Father Ribeiro, who helped design the Zimbabwe flag, has died

Prominent Roman Catholic priest, Father Emmanuel Ribeiro has died.

Father Ribeiro who was instrumental in the designing of Zimbabwe’s national flag.

He also composed many shona hymns including, Gamuchirai Mambo mupiro uyu, Alleluia munyika dzose, Tauya nezvipo zvemupiro, Mambo Mwari wamasimba, Hwayana yaMwari aand Mwari Ngaarumbidzwe, among others.

Father was born into a strong Catholic family in 1935, Zimbabwe. He went to St Francis Xavier College, Kutama in 1951. In 1952 he joined Chishawasha seminary where he did his Junior Certificate in Education, before joining Chishawasha seminary for Philosophy studies in 1954. He would then be ordained as a priest in 1964.

According to Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Permanent Secretary, Nick Mangwana, Father Ribeiro was assistant chaplain-general of Prisons at the time President Emmerson Mnangagwa was in prison, during the liberation struggle.

He was 86.