Simon Muzenda
Simon Vengesai Muzenda was a Zimbabwean politician, national hero and Vice-President from 1987 to 2003.
Muzenda was born on October 20, 1922, in Gutu, Masvingo Province, Zimbabwe
Education:
He attended Nyamande Primary School in Gutu, Domboshawa School in Mashonaland Central Province and Marianhill Mission in South Africa for a carpentry and teacher training course.
Career:
Simon qualified as a carpenter and went on to teach the course at Selukwe and Mazenod Catholic School in Durban, South Africa between the years 1948 and 1950. He returned to Zimbabwe and found work in a furniture manufacturing company in Bulawayo where he came into contact with Benjamin Burumbo, one of the earlier activists against colonial rule in Rhodesia. It was during this time that he became interested in the politics of the time and activism.
Political Career:
- Secretary-General British African National Voice (1953)
- NDP, Mvuma Branch Chairman
- Organising Secretary NDP, Midlands Province
- Provincial Administrative Secretary (ZAPU), 1962
- Detained at Salisbury Prison (1962-64)
- Deputy Organising Secretary (ZANU), 1964
- Secretary for Law and Order African National Council, 1971
- Deputy Administrating Secretary ANC (Lusaka) 1972
- Member CentralCommitteee (ZANU) 1975
- Deputy leader ZANU delegation to Geneve Conference
- ZANU MP for Midlands, 1980
- Founder Member of ZANU in 1963
- Deputy Prime Minister (1980-87) and Minister of Foreign Affairs (1980-81)
- Vice-President of ZANU (1987)
- Vice President of Zimbabwe (1987-2003)
He died on 20 September 2003, he was declared a national hero for his service to the country before and after independence. He is buried at the National Hero’s Acre in Harare.
