BULAWAYO – Zimbabwean playwright, filmmaker and creative theatre director Cont Mhlanga has died aged 59 at a local hospital in Bulawayo after a short illness.
According to the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe (NACZ) in a statement, Mhlanga who was admitted at a health care facility in Bulawayo recently passed away on Monday morning.
“It is with a heavy heart and intense sadness that the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe Board and Management announces to the nation and the Cultural and Creative Sectors in Zimbabwe and internationally the sad passing on of the legendary Conte Mdladla Mhlanga.
“Cont Mhlanga was admitted in hospital 10 days ago, whilst his situation seemed to stabilize, it took a different turn in the last three (3) days. Conte passed on this morning,” the statement revealed.
NACZ said the nation will be informed of further details “of the unfolding situation” in due course.
Cont Mhlanga’s career in the cultural and creative industries began in 1982 when formed Amakhosi Theater Productions which started as a youth karate club but switched to professional theatre in 1988.
He was married to Thembi Ngwabi.
