EMMERSON MNANGAGWA

Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa was born on September 15, 1942, in the town of Shabani, now known as Zvishavane, in central Southern Rhodesia (modern-day Zimbabwe). He came from a politically active family; his parents, Mafidhi and Mhurai Mnangagwa, were involved in local political activities. The Mnangagwa family belonged to the Karanga subgroup of the Shona people, which is the largest ethnic group in Zimbabwe. Growing up in a large family, Mnangagwa was the third of ten siblings and had several additional half-siblings due to his father’s polygamous marriage.

During his childhood, Mnangagwa spent time herding cattle and developed a fascination with traditional justice by observing local court cases. His paternal grandfather, Mubengo Kushanduka, had a great influence on him, as Kushanduka had fought in the Second Matabele War and worked under the Ndebele King Lobengula. The stories his grandfather shared left a lasting impact on young Mnangagwa, shaping his early outlook on life and leadership.

In the early 1950s, Mnangagwa's father was forced to leave Southern Rhodesia for Northern Rhodesia (now Zambia) after clashing with local colonial authorities. The family followed him to the town of Mumbwa in 1955, where Emmerson continued his education. It was during this time that he first met Robert Mugabe, who would later inspire Mnangagwa’s involvement in anti-colonial politics.

Mnangagwa’s education was marked by determination. He attended Kafue Trade School and later Hodgson Technical College in Northern Rhodesia, where he became active in student politics and anti-colonial movements. However, his activism led to his expulsion from college after he was implicated in setting fire to a building. His political involvement intensified, and in 1962, he joined the Zimbabwe African People’s Union (ZAPU), receiving guerrilla training to fight against colonial rule. After falling out with ZAPU, Mnangagwa aligned himself with the Zimbabwe African National Union (ZANU) and trained with ZANU’s military wing in China. He co-founded the Crocodile Gang, a unit that carried out guerrilla attacks against colonial authorities, signaling the start of the Rhodesian Bush War.

Mnangagwa’s activities led to his arrest in 1964, and he spent over a decade in prison under harsh conditions. Despite the brutal treatment he faced, he avoided execution and was eventually released. Upon his release, Mnangagwa pursued a law degree in Zambia and rejoined ZANU’s leadership, playing a crucial role in the negotiations that led to Zimbabwe’s independence in 1980.

Before independence, Robert Mugabe appointed Mnangagwa as Minister of State for National Security, giving him control over the Central Intelligence Organization (CIO). Mnangagwa’s tenure in this role was marked by the Gukurahundi massacres in the early 1980s, during which thousands of Ndebele civilians were killed. While Mnangagwa denied direct involvement, he has been accused of playing a role in the violence as the CIO coordinated efforts to suppress the opposition. The Gukurahundi ended with the 1987 Unity Accord, which brought Mugabe’s ZANU and Joshua Nkomo’s ZAPU together.

Mnangagwa’s political career saw both setbacks and successes. Despite his early influence, internal divisions within the ruling ZANU-PF party occasionally sidelined him. In 2000, he lost his parliamentary seat but was appointed Speaker of the House of Assembly. His influence continued to grow, and by 2014, he was appointed Zimbabwe’s First Vice-President, positioning him as Mugabe’s likely successor. However, his rivalry with the G40 faction, led by First Lady Grace Mugabe, created tensions within the party.

In 2017, Mnangagwa was dismissed from his vice-presidential role and fled the country amid political threats. This triggered a military intervention that eventually led to Mugabe’s resignation. Mnangagwa returned to Zimbabwe and was sworn in as president on November 24, 2017. As president, Mnangagwa vowed to address corruption and revitalize Zimbabwe’s struggling economy. Despite initial optimism, his presidency has faced challenges, including economic crises, allegations of human rights abuses, and accusations of electoral fraud during the 2023 elections.

Mnangagwa has been married twice and is a father of nine children. His first wife, Jayne Matarise, passed away in 2002, and he later married Auxillia Mnangagwa, with whom he has three children. Mnangagwa’s family has been involved in both business and politics, and he continues to play a significant role in Zimbabwe’s political landscape, having announced in 2024 that he would not seek a third term in office.

Reference: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emmerson_Mnangagwa