Know your vice Presidents: A case of Unity in the party and country To fully understand our vice presidents there is need to look at the history of the unity day which comes on 22 December annually. I will also detail their profile according to my findings owing to several sources. Nevertheless the simple point is these people will take Zanu Pf to a position of Unity which will cascade to national unity. This will be the legacy and the Button passed by Gushungo. At congress we enjoyed #HuchiNeHukakanaGushungo. Now we are ushered into a new era with a new Zanu Pf Leadership. Enjoy the articles I will quote for your information below: The Unity Accord The unity day begun in 1997, National Unity Day celebrates the coming together of Zimbabwe’s two political parties, the Zanu-PF and PF Zapu .These two groups had fought together against the colonial government of Rhodesia in the 1970s. Upon independence, however, and the creation of Zimbabwe, the two parties often clashed over the political direction the country should take. Violence erupted between them in the 1980s. Since the merger, the government of Zimbabwe has explained that the move has resulted in a government of unity in which all factions of the population are represented without conflict. The Zimbabwe African National Union (ZANU) and Zimbabwe African People’s Union (ZAPU) reached a unity agreement on 22 December 1987 that merged the two parties to form one party known as ZANU PF, with Robert Mugabe as leader of the party as well as of state and government as the new President of Zimbabwe since 31 December 1987.Robert Mugabe and ZAPU leader Joshua Nkomo signed the Unity Accord on 22 December 1987. This effectively dissolved ZAPU into ZANU, renamed Zimbabwe African National Union – Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF). On 18 April 1988, President Mugabe announced an amnesty for all dissidents, and Vice President Nkomo called on them to lay down their arms. A general ordinance was issued saying all those who surrendered before 31 May would get a full pardon. This was extended not just to dissidents but to criminals of various types serving jail terms. Over the next few weeks, 122 dissidents surrendered. In June the amnesty was extended to include all members of the security forces who had committed human rights violations. EMMERSON MNANGAGWA Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa is a politician and member of the Zimbabwe African National Union Patriotic Front (ZANU PF) who was appointed as the countrys Vice president in December 2014. He had been a cabinet Minister since Zimbabwe attained independence in 1980. Background Mnangagwa was born on the 15th of September 1946. He a born in colonial Rhodesia in present day Zvishavane in the Midlandsprovince of Zimbabwe. He is married to Auxillia Mnangagwa who is also active in the the ZANU PF party in Midlands province. Auxillia is in fact his third wife and they have three children together namely Emmerson Junior, Collin and San. He also has other children from his earlier marriages. Education He holds a Bachelor of Law form the University of Zambia (1974). He also studied at the Kafue Trade School and then at Hodgson Technical College. Mnangagwa did his early education up to Standard 4 at Lundi Primary School in the Mnangagwa Village in Zvishavane. Political Career He joined politics while at a very tender age after being recruited into the Zimbabwe African Peoples Union (ZAPU) by Willie Musarurwa in 1962. He then went to China and later Egypt were he received his military training in 1963. Detention When he came back from China, he directed the liberation struggle against the Ian Smith regime. He fell victim of the regimes brutality when he was arrested and tortured in 1965 after he helped blow up a train near Fort Victoria (now Masvingo He spent the following ten years in prison. The torture was so severe that he lost hearing in one ear and also made him unconscious for days. Bid to succeed Mugabe In 2004, the ZANU PF provincial governors and chairmen endorsed Mnangagwa to become one of the two vice president and would be poised to succeed Mugabe. Eight of the provinces voted unanimously for this decree while three voted against it. The principles agreed which later became known as the Tsholotsho Declaration, was however dismissed by some ZANU PF members who wanted to retain the Zezuru ethnic monopoly of presidential power. The members then endorsed their own candidate Joice Mujuru. This led to the formation of two factions in ZANU PF, one led by him and the other led by Mujuru. Some of his faction leaders includes Minister of Media, Information and Broadcasting Services Jonathan Moyo. Positions Held At independence, Mnangagwa was appointed Minister of State for Security, a position he held until 1988. He was then appointed Minister of Justice from 1988 to 2000 before he was made Speaker of Parliament from 2000 to 2005. Mnagagwa also served as acting Minister of Finance between 1995 and 1996, after which he was appointed Minister of Rural Housing from 2005 to 2009. During theGovernment of National Unity from 2009 to 2013, he served as Minister of Defence. Appointment as Vice President Mnangagwa was appointed as Vice President of Zimbabwe on 10 December 2014 after the Factionalism in Zanu-PF 2014 that saw the booting out of Joice Mujuru. Joice Mujuru was fired from the presidium by President Robert Mugabe due to her alleged abuse of office and incompetence. Mnangagwas appointment followed the much publicised ZANU PF Peoples Congress held from 2 December in Harare. Mnangagwa was appointed as both second secretary of the ZANU PF party as well as state vice president of the country. He was appointed together with Phelekezela Mphoko representing the ZAPU (Zimbabwe African Peoples Union) wing as part of the Unity Accord agreement. Mnangagwas appointment came after years of speculation on who would land the seat after the death of John Nkomo. Most analysts predicted Mnangagwa would land the post due to his unquestioned loyalty to president Robert Mugabe. There was also speculation that the decline of the Mujuru led faction and the relegation of Joice Mujuru left Mnangagwa with considerable support both in the politburo as well as in the central committee. It is generally believed that Mnangagwa enjoyed popular support from ZANU PF vangards such as the Secretary of the Womens League and first lady Grace Mugabe, Jonathan Moyo, Oppah Muchinguri, Obert Mpofu and Christopher Mutsvangwa. Attempted Poisoning The Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation Televison reported that there was an attempted poisoning on the new vice president. Unknown assailants are believed to have sprinkled the deadly cyanide poison in Mnangagwa’s office at the new government complex in Harare. It was also reported that Mnangagwa was lucky to survive after his secreatary was the first one to enter into office. She was seriously affected by the poison and she was rushed to a local hospital where she was treated. President Robert Mugabebroke the news on 10 December 2014 while announcing the new look Zanu PF Politburo, which saw Mnangagwa replace former Vice President Joice Mujuru as Cde Mugabe’s deputy. PHELEKEZELA MPHOKO Born 11 June 1940 at Gwizane, Bubi District, Matabeleland North, Phelekezela Mphoko is the second vice president of the Republic of Zimbabwe and one of the two vice presidents and second secretaries of the Zanu-PF party. Mphoko was appointed to this position by Robert Mugabe on 10 December 2014. The other Vice president appointed at the same time is Emmerson Mnangagwa. The two replaced outgoing vice president Joice Mujuru. According to the 1987 Unity Accord between Zanu PF and PF Zapu, Mphoko was technically appointed as a successor to late Vice-President John Nkomo. Mphoko is also a cattle ranching farmer and entrepreneur who is one of the shareholders of Choppies Zimbabwe. He is married to Luaurinda, a Mozambican national (said to have been close to Samora Machel). They three children, daughters Sikhumbuzo Mphoko, Siduduzo Mphoko and son, Siqokoqela Mphoko (Part owner of Choppies Zimbabwe). He has three grand children. Background Mphoko was born to Mahlwempu Mphoko and Muntu-omubi Mphoko in Gwizane, Bubi District, Matabeleland North. Mphoko trained as an agriculturalist in field and animal husbandry in Southern Rhodesia (Zimbabwes name before Independence). In 1964, he went to the Soviet Union to study military science and photojournalism. On his return he joined the liberation war, in which he fought for more than 10 years. Liberation War and Aftermath In 1962 following internal and external pressure to militarize, ZAPU formed a Special Affairs wing led by James Chikerema that was charged with building an external military wing. By 1963 the wing had a formal structure led by Ackim Ndlovu, Robson Manyika,Dumiso Dabengwa, Abraham Nkiwane and Mphoko. [6] When ZAPU split in 1972, following differences between Chikerema and Jason Ziyaphapha Moyo, it culminated in the formation ofFront for the Liberation of Zimbabwe (Frolizi) (a predominately Shona faction led by Chikerema and Nyandoros new party), (and ZAPU remained with predominately Ndebeles) Mphoko was elected into the ZAPUs Zimbabwe Peoples Revolutionary Army (Zipra) High Command as Chief of Logistics in a solid line-up led by Nikita Mangena, a commander. Overall control however was under JZ Moyo the Acting Commander-in-Chief [7] At one time after the formation of ZIPA he was accused by Dzinashe Machingura of diverting weaponry and supplies to ZIPRA instead of it being used by the joint army.[8] In the 1970s, During Zimbabwes war of independence, Mphoko was ZIPRA (Zapu’s military wing) commander.[9] In 1978 he was re-assigned by Nkomo from commander to diplomatic missions in a reshuffle that included people ZIPRA commanders like Ackim Ndlovu, Mbulawa Noko, Cephas Cele Groucha. Their positions were taken by a new breed of commanders under Lookout Masukuwhich included Ambrose Mutinhiri (Deputy Commander) and Gevan Maseko. Ananias Gwenzi, Gedi Ndlovu, Eddi Sigoge, David Thondlana, Mike Grey and Sekuru Patrick. In the early 80s, soon after independence, Mphoko was Deputy Director under John Shonhiwa in a governments newly institutedDemobilisation Directorate which fell under the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare. In August 1985, during Gukurahundi, Mphoko was arrested together with Cephas Msipa, Sydney Malunga, Welshman Mabhena and Stephen Nkomo. It was during the same time that Joshua Nkomo and his wifes (Mafuyana) travel documents were siezed by the government. Kembo Mohadi, then the Beitbridge MP and a personal friend of Mphoko, was arrested in Bulawayo around that time too.[3] Mphoko was in the first executive of the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association. together with Chris Pasipamireand Hebert Matanga in 1992.[11] As Ambassador Vice President Mphoko is a former Zimbabwean ambassador to South Africa, a position he served in from 2011 to May 2014. Before serving in South Africa, Mphoko was Zimbabwes ambassador to Russia.[12]. Mphoko was a diplomat since 1987[2] and served in Mozambique, Austria and Botswana respectively before being appointed to Russia.[5] Controversies Mphoko is infamously known for having said, while speaking on a panel at an event in Botswana, that the Gukurahundi atrocities were a Western conspiracy. Appointment as Zimbabwes Second Vice President In June 2014, several months before his appointment, it was reported that Mphoko had met Mugabe to stake his claim to the post arguing that he was more senior in the hierarchy of PF Zapu - than Simon Khaya Moyo. As the December 2014 congress drew near Mphoko made claims that among the 15 former nationalists who formed Zipra, it was him and Ambrose Mutinhiri who were still alive. The claim was immediately refuted by Dumiso Dabengwa who said there were many Zipra founder commanders alive. On 8 October, Mphoko made it clear through a press statement that he wanted to become Zimbabwes next second vice president. His statement read: From the beginning, I made it very clear that when the VP post campaign has been opened, I will submit my Curriculum Vitae to the party for consideration, together with other aspirants. However, I am aware that there are forces that are trying by all means to prevent me from contesting because of this and that reason including that I have not been a ZANU PF card carrying member until recently, that I have been out of the country for too long and I have not been in touch with the situation in the country. First and foremost, you cannot be a member of the Central Committee of ZANU PF unless you are a member of the party. I have been a member of the Central Committee of ZANU PF. Like all Ambassadors, I was out of the country on assignment by The State President. When I was Ambassador of The Republic of Zimbabwe to South Africa, I was a member of ZANU PF Pretoria Branch. There are efforts to try to stop me from contesting for the post of VP. Only the President and First Secretary of ZANU PF, President Robert Mugabe, can stop me from contesting. And to me this is a God given post, after fighting for Zimbabwe. I therefore believe very strongly that only an enemy agent of the former Rhodesian government would not wish me, being a freedom fighter from contesting the vacant VP post. Eventually, on 10 December 2014, Mphoko was appointed second vice president of the Zanu-PF party and Zimbabwe, effectively succeeding, as part of the 1987 Unity Accord, PF-Zapu previous leader John Nkomo who died in January 2013. Trivia Mphoko is a photographer. He has also said he likes to play golf, jazz music and cooking.
Posted on: Thu, 01 Jan 2015 12:35:27 +0000
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