RAIS HUGO CHAVES AFARIKI DUNIA AKIWA NA MIAKA 58

Hugo Chavez dies
Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez has died, the country's vice-president confirmed Tuesday.
Vice-President Nicolas Maduro broke the news on national television, The Associated Press reports.
Chavez, one of Latin America's most vocal and controversial leaders, had been struggling with cancer for almost two years and had recently undergone surgery in Cuba.
Chavez's condition had worsened in recent weeks and the leader had been completely out of the public eye. This week, he contracted a "severe infection," Venezuela's Communications Minister Ernesto Villegas said.
Chavez won re-election in October 2012, defeating Henrique Capriles in a bitter campaign.
Chavez — a close friend of Cuban leader Fidel Castro — was known as an antagonist to the American government, though former Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chrétien remembered him fondly on CBC-TV's Power and Politics.
"He was a very colourful politician who had very different policies than many of us, but I had the privilege to meet him many times," Chrétien said.
"He did his best, even if we did not agree many times on the issues."
Chavez had led Venezuela for more than 14 years.

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez died on March 5, 2013. The following is a look at the controversial and powerful leader's life and times. (Jorge Silva/Reuters)
Chavez poses with his daughters, Maria Gabriela, left, and Rosa Virginia in Havana on Feb. 14, 2013. Chavez died a little more than three months after he underwent a fourth cancer-related operation. (Miraflores Presidential Press Office/AP)

Student protesters demand to know the real situation of Chavez's health, in Caracas on March 3. A government statement released a day later said a severe respiratory infection had left Chavez in a ’very delicate’ state. (Leo RamirezAFP/Getty)
Chavez shakes hands with supporters in Caracas on Sept. 28, 2012, while campaigning for re-election. (Miraflores Palace/Reuters).

Chavez waves the national flag from a balcony at Miraflores Palace in Caracas on Oct. 7, 2012, after winning re-election with 54 per cent of the vote to beat opposition challenger Henrique Capriles. (Jorge Silva/Reuters).

Chavez shows off a pair of pistols that belonged to Venezuelan liberator Simon Bolivar during celebrations of Bolivar's birthday in Caracas on July 24, 2012. (Juan Barreto/AFP/Getty).

Chavez salutes at a 2001 ceremony in Caracas. The controversial socialist leader's health deteriorated dramatically following several surgeries in Cuba due to cancer in his pelvic area. (Juan Barreto/AFP/Getty).

A priest holds a mass to pray for Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez in the Jesus de Miramar Church in Havana, Dec. 13, 2012. (Desmond Boylan/Reuters).

A Chavez supporter cries during a mass held to pray for the leader’s health on June 29, 2011, in Caracas. (Carlos Garcia Rawlins/Reuters)