TODAY, Zimbabwe celebrates its 46th independence anniversary.
NewsDay looked at the contributions made by some of the people who played a role in the country’s liberation struggle.
Josiah Magama Tongogara (February 4, 1938 — December 26, 1979)
Josiah Magama Tongogara was a commander of the Zanla guerrilla army in Rhodesia.
He attended the Lancaster House conference that led to Zimbabwe’s independence and end of white minority rule.
Numerous people expected him to be the first President of Zimbabwe.
Tongogara was one of several rebel commanders operating from outside of Rhodesia’s border to free the country from white rule.
In 1973, he took over command of the armed forces of the Zimbabwe African National Union from Herbert Chitepo.
- Mavhunga puts DeMbare into Chibuku quarterfinals
- Ndiraya concerned as goals dry up
- DeMbare’s double boost
- ‘Zifa suspension won’t affect player transfers’
Keep Reading
In 1975, he put down an interior revolt by members of the Manyika tribe and consolidated that control with the assistance of Solomon Mujuru (Rex Nhongo).
Herbert Wiltshire Hamandishe Chitepo (June 15, 1923 – March 18, 1975)
Herbert Wiltshire Hamandishe Chitepo led the Zimbabwe African National Union until he was assassinated on March 1975.
Chitepo became the first black citizen of Rhodesia to become a lawyer.
In May 1962, Zapu was banned because of militarism and Chitepo was persuaded to go into voluntary exile to escape possible detention.
He became Tanganyika’s first African director of public prosecutions.
He held this post until December 7, 1974, when the Lusaka Accord was signed.
Leopold Takawira (1916–1970)
Leopold Takawira served as the vice president of the Zimbabwe African National Union after supporting the National Democratic Party (NDP) and later the Zimbabwe African People’s Union.
Takawira was also known by his totem as “Shumba yekwaChirumhanzu”.
He was detained in 1964 and confined at first, to Sikhombela Prison alongside Joshua Nkomo, Ndabaningi Sithole, Robert Mugabe and Edgar Tekere.
After Rhodesia’s Unilateral Declaration of Independence from the United Kingdom, he was moved to Salisbury Prison, where he remained until his death in 1970.
Joshua Mqabuko Nyongolo Nkomo (June 19, 1917 – July 1, 1999)
Joshua Mqabuko Nyongolo Nkomo was a Zimbabwean politician who served as Vice-President of Zimbabwe from 1987 to 1999.
He was leader and founder of the Zimbabwe African People’s Union (Zapu) party, and a member of the Ndebele people (Kalanga).
He was a trade union leader, who became president of the banned National Democratic Party, and was jailed for ten years by Rhodesia’s white minority government.
After his release, Zapu contributed to the fall of that government, but then feuded with the rival Zanu group led by Robert Mugabe.
Fearing for his life, Nkomo fled the country, before controversially allowing Zapu to merge with Zanu.
He founded and was chief architect of the Zimbabwe African National Union party in August 1963 in conjunction with Herbert Chitepo, Robert Mugabe and Edgar Tekere in the Highfields house of Enos Nkala.
He spent 10 years in prison after being arrested on June 22, 1964 alongside Mugabe, Tekere, Nyagumbo and Takawira for his political activities.
While in prison, he specifically authorised Chitepo to continue the struggle from abroad as a representative of Zanu.
In December 1987, he formed the unity government with Mugabe and other leaders, on December 22, which is now known as Unity Day.
Edgar Zivanai Tekere (April 1, 1937 — June 7, 2011)
Nicknamed “2 Boy”, Edgar Zivanai Tekere was the second and last secretary-general of Zanu, who organised the party during the Lancaster House talks and served in government before his popularity as a potential rival to Mugabe caused their estrangement.
During the war, Tekere served on the Zanu High Command, or Dare reChimurenga.
He was detained by the Rhodesian government at Gonakudzingwa.
Enos Mzombi Nkala (August 23, 1932 – August 21, 2013)
Enos Mzombi Nkala was one of the founders of the Zimbabwe African National Union.
During the Rhodesian war, he served on the Zanu High Command, or Dare reChimurenga as treasurer.
Nkala was detained by the Rhodesian government at Gonakudzingwa for 12 years with the rest of the Zanu (formed in Nkala’s house in Highfield) leadership, consisting of Ndabaningi Sithole, Leopold Takawira, Robert Mugabe, Edgar Tekere and Morris Nyagumbo.
Robert Gabriel Mugabe (February 21, 1924 — September 6, 2019)
Robert Gabriel Mugabe was a Zimbabwean revolutionary and politician who served as Prime Minister of Zimbabwe from 1980 to 1987 and then as President from 1987 to 2017.
