Remembering Venancio Massingue
It is with great sadness that we share with you that Venancio Massingue, tireless internet advocate and National Coordinator of the A4AI-Mozambique Coalition, has passed away. One of A4AI’s earliest supporters, Venancio was an invaluable partner to the Alliance and its efforts to advance affordable internet in Mozambique, and was a great friend to all of us.
Venancio was a key player in bringing the internet to Mozambique, and in working to support the promotion and expansion of ICT in the country. An engineer by training, he served as Mozambique’s Minister of Science and Technology from 2005-2012, where he masterminded the development of the country’s ICT Policy and ICT Strategy.
Venancio was dedicated to expanding internet access to all Mozambicans, and we hope that his steadfast commitment to and efforts toward this end will inspire others to carry on the important work that he pioneered. His enthusiasm and infectious smile made working with him a joy, and he will be greatly missed by all of us here at A4AI. Our condolences and thoughts are with Venancio’s friends and family at this difficult time.
18 Responses
Sign up for to have affordability news delivered to your inbox.
The forces of the nature were strong enough to take Venancio away from us but our hearts and minds will forever remember him. One day we will be together again. Rest In Peace my brother and mentor.
We will miss you malume rest in peace. You have fought a good fight and you finished your race. You are loved even in death. Sadly missed
We will miss you malume rest in peace. You have fought a good fight and you finished your race. You are loved even in death. Sadly missed. Condolences to his wife and children
In fact, the sad notice surprised me since 10 days ago when we were organizing the Launching Conference of the Mozambique Report Card, He told me that He was feeling better and that possibly was going to attend the a4ai Event in March to be held in Maputo. More Sad I’m since I can’t be with his family and with SIITRI Team for being in Brazil until June. To honnor Prof. Massingue ‘s memory will be continuing contributing to his ideals and vision of bringing ICT and Internet to all Mozambicans, specially women and girls. May his soul rest in peace.
AlsáciaAtanásio Nhacumbe,
WROs Project Coordinator and Consultant for SIITRI
It is a moment of pain and difficult for the passing of Prof. Massingue. What will comfort us is his legacy, his bravery and firmness in his approaches, particularly in his always innovative and captivating ideas at a time when we think we have lost the direction to reach a solution aimed at the success of our work . So many projects idealized until his last second of his life always calling share ideas and give instructions for the success of the projects. May God grant you an eternal and peaceful rest.
It is sad and painful moment for the death of Prof. Massingue. May God grant an eternal and peaceful rest. The noble mission of realizing his ideals has remained for us.
I know Venancio so well from the 1990s working with him on promoting the Internet in Africa. I can’t believe that this vibrant young man has passed. What a loss for Mozambique and the world.
My heartfelt condolences to his family.
Nancy
Rest in peace our guide. My heartfelt condolences to his family.
TSANDZANA!
Dear Colleagues
The best way to honor the Professor, is to follow his dreams and fights, to have affortable internet for all.
My condolences to the family
Salvador
This sad notice shocks all of us and touch the deepest of our heart. No words to describe the greatest inspiring man Prof. Massinga was. To honour him we will still following his ideal and views. Rest in Peace.
We worked together for many years and I considered Venancio as a dear friend. He was an early pioneer and fundamental for the development of ICT initiatives in Mozambique. He was also internationally active and put a focus on a serie of important questions in the region. This is a huge loss for Mozambique and the ICT development there. A mild comfort is that there are competent followers that can continue the work he commenced. At a personal level, however, I am so very sad for this.
I met the professor personally for 4 years, and he gave me the opportunity to work with him and be a part of Siitri, for the sake of gender equality, as well as his teachings.
Rest in peace teacher
It was with great sadness that I learned about Venancio passing away. I worked wit/under him in the period 1995-1999 at CUIEM and have fond memories of him. His energy and his drive were unbelievable. I wish the family the strength to cope with this loss.
Cees Landman (The Netherlands)
My condolences sir. You’ve always been my mentor.
Bad News. May his soul rest in peace. Pedro Cossa
I worked closely with Venancio for several years from the mid 90s. He was unique. He had enormous energy, exuberance and talent – he related as easily with government leaders and heads of development agencies as he did with the many young people he mentored over the years. He was generous to a fault with his time and his ideas. The world is poorer without him and my thoughts go out to his family.
Venancio had a vision for how Mozambique could use the internet and other digital technologies. He worked on a full range of ways to expand access for local benefit. Venancio was a force and it was a pleasure to work alongside him, see his commitment to his technical colleagues at CIUEM, and then watch his progression to Minister. Condolences to his family and colleagues.
Working with Venâncio in the late 80s and early 90s it was soon clear he had great vision, not just for CIUEM& UEM, but for Mozambique, Africa and beyond.
My condolences for his family, friends, and (former) colleagues.