Who is Phelekezela Mphoko Born 11 June 1940 at Gwizane, Bubi District, Matabeleland North, Report 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 Accordbetween 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[3]). 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. When ZAPU split in 1972, following differences between Chikerema and Jason Ziyaphapha Moyo, it culminated in the formation of Front 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 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. 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 Masuku which 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 instituted Demobilisation Directorate which fell under the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare. In August 1985, during Gukurahundi, Mphoko was arrested together withCephas 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. Mphoko was in the first executive of the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association. together with Chris Pasipamire and Hebert Matanga in 1992. 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. Mphoko was a diplomat since 1987 and served in Mozambique, Austria and Botswana respectively before being appointed to Russia. 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. Mphoko is said to have said 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, 11 Dec 2014 09:16:29 +0000
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