Category Archives: Biographies

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 […]

TEURAI ROPA NHONGO

1974 – Member of General Staff, ZANLA Army. Medical Assistant 1976 – Commander Chimoio Camp – Mozambique 1977 – Central Committee, ZANU. Secretary for Women’s Affairs. 1980 – M.P. for Mashonaland Cnetral, ZANU (PF). 1980 – Minister of Youth, Sport and Recreation, Zimbabwe. Teurai Ropa is a ‘Chimurenga’ or war name given to a girl […]

SIMON VENGAI MUZENDA

1953 Secretary-General of British African Voice Association (‘African Voice’) 1961 Chairman Umvuma Branch of NDP 1961 Provincial Organizing Secretary NDP (Victoria Province) 1962 Provincial Administrative Secretary, ZAPU 1964 Deputy Organizing Secretary, ZANU 1971 Secretary for Law and Order, ANC 1972 Deputy Administrative Secretary, ANC (Lusaka) 1975 Member Central Committee, ZANU 1980 M.P. for Midlands.  Minister […]

ERNEST RUSUNUNGUKO KADUNGURE

1960 Youth wing leader NDP St. Augustines High School, 1962 Secretary of a Harare Youth Branch of ZAPU 1977 Central Committee ZANU, in charge of Education and Culture.1 1980 MP (ZANU PF) for Midlands 1980 Minister of Transport and Power, Zimbabwe. “The struggle was bitter and hard.  We will always remember those who fell.  Their […]

RICHARD C. HOVE

1980 – Member of Parliament for Midlands, ZANU PF. 1980 – Minister of Public Service Minister Hove was responsible for much of the co-ordination of the planning of the Zimbabwe Independence celebrations as Minister of Public Service. Since the material for this book was collected during the short 3 weeks following the appointment of the […]

Dr JOSEPH TADERERA

ZIPA Aged about 37. Formerly a lecturer in bio-physics at the University of Rhodesia, he comes from the Fort Victoria (Masvingo) area. A supporter of Robert Mugabe. He was charged with receiving weapons of war, but absconded while on bail in 1976. He is at present in Mocambique as a member of the ZANU section […]

DZINASHE MACHINGURA

ZANU ZIPA A member of the ZANU section of ZIPA, he is aged about 30. He acted as a spokesman for ZIPA on a British Broadcasting Corporation programme on 3 October 1976. It was reported in the National Observer on 26 March 1977 that he had been arrested in Mocambique for telling guerrillas that their duty was […]

REX NHONGO

ZANU ZIPA Aged about 30, he comes from the north-east part of Rhodesia. Originally a ZAPU supporter, he joined ZANU in 1971. During the detention of Tongogara (1975-76) he acted as commander-in-chief of ZANU forces. At one time he was reported missing (together with Badza, another leading commander). Subsequently, however, he reappeared and reported that […]

ALFRED NIKITA MANGENA

ZAPU ZIPA (1976) Born in the Belingwe district, he is aged about 30. A member of ZAPU, he is one of the leading military commanders. Interviewed in Geneva on 1 November 1976 he maintained that ZAPU and ZANU were operating separately under their own commands (The Rhodesia Herald, 2 November 1976).

MUKUTU HAMADZIRIPI

Treasurer, DARE. Detained in Zambia in March 1975. Released on 16 October 1976. He first came into prominence at the time of the ANYL in Salisbury (Harare) in 1956. He was detained in February 1959.

KUMBIRAI KANGAI

Secretary of ZANU District in the Americas Chairman of ZANU District in the Americas 1973-76 Member ZANU Supreme Council (Dare re Chimurenga) Secretary for Committee. 1980 Memeber of Parliament ZANU PF, Manicaland. 1980 Minister of Labour and Social Welfare, Zimbabwe Government.   Kumbirai Kangai was born on 17 February 1938.  His parents were peasant farmers in […]

SADAT KUFA MAZUBA

Sadat Mazuba, who is aged 20, comes from the Kore Kore tribe in north- east Rhodesia. He volunteered f`or guerrilla training in early 1973 and was sent to the Mgagao camp in Tanzania. In September 1974 he was injured in the field. After recovery he was appointed a bodyguard to Herbert Chitepo. When Chitepo’s VW […]

JOSEPH CHIMURENGA

Joseph Chimurenga is a self-educated man who became responsible for one of the three operational zones within Rhodesia in which ZANLA was active between 1973 and 1975. He first became a guerrilla fighter in 1966 and served for a time with the Frelimo forces in the Tete Province. In March 1975 he was detained in […]

JOSIAH MAGAMA TONGOGARA

1972 Military Commander, ZANLA. Chief of Defence, DARE ReChimurenga (ZANU War Council). Josiah Magama Tongogara was born in Selukwe (Shurugwi) in 1938. He obtained his primary education, up to Standard VI, at an Anglican mission school. He went to Northern Rhodesia (Zambia) in 1960 and studied book-keeping. He became secretary of Chainama Golf Club in 1961. When he […]

GEORGE KAHARI

1975 Member, Central Committee (Nkomo) 1976 Deputy Publicity Secretary (Nkomo). George Kahari was born on 20 July 1930 at Chiriseri in the Bindura District. His father, a teacher at the Salvation Army’s Howard Institute, later joined the BSA Police (from which he retired in 1947). George had only one brother who died young, and George was […]

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 […]

THE REV. MAX TONGAI CHIGWIDA

1975-76 Acting Publicity Secretary, ANC (Muzorewa). 1977 Secretary-General, ANC (Muzorewa). Max Tongai Chigwida was born on  13 August 1942 on a European farm near the Mhondoro Reserve (TTL) about 25 miles (40 km) from Salisbury (Harare). His father, Mateu, was a farm worker who started as a wagon and plough-oxen driver and later became an efficient tractor driver. […]

DR CHAKANYUKA CHIKOSI

1973 Executive member. ANC (Muzorewa). 1976 Secretary for External Affairs, ANC (Muzorewa). Dr Chakanyuka Chikosi was born in November 1936 at the Old Umtali (Mutare) Mission Hospital. He received his primary schooling at Chirinda, Chipfatsura, Muradzikwa and Old Umtali (Mutare) Mission Schools – regularly securing first place throughout these early years. He then went to Goromonzi Secondary School, […]

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 ELISHA MUTASA (1925-1970)

1969 Vice-President, NPU Elisha Mutasa was born in 1925 in the Eastern Districts of Rhodesia. He was the son of Chief Mutasa1. He attended Healdtown School in the Cape Province of South Africa and gained his junior Certificate in 1940. He trained as a teacher at the same school and then returned to Rhodesia as a […]

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 […]

STEPHEN PARIRENYATWA

1963 PCC Representative in Lusaka. 1974 (Dec.) Member, Central Committee, ANC. Stephen Parirenyatwa (first cousin of Dr T. S. Parirenyatwa) was born in 1925 in the Headlands District. After passing Standard VI at Howard Institute1 he underwent a teacher-training course during 1944. He remained at Howard Institute as a teacher, but later became Headmaster of Nyachuru School (where […]

DR TICHAFA STEPHEN PARIRENYATWA (1927-1962)

1962 Deputy President, ZAPU. Born at Rusape in 1927, Tichafa Parirenyatwa spent his early childhood as a herder of cattle. After receiving his early education at Mrewa Mission School he attended the Howard Institute and Adams College Natal. After his return to Southern Rhodesia he taught for one year and was then assisted by the Methodist […]

SIMPSON VICTOR MTAMBANENGWE

1964 Secretary for International Affairs, ZANU. 1975 (1 Sept.) Head of the Committee for Diplomatic and International Labour Relations, ZLC. Simpson Mtambanengwe was born in December 1930 at the Old Umtali (Mutare) Mission in the Eastern Districts of Rhodesia. His father, a minister of the United Methodist Church, was a member of the Ndau tribe. Simpson was one of eight […]

MAKHATIVI BEKHISIZWE GUDUZA

1972-75 Member National Executive, ANC. 1975 (Sept.) Member Central Committee, ANC (Nkomo). 1975 (Sept.) Secretary for Youth, ANC (Nkomo). Makhativi Guduza was born on 10 May 1927 near Marula in the Plumtree District. His father, who came from Bulawayo, was a headman who joined the army during World War 1. Guduza attended Bubude School and Mate School between 1937 […]

CEPHAS GEORGE MSIPA

1971 Founder Member, ANC. 1971-72 Secretary for Foreign Affairs, ANC. 1975 (Sept.) Secretary for Education, ANC (Nkomo). Cephas Msipa was born at Shabani on 7 July 1931. He was one of 10 children of a peasant farmer who, in order to educate his large family, used to buy chickens in the TTLs and sell them in Shabani. When […]

JULIET KUTAMA

1963 Secretary for Women’s Affairs, Salisbury (Harare) District and Mufakose Branch, PCC. 1971 Secretary for Women’s Affairs, ANC. 1975 (Sept.) Secretary for Women’s Affairs, ANC (Muzorewa). Juliet Kutama was born in Buhera in the Victoria District. After attending primary schools she trained as a teacher and was posted to Ndawana Primary School near Salisbury (Harare). After her marriage, however, she went […]

WILLIAM HENRY KONA

1959 President, African Farmers’ Union. 1974 Member Central Committee, ANC. 1974 (Dec.) Deputy National Chairman, ANC. 1975 (Sept.) Deputy National Chairman, ANC (Nkomo). William Kona was born on 28 August 1919 at Selukwe (Shurugwi). He was the eldest of 11 children – eight of whom were boys and three girls. His parents were descendants of the Fingo and Xhosa people […]

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 […]

LEOPOLD TAKAWIRA (1916-1970)

1960 Chairman, Harare Branch, NDP. 1960 Director of International Relations, NDP. 1961 Secretary for External Afairs, ZAPU. 1963 Vice-President, ZANU. Leopold Takawira was born at Chilimanzi in the Victoria District in 1916. He was educated at primary schools in Southern Rhodesia and at Marianhill in Natal. He qualified as a teacher and, after serving for several years as an assistant […]

ZEBEDIAH MAPFUMO GAMANYA

1964-70 External Representative, ZANU. 1971 Chief Representative in East Africa, FROLIZI. 1975 (Sept.) Head of Publicity, Information and Research Bureau, ZLC. Zebediah Gamanya was born at Nyamweda in the Hartley District in about 1936. His father, who was a tailor, became a Methodist in later life. His mother was also a Christian. After attending local primary schools he went […]

HERBERT WILTSHIRE TFUMAINDINI CHITEPO (1923-1975)

1960-61 National Council Member, NDP.  1963 National Chairman, ZANU. Herbert Chitepo was born on 5 June 1923 in the Inyanga district of Rhodesia. His father died when Herbert was three years old and he was brought up at St David’s Mission, Bonda. He received his early education at the mission and later moved to St Augustine’s, […]

BERNARD CHIDZERO

1976 (Oct.) Appointed Economic Adviser, ANC (Nkomo), Geneva.  1976 (Oct.) Appointed Political and Economic Adviser to ANC (Muzorewa), Geneva. 1980 Member of Senate 1980 Minister of Economic Planning  Bernard Chidzero was born on 1 July 1927 in Salisbury (Harare), the son of a Shona mother and a father who was a migrant worker from Nyasaland (Malawi). He was […]

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 […]

EDGAR TEKERE

1959 Member of ANCongress. 1960 Founder Member of NDP and Secretary for Salisbury (Harare) District 1961 Secretary, Salisbury (Harare) District Council, ZAPU. 1963 Chairman, Nkoba Branch, ZANU. 1964 (May) Deputy Secretary for Youth and Culture ZANU. 1975 Secretary for Central Committee ZANU 1977 Secretary-General ZANU 1979 Delegate to Lancaster House, ZANU 1980 M.P. for Mashonaland […]

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 […]

ARISTON MAGURANYANGA CHAMBATI

1975 Secretary-General (Vice), ANC (Nkomo). Ariston Chambati was born on 15 November 1935 in the African township at Sinoia (Chinhoyi). His parents gave him the name Ariston in tribute to a Greek shopkeeper who was a friend of the family and who died on the day the child was born. He was the third child […]

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 […]

NYAMASVISVA WILLIAM MUKARATI (1920-1962)

1957 Vice-Chairman, Highfield Branch, ANYL. 1960 Vice-Chairman, Salisbury (Harare) District, NDP. 1961 Organising Secretary, Mashonaland Province, ZAPU. 1963 Deputy Chairman for Presidential Affairs and Secretary for Welfare, PCC. 1975 (Sept.) Treasurer-General (Vice), ANC (Nkomo). William Mukarati was born on 28 January 1925 at Marimba on the western outskirts of Salisbury (Harare). His father was a […]

WASHINGTON MALIANGA

1960 Representative in London and Cairo of NDP. 1961 Secretary General, ZAPU. 1963 Publicity Secretary and founder member, ZANU. (brother of Moton) was born at the Old Umtali (Mutare) Mission in 1926. He was the third in a family of nine boys and one girl. His father was a primary school teacher and evangelist with […]

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”. […]

STANLEY GARIKAYI PARIREWA

1961 Chairman, Salisbury (Harare) District, NDP. 1961-62 Chairman, Salisbury (Harare) District, ZAPU. 1965 ZANU Representative in Malawi. 1975 (Sept.) Chairman, Education, Welfare and Health, ZLA. Stanley Parirewa was born in Salisbury (Harare) on 28 January 1928. His father was at one time a cook for the Governor, Sir Herbert Stanley (hence his first name) and […]

GWISANI CLEMENT MOYO

1975 (Sept.) Member National Executive Committee, ANC (Nkomo). 1976 Deputy National Organising Secretary, ANC (Nkomo). Clement Moyo was born at Shabani on 10 January 1934. He was one of the ten sons and seven daughters of a polygamist father who was, it is believed, 114 years old when he died in 1972. The father came […]

JOSIAH TERRY MALULEKE

1953 Secretary-General, African Commercial and General Workers’ Union. 1962 General Secretary, ATUC. Terry Maluleke was born in the Fort Victoria (Masvingo) District in 1928. He was the second-born, and eldest son, in a family of four boys and two girls. He was educated by Swiss missionaries at Valdiza Mission in South Africa. When his father […]

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 […]

MAURICE NYAGUMBO

1957-59 Secretary, Rusape Branch ANCongress. 1963 Organising Secretary, ZANU. 1980 Member of Parliment, ZANU (PF) – Manicaland 1980 Minister of Mines, Zimbabwe Maurice Nyagumbo was born at Rusape in 1924, one of a family of four boys and three girls. He was brought up by his grandmother who sent him for his early education to […]

DUNDUZA CHISIZA (1920-1962)

  1955 A founder of the ANYL. Although born in Karanga, Nyasaland (now Malawi), Dunduza Chisiza played for a short time a leading role in the development of African nationalism in Southern Rhodesia during the 1950s. He was educated at the Livingstonia Mission and Aggrey Memorial College, Uganda. He worked during 1949 as a clerk in […]

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 […]

CLEMENT MUCHACHI

1961-64 National Organising Secretary, ZAPU and PCC. 1963-71 Director of Youth and Culture, PCC. 1975 (Sept.) Secretary for External Affairs, ANC (Nkomo). 1976 Delegate to Geneva Conference 1980 PF M.P. for Midlands 1980 Minister of Public Works, Zimbabwe Government Clement Muchachi was born at Selukwe (Shurugwi) on 19 August 1925. He was the eighth child in a family of nine […]

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, […]

ENOCH DUMBUTSHENA

1948 Vice-President, African National Congress.1960-61 NDP Executive Member.1962-72 ZAPU Executive Member (London Representative).1972-74 FROLIZI Official.1975 (Sept.) ANC (Muzorewa) in Lusaka.Enoch Dumbutshena was born on 25 April 1920 at Marshall Hartley Mission near Makwiro. His father, Job Dumbutshena, was a member of the Industrial and Commercial Workers’ Union1 during the 1930s. His mother, who was prominent […]

BENJAMIN BUROMBO (1909?-1959)

President, British African National Voice Association. One of the earliest and most respected of the African nationalists in Rhodesia, Benjamin Burombo, was born at Buhera of peasant farming stock. He worked for many years in South Africa where he came under the influence of Clement Kadali, the trade unionist. He came to Bulawayo in the […]

CHARLES MZINGELI

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1951-52 Interim Chairman, All-African Convention. President, Reformed Industrial and Commercial Union. 1961 Southern Rhodesia Government delegate to Constitutional Conference. Charles Mzingeli1 was born in 1905 at the Mbakwe Roman Catholic Mission near Plumtree in Matabeleland. His father had become converted to Christianity after the defeat of the Matabele in 1896 and, together with Father Hartmann, […]