John Nkomo

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Simon Khaya-Moyo &
Oppah Muchinguri
Personal details
Born(1934-08-22)22 August 1934
Southern Rhodesia
Died17 January 2013(2013-01-17) (aged 78)
St Anne's Hospital in Harare, Zimbabwe
Political partyZANU–PF
SpouseGeorgina Ngwenya
Residence(s)Bulawayo, Zimbabwe

John Landa Nkomo (22 August 1934 – 17 January 2013) was a Zimbabwean politician who served as

Zimbabwe African National Union – Patriotic Front (ZANU–PF); he was National Chairman of ZANU–PF until December 2009, when he was elected as Vice President of ZANU–PF. As a consequence of his elevation to the party's vice presidency, he also became Vice President of Zimbabwe in December 2009.[2]

Political career

Nkomo was a member of Joshua Nkomo's Zimbabwe African People's Union (ZAPU) before the party merged with Robert Mugabe's Zimbabwe African National Union (ZANU) to create ZANU–PF in 1987.[3] He was Minister of Labour, Manpower Planning, and Social Welfare as of May 1990.[4]

Nkomo, who had previously served as Minister of Home Affairs, was moved to the position of Minister of Special Affairs in the President's Office in a cabinet reshuffle on 25 August 2002.[5][6] This was seen as a demotion and was attributed to a power play in ZANU–PF.[6] Following the March 2005 parliamentary election, he became Speaker of Parliament in April 2005.[7]

In November 2006, while serving his term as the Speaker of Parliament, John Nkomo shocked many people declaring his intention to seek the candidature for ZANU–PF for the

next presidential election.[8]
Nkomo did not seek the nomination, however, as President Robert Mugabe chose to run for re-election.

Nkomo did not stand as a candidate in the

2008 parliamentary election, but following the election he was appointed to the Senate by Mugabe on 25 August 2008.[9] Later, when the national unity government was appointed in February 2009, he became Minister of State in the President's Office.[1]

Nkomo was widely viewed as a moderate member within the ZANU–PF leadership.

Joyce Mujuru (who represents the party's ZANU wing), Nkomo was one of two vice presidents. In an interview at the time of his swearing-in, Nkomo expressed his commitment to the success of the national unity government and said that he would work to facilitate the achievement of its goals.[3]

Court battles

Nkomo was embroiled in a number of high-profile court battles in Zimbabwe that received media coverage. In July 2006, he was in court fighting for a farm situated in Lupane, 200 km from Bulawayo.[11]

United States travel restriction

From 2003 until his death in 2013, Nkomo was among a number of individuals not allowed to travel to the United States because the US government alleged he worked to undermine democracy and rule of law in Zimbabwe.[12]

Death

Nkomo died of cancer at St Anne's Hospital in Harare, Zimbabwe on 17 January 2013 at the age of 78.[13] He was a long time member of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.[14][15]

References

  1. ^ a b "Mugabe swears in 19 deputy ministers, 5 Ministers of State". NewZimbabwe.com. 20 February 2009. Archived from the original on 23 February 2009. Retrieved 20 February 2009.
  2. ^ "John Nkomo takes oath of office as VP". Zim Eye. 14 December 2009. Archived from the original on 6 October 2011. Retrieved 30 December 2009.
  3. ^ a b c "New Zimbabwe VP John Nkomo Calls for Unity of Purpose in Government" Archived 19 December 2009 at the Wayback Machine, VOA News, 15 December 2009.
  4. ^ Jacob Chikuhwa, A Crisis of Governance: Zimbabwe (2004), page 331.
  5. ^ "Mugabe names new cabinet", Sapa-AFP (IOL), 25 August 2002.
  6. ^ a b "ZIMBABWE: New government without Makoni" Archived 6 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine, SADOCC, 25 August 2002.
  7. ^ "MP's sworn in, new ministers appointed", SADOCC, 16 April 2005.
  8. ^ Nkomo confirms presidential ambitions "Nkomo confirms presidential ambitions". Archived from the original on 21 December 2007. Retrieved 11 February 2008.(accessed 2 October 2008)
  9. ^ "President Appoints Ministers", The Herald (allAfrica.com), 25 August 2008.
  10. ^ Chengetai Zvauya, "Mugabe: Zimbabwe's unity govt has 'short life'", Associated Press, 12 December 2009.
  11. ^ Nkomo ordered off farm "Zimbabwejournalists.com: John Nkomo ordered off controversial farm". Archived from the original on 18 July 2011. Retrieved 11 February 2008.(accessed 2 October 2008)
  12. ^ Recent OFAC Actions Archived 18 March 2008 at the Wayback Machine, US Dept. of Treasury, 23 November 2005 (accessed 2 July 2008)
  13. ^ "Mugabe deputy John Nkomo dies after cancer battle". Reuters. 17 January 2013. Retrieved 17 January 2013.
  14. ^ "Solusi to honour Nkomo". Retrieved 3 April 2019.
  15. ^ "All set for VP Nkomo burial". The Herald. Retrieved 25 April 2019.
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