father all in one breathed his last.
“Upon arrival he laid wreaths on the graves of both parents and proceeded to sleep at Honde Valley.
“We saw through the unveiling process of tombstones; the only food he ate was mahewu which we were taking together. On Saturday he said we cannot return to Harare and he suggested that we put up at Honde Valley and we would resume our journey the following day; after all it was now Sabbath.
“As we slept he got weaker and started breathing heavily until he died early Sunday morning,” Ricky added.
Born on September 9 1937, Tomana was a lawyer by profession.
Independent sources like top academic , Doctor Ibbo Mandaza described the late barrister as a sharp legal mindset who quickly got involved with government related work.
He served as the Attorney-General, having been appointed to the position by Robert Mugabe on 18 December 2008.
He previously served as deputy Attorney-General under Sobusa Gula-Ndebele from 2006 to May 2008.
Gula-Ndebele was dismissed from his post following infighting within the ZANU-PF with Bharat Patel served as acting Attorney-General from May to December 2008.
He became the country’s first Prosecutor General under the new Constitution promulgated in 2013 before being dismissed from the job around June 2017 at the height of factional fights in the ruling Zanu-PF party.
At the inception of the Second Republic under Mnangagwa,Tomana was elevated to the position of Zimbabwe’s Ambassador to the Democratic Republic of Congo , a position he held until his untimely death.
“The explanation that has been given to us shows he was doing things that were necessary before he died; he had a premonition of his death.
“All that he did , putting flowers for his parents ; it’s highly symbolic to say to parents I respect you ,but I am now on my way to follow you .Yes he was forcing himself (because of ill health) but these are things that he felt he ought to do,” said President Mnangagwa in his condolence message.
“When he asked for prayers , the meaning would be different if other people were the ones proposing to pray for him but in this instance , it was him who was saying he needs prayers. Even if it comes to me ,I won’t be wiser than Tomana.If the day has come ,no one will stop it,” he said.
He said the duo worked well together in their political work which is different from church organisations.
Mnangagwa said Tomana was expelled from work and after that happened he later asked if something could be done for him.
“He said he was not happy with working in the country; that is why I appointed him Ambassador to the DRC.
“On Sunday I woke up in the morning from Kwekwe.My phone rang and it was VP Chiwenga.He knows that I do not usually receive calls on Sundays because I will be busy at the farm. He then started skirting around , talking about other issues until he got to the point,” he said.
