Dr Ndebele died on Wednesday morning at the Royal Hospital
where he was recovering after returning to the country from India where he had
gone for back surgery.
He was 69. Dr
Ndebele was the first black doctor to operate from Galen House in 1983.
His sister who is also Women Affairs, Community, Small and
Medium Enterprises Development Minister Dr Sithembiso Nyoni confirmed his death
on Wednesday.
“He passed on this morning. He recently returned from India
where he had back surgery. We were hoping that he would recover but
unfortunately he passed on today (Wednesday) in the morning,” said Dr Nyoni.
Galen House administrator, Mrs Nothando Dube, described Dr
Ndebele as a father figure who had a holistic approach to his medical practice.
“He was very gentle and full of humour. He would make us
feel free at work. He was also a father figure to many of us. Galen House has
mainly a female environment but he would neutralise the environment. He was a
mentor to many and we are saddened by his sudden departure. He also had a
holistic approach to his medical practice. He would sometimes tell clients when
the medication was not working that they should try the traditional ways in
full realisation that as blacks there were issues that needed the traditional
ways of treatment,” said Mrs Dube.
She said Dr Ndebele was one of the doctors who was attached
to the Zimbabwe People’s Revolutionary Army (Zipra) during the war of
independence.
Mrs Dube said Dr Ndebele briefly worked at Mpilo Central
Hospital between 1980 and 1981.
She said he joined the Zimbabwe National Army in 1981 where
he served as doctor between 1981 and 1983.
Mrs Dube said in 1983 Dr Ndebele left the army and joined
Galen House where he was a general practitioner until his death.
She said Dr Ndebele worked closely with the late Dr Garry
Ferguson, the founder of Galen House who died last month and another senior
practitioner, Dr Muriel Fallala.
Mpilo Central Hospital’s clinical director, Dr Solwayo
Ngwenya said Dr Ndebele’s death was a huge loss to the medical fraternity.
He said Dr Ndebele was a brother who offered wise counsel
to younger colleagues in the medical profession.
“Dr Ndebele worked closely with Dr Fallala in setting up
Galen House with the late Dr (Garry) Ferguson. He was a big brother and helped
us grow in the profession. We have lost a very good and great man. We are going
to miss him dearly,” said Dr Ngwenya.
He said Dr Ndebele was one of the practitioners who worked
closely with the late Vice President Dr Joshua Nkomo.
Yesterday a funeral service was held in honour of Dr
Ndebele at the Roman Catholic Church in the central business district at 1PM
before mourners proceeded to his rural home in Silobela, Midlands for burial.
He will be buried today in his rural home. Dr Ndebele is
survived by wife and four children. Chronicle
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