Category Archives: African National Council

ROBERT GABRIEL MUGABE

1960 Publicity Secretary, NDP 1961 (Dec.) Publicity Secretary ZAPU 1963 Secretary-General ZANU 1974 (Dec.) Member Central Committee, ANC. Robert Mugabe was born at the Kutama Mission in the Zvimba TTL in 1928. His father, who was a labourer, was a practicing Roman Catholic and Robert was brought up in the same faith. He was educated […]

ENOS MZOMBI NKALA

1960 – A leader in the March of the Seven Thousand, Salisbury (Harare) 1960 – Deputy Secretary-General NDP 1961 – Assistant to Joshua Nkomo 1974 – Member of the Central Committee ANC 1979 – Acting head of ZANU (PF) while awaiting arrival of S Muzenda 1980 – Member of Senate – ZANU (PF) Minister of […]

MSINDO MAZIMBE CHENGA

1974 (June) Representative in the UK and Europe for the ANC. Msindo Chenga was born at Umvuma in January 1930. His father came from the Zimbabwe area, Fort Victoria (Masvingo), and his mother from Chilimanzi. He obtained his primary school education at Mzingwane Government School, finishing in 1947. Between 1949 and 1951 he trained in Bulawayo as […]

DR ELLIOT GABELLAH

1973 Vice·Chairman, ANC. 1974 Deputy President, ANC. 1975 Vice-President, ANC (Muzorewa). Elliot Gabellah was born at Ntabazinduna near Bulawayo in 1923. His parents were of Zulu origin. He received his primary education at various schools in Southern Rhodesia. After leaving school he attended the Domboshawa Training Centre near Salisbury (Harare) where he worked as an agricultural demonstrator from […]

ABEL TENDEKAYI MUZOREWA

1971-74 Chairman, ANC 1974 President, ANC. 1979 Prime Minister, Zimbabwe-Rhodesia 1980 M.P. for Mashonaland East. Abel Muzorewa was born on 14 April 1925 into a simple peasant family living at Old Umtali (Mutare) Mission, a United Methodist Church settlement in the Eastern Districts of Rhodesia. He was the eldest of nine children, of whom six […]

THE REV. HENRY KACHIDZA

1972 Treasurer-General,ANC. Henry Kachidza was born on 25 June 1909 in the Sipolilo Reserve. He was one of three brothers, their father being an ordinary peasant. Although neither of his parents had been converted his mother’s cousins were practising Christians. After an early childhood spent herding his father’s cattle the young Henry was sent to […]

ESHMAEL EPHIAL MTSHMAYELI MLAMBO

1971 Senior External Representative of ANC (Europe). Eshmael Mlambo was born on 5 November 1932 in Belingwe. His parents were members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church who, although simple peasant people themselves, had great ambitions for their children’s education. His mother, although not highly educated, had been a teacher for four years before she married in 1930. […]

DR GORDON CHAVUNDUKA

1969-71 President, NPU. 1973 Secretary-General, ANC. 1974 (Dec.) Member Central Committee, ANC. 1975-77 (March) Secretary- General, ANC (Muzorewa). Gordon Chavunduka was born at St Augustine’sMission, Penhalonga, on 16 August 1931. His parents (Solomon and Lilian Chavunduka) came from Wedza. His father was originally an agricultural instructor but subsequently became a farmer and a priest of the Anglican Church. […]

EDDISON JONAS MUDADIRWA ZVOBGO

1961 Organising Secretary for the NDP, Southern Province1962 Representative of ZAPU in USA. 1964 Deputy Secretary-General, ZANU. 1971-72 Deputy Secretary-General, ANC. 1972 Principal Overseas Representative, ANC. 1973 Representative of ZANU in USA.1977 Deputy Secretary for Information and Publicity, ZANU (Mozambique)1979 Delegate and Party Spokesman, ZANU, at Lancaster House1980 MP for Victoria1980 Minister of Local Government and Housing, Zimbabwe   Eddison […]

RUTH CHINAMANO

1975 (27 Sept.) Elected Chairman of Womens Affairs at Special ANC Congress. Ruth Nyombolo was born in Cape Town on 16 February 1925. She and her twin sister formed part of a family of four girls and a boy. Her father was a leader in a traditional group called the ‘red blanket’1 people. He had fought for the […]

JOSIAH MUSHORE CHINAMANO

1971 (Dec.) Founder Member if ANC and first Treasurer. 1974 (Dec.) Member of Central Committee, ANC. 1975 (Sept.) Vice-President, ANC (Nkomo). Josiah Chinamano was born at Epworth Mission near Salisbury (Harare) on 29 October 1922. The son of a headman, he was the sixth child in a family of eight (four of whom died in an influenza epidemic while Josiah […]

JOHN MASIMBA MUNETSI CHIRISA

1960 Mabvuku Branch Organising Secretary, NDP. 1963 Chairman, Salisbury (Harare) District and National Councillor, PCC. 1971 -73 Deputy Publicity Secretary; Deputy National Organising Secretary, ANC. 1973 Secretary-General, ANC. 1976 Acting National Organising Secretary, ANC (Nkomo). John Chirisa was born on 2 January 1929 in Chikanya’s village, near Kwenda Mission, in the Charter District. His parents were poor and his father (who was one of the […]

ARTHUR JOHN CHADZINGWA

1971 Deputy National Secretary, ANC. 1973 National Organising Secretary, ANC. 1976 Representative of ANC (Nkomo) in London. Arthur Chadzingwa was born in the railway compound, Umtali (Mutare), on 5 August 1944. His father was a messenger with Rhodesia Railways and his mother, Harriet, had worked before her marriage at St Augustine’s, looking after orphans. Chadzingwa obtained his primary education […]

KILLION BABUYILE BHEBE

1963 National Councillor, PCC. 1973 National Organising Secretary, ANC. 1975 (Sept.) Member Central Committee, ANC (Nkomo). 1975 (Sept.) National Organisation Secretary (2), ANC (Nkomo). Killion Bhebe was born at Hogo in the Gwelo (Gweru) District on 1 May 1928. The second child in a family of seven, he was brought up to be a farmer like his father. He attended numerous primary […]

THE REV. NDABANINGI SITHOLE

1960 Treasurer, NDP. 1961 Treasurer and National Chairman, ZAPU. 1963 President, ZANU. 1974 Member Central Committee, ANC. 1975 (Sept.) Chairman, ZLC. Ndabaningi Sithole was born on 21 July 1920 at Nyamandhlovu, north of Bulwayo. He was the son of Jim Sithole (a member of the Ndau tribe from Gazaland) and Siyapi Tshuma of Nyamandhlovu. In 1930 his father, who […]

TARCISIUS MALAN GEORGE SILUNDIKA

1960-61 Secretary General, NDP. 1963 External   Representative, PCC (Lusaka). 1975 (June) Nominated Member of ZLC. 1976 Secretary for Information (External), ANC (Nkomo). 1976 Delegate (ZAPU) to Geneva 1979 Delegate to Lancaster House (ZAPU) 1980 PF M.P. for Matebeleland South 1980 Minister of Posts and Telecommunications, Zimbabwe Government. George Silundika was born near Plumtree in March 1929. His father, who was […]

SAMUEL JONAH MUNODAWAFA

1960-61 District Chairman, Fort Victoria (Masvingo), NDP. 1961 -62 Provincial Chairman, Fort Victoria (Masvingo), ZAPU. 1963 National Chairman, PCC. 1972 National Chairman, ANC. 1975 (Sept.) National Chairman, ANC (Nkomo). Samuel Munodawafa was born at Morgenster Mission near Fort Victoria (Masvingo) on 14 March 1917. He was the eldest child of a teacher-evangelist who served with […]

TENJIWE VIRGINIA LESABE

1962 Chairwoman of Barbourfields Women’s Branch, ZAPU. 1963 District Chairwoman of Women’s League, PCC. 1974 (Dec.) Deputy Secretary for Women’s Affairs, ANC. 1975 (Sept.) Member of Central Committee, ANC (Nkomo). 1976 (Sept.) Deputy Secretary for Education ANC (Nkomo). Tenjiwe Virginia Lesabe was born a Khumalo1 at Makokoba Clinic, Bulawayo, on 5 January 1932. Shewas the […]

JOHN CANDA NKOMO

1973-75 Deputy Secretary—General, ANC . 1975 (May) External Representative, ANC (Lusaka). 1975 (Sept.) External Representative, ANC (Nkomo) (Lusaka). John Nkomo (no relation of Joshua Nkomo) was born on 22 August 1934 at Tjlotjo in the Nyamandhlovu area of Matabeleland. His father, who was a Seventh Day Adventist, had worked for some years at St John’s […]

MOTON DIZZY PAUL MALIANGA

1960-61 Vice-President, NDP. 1962 Founder Member and Secretary for Public Affairs, ZAPU. 1963 External Representative, ZANU (Cairo). 1964 Secretary for Youth and Culture, ZANU. 1974 Member Central Committee, ANC. 1975 (Sept.) National Chairman, ANC (Muzorewa). Moton Malianga (brother of Washington) was born on 8 June 1930 at Old Umtali (Mutare) Mission (the fifth child in […]

WILLIE DZAWANDA MUSARURWA

1960-61 Founder Member and National Executive Member, NDP. 1963 Representative of ZAPU in Northern Rhodesia (Zambia). 1963 Public Relations Secretary, PCC. 1974 Member Central Committee, ANC. 1975 (Sept.) Publicity Secretary, ANC (Nkomo). Willie Musarurwa was born on 24 November 1927 in the Zvimba Reserve. Sinoia (Chinhoyi) District. He was the fifth child in a family […]

AMON FUNGAI JIRIRA

  1971-75 Officer in Charge of Education, Mashonaland South Province, ANC. Welfare Secretary, ANC. 1975 (Sept.) Treasurer, ANC (Nkomo). Amon Fungai Jirira was born in Gatooma on 4 October 1921. His mother was Esther Chizuva Munzara, a devoted churchwoman keenly interested in the education of children. His father, a Ward ‘Sergeant Major’, Lazarus Munemo Jirira, could read and write five […]

MLOBISENI ROLEK BANGO

  1963 Secretary for Labour, ZANU. 1974 Secretary of the National Transport, Telecommunications and Power Committee, ANC. 1974 Member, Executive Committee, ANC. 1975 (Sept.) Member National Executive Committee, ANC (Nkomo). Mlobiseni Bango was born on 20 October 1926 “about 20 miles (32 km) south—east of Marula, near the Tshatshani river in the Matopo mountain range”. […]

DR EDSON FURATIDZAYI CHISINGAITWI SITHOLE

  1956-57 Interim Secretary-General, later Secretary, Harare Branch, ANYL. 1957-59 Secretary, Harare Branch, ANCongress. 1964 Publicity Secretary, ZANU. 1972 Publicity Secretary, ANC. 1974 Chairman, Editorial Committee, ANC. 1974 Member, Central Committee, ANC. Edson Sithole was born on 5 June 1935 in the Eastern Districts of Rhodesia. His parents were “typical peasants” (his own phrase) and […]

JOSEPH WILFRED MSIKA

  1957 National Treasurer, African National Congress. 1962 Secretary for Youth Affairs, ZAPU. 1963 Secretary for External Affairs, PCC. 1974 (Dec.) Member Central Committee, ANC. 1975 (Sept.) Secretary-General, (Nkomo) ANC. 1976 Delegate to Geneva 1976/80 Secretary General ZAPU PF. 1980 Member of Senate.  Minister of Natural resources and Water Development.  Joseph Wilfred Msika was born on 6 December 1923 in the Chiweshe […]

JAMES ROBERT DAMBAZA CHIKEREMA

  1956-57 First President, African National Youth League (ANYL). 1957-59 Vice-President, ANC. 1961-62 Executive Member, ZAPU (although in detention). 1964 Acting President, PCC (during detention of Joshua Nkomo). 1972 Chairman, FROLIZI. 1974 (Dec.) Member, Executive Committee of ANC. 1975 (Sept.) Secretary, ZLC. James Chikerema was born in May 1925 at Kutama Mission near Salisbury (Harare). His parents were of the Shona tribe; his father, the first […]

MUNETSI MARK CHAYAMBUKA NZIRAMASANGA

  1960 Provincial Secretaryfor Manicaland, NDP. 1963 External Representative, PCC. 1972 Secretary for Labour, ANC. 1975 (Sept.) Publicity Secretary (2), ANC (Nkomo). Mark Nziramasanga was born on 11 April 1931 at Chikaka Kraal, Zvimba Reserve, Sinoia (Chinhoyi) District. His father was a peasant farmer and a herbalist. Nziramasanga completed his primary education at Pakama Mission School in 1950 and […]

MICHAEL ANDREW MAWEMA

  1960 Founder member and Interim President, NDP. 1964 National Organising Secretary, ZANU. 1971 Founder member of ANC and National Organising Secretary. 1975 (Sept.) Chairman of Party Organisation, ZLC. Michael Mawema was born at Gutu, Victoria District, on 13 July 1928. His father, Chigayo, who was a member of the Vagarwe clan originating in Mutambara, […]

JASON ZIYAPAYA MOYO (1927-1977)

1957 Chairman, Bulawayo Branch, ANC. 1962 National Treasurer, ZAPU. 1963 Financial Secretary, PCC. 1963 External – Representative, PCC. 1974 Lusaka, Member of External Committee, ANC. 1976 (April) Vice—President i/c External Affairs, ANC (Nkomo). Jason Moyo was born about 1927 near Plumtree, on the order with Botswana. He was a member of the Kalanga tribe1 After […]

SYLVESTER TAWONEZWI BGONI

  1961 Chairman, Mufakose Branch, NDP. 1962 Secretary, Mufakose Branch, ZAPU. 1963 Salisbury (Harare) District Chairman, PCC 1972 Secretary for Youth Affairs, ANC. 1975 (Sept.) Secretary for Youth, ANC (Nkomo). 1975 (Sept.) Member of Central Committee, ANC {Nkomo). 1976 (Jan.) Secretary for Presidential Affairs, ANC (Nkomo). Sylvester Bgoni was born on 8 August 1934 in […]

GEORGE BODZO NYANDORO

  Secretary, British African National Voice Association. 1957-59 Secretary-General, ANCongress. 1963 Secretary-General, PCC. 1963 External representative, PCC. 1975 (Sept. 1)Head of the Finance and Property Committee, ZLC. George Nyandoro was born in 1926 in the Chiota Reserve to one of the ruling Shona families. His grandfather (Kunzyi Nyandoro) fought against “the BSA Company with great tenacity and courage” during the 1896-97 […]

LAZARUS NKALA (1927-1975)

  1957-59 Treasurer, Bulawayo Branch, ANC. 1960-61 Treasurer, Bulawayo Branch, NDP. 1961-63 Bulawayo District Chairman, ZAPU. 1963-64 National Organising Secretary, PCC. 1974 (Dec.) Member of the Central Committee of ANC. 1975 (Sept.) Organising Secretary, ANC (Nkomo). Lazarus Nkala was born on 26 February 1927 in the Filabusi District of Rhodesia. His father was a school teacher and lay preacher with the American Brethren […]

JOSHUA NKOMO

1952-59 ANCongress. 1960-61 President, NDP. 1961-62 President, ZAPU. 1975 (Sept.) President, African National Council (Nkomo). 1976 President, ZAPU (PF) 1980 M.P. Midlands – PF 1980 Minister of Home Affairs, Zimbabwe   Joshua Mqabuko Nyongolo Nkomo was born in June 1917, in the Semokwe Reserve, Matabeleland. He was the third child, a sister having been born […]

CHARLTON CEZANI NGCEBETSHA (1909-1977)

1962 National Councillor, ZAPU. 1971 Founder Member, African National Council. 1972 Secretary-General, African National Council. Charlton Ngcebetsha was born of Fingo parents at Butterworth, Transkei, on 28 February 1909. Both his parents were school teachers and members of the Methodist Church. He was the second of 10 children. He was educated at Lovedale, near Alice, […]