By Staff Reporter

MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa was Saturday among prominent local politicians who took time to express sadness at the passing of the late former UN secretary general Kofi Annan.

Annan, a top world diplomat who did not hide his keen interest in Zimbabwe’s turbulent transition to democracy, died aged 80 on Saturday.

“Deeply saddened by the sudden passing of the iconic Kofi Annan whom I met a few days ago. A rare breed of diplomat; soft spoken but unshakeably firm,” Chamisa wrote on twitter.

When Annan led his team of Elders to assess Zimbabwe’s political situation days before the July 30 elections, Chamisa was at the time demanding a raft of reforms from the Zanu PF led administration.

He even threatened to throw spanners in the wake of the poll process if his demands were ignored.

The Nobel Peace Prize winner later urged Zimbabwean politicians “not to make ridiculous demands” in comments seen as aimed at Chamisa.

However, the small disagreement could not cloud Chamisa’s fond memories of the eminent Ghana national in his tributes.

“He had great love for world peace & democracy. A believer in Zimbabwe & its people. Go well son of Africa, Champion of the world!,” Chamisa said.

In his own comments, Foreign Affairs Minister Sibusiso Moyo described Annan’s death as a loss to Africa.

“The world has lost a great man. A great and wise man, it’s a pity that Africa, in particular has lost one of its finest sons,” Moyo told NewZimbabwe.com, adding that Zimbabwe benefited immensely from Annan’s wise counsel.

“It’s sad that he has departed after giving such invaluable advise to our political leaders that we can use for the development of our country,” he said.

Nkosana Moyo, a former cabinet minister and now opposition Alliance for the People’s Agenda leader, shared a picture he once took with Annan along with former South African President Thabo Mbeki.

He accompanied the image with his tweet, “It is with great sadness that I hv (sic) learnt of the passing of former UN Sec-Gen Kofi Annan, one of the truly great sons of the continent who dedicated his life to making the world, not just the continent a better place for humanity irrespective of class. May his soul rest in peace.”

Annan was one of only two Africans ever to lead the UN, having succeeded Egyptian Boutros Boutros Ghali in December 1996.