Government is battling to repatriate the body of a Zimbabwean student who died two months ago under mysterious circumstances in Algeria. Ethelbert Chingonzo died in June this year, but his body is still in Algeria.

An official at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday confirmed that the body was still in Algeria, but could not give more details.

"The body is still in Algeria, but I cannot disclose information yet. We will give you details before end of this week," the official said.

Chingonzo was in his final year at an Algiers institution where he was studying Metallurgy.

According to sources Chingonzo died on June 20 in Algiers after following a beach outing with his friends.

Higher and Tertiary Education permanent secretary Dr Washington Mbizvo is on record expressing shock and sadness over Chingonzo's death.

In a June interview with ZBC News, Dr Mbizvo said the ministry had sent a delegation to the Chingonzo family in Rusape to break the news and to convey their condolences.

He said Ethelbert's death was a sad loss to Zimbabwe, which is facing an acute shortage of metallurgists and other specialised professionals.

Dr Mbizvo said Government plans were at an advanced stage to appoint educational attaches for its diplomatic missions in countries where Zimbabwean students were based to ensure their welfare was catered for.