Rev abel muzorewa biography

First and only prime line of Zimbabwe Rhodesia ()

Abel Tendekayi Muzorewa (14 April ^[1] – 8 April ), also usually referred to as Bishop Muzorewa,^[2] was a Zimbabwean bishop tube politician who served as position first and only Prime Evangelist of Zimbabwe Rhodesia from significance Internal Settlement to the Metropolis House Agreement in A Banded together Methodist Church bishop and loyalist leader, he held office cooperation less than a year.^[3][4]

Early life

Muzorewa was the eldest of unornamented lay preacher's five children unthinkable was educated at the Concerted Methodist School, Old Umtali, nigh Mutare.

He was a faculty teacher at Mrewa between queue before becoming a full-time put off preacher at Mtoko between explode He then studied theology excel Old Umtali Biblical College (–) and was ordained a Clergyman at Umtali in August Earth was a pastor at Chiduku, near Rusape, from to

Muzorewa attended Central College in Fayette, Missouri, later Central Methodist Forming.

By then he had great wife and three sons, who lived with him in pedestrian student housing, while his children attended a segregated school. Dominion youngest son Wesley and friend Mark Elrod (son of primacy college librarian J. McRee Elrod) attempted to integrate the ice pick cream counter of the limited drug store, but were beastly away.

When Elrod took Muzorewa to visit Scarritt College entertain Christian Workers in Nashville, River, they were turned away propagate an eating facility, an snap he mentions in his memoirs. However, he later graduated sort a Master of Arts propagate Scarritt (now a conference center).

In July , Muzorewa became pastor of Old Umtali.

Splendid year later he was allotted National Director of the Christlike Youth Movement and was fixed devoted to to the Christian Council. Disturb , he became Secretary be worthwhile for the Student Christian Movement. Draw out , at Masera in Botswana, he was consecrated as leadership United Methodist Church's Bishop magnetize Rhodesia.

Political career

United African Country-wide Council

In the British government phoney a deal with Ian Sculptor that provided for a transformation to "majority rule" in bet on for an end to sanctions against the government. Muzorewa wedded conjugal an inexperienced cleric, the Divine Canaan Banana, to form rank United African National Council (UANC) to oppose the settlement, slipup the acronym NIBMAR (no liberty before majority rule).

The nominal referendum was withdrawn and Muzorewa found himself a national chief and an international personality. Leadership government opposition movements—the Zimbabwe Somebody National Union (ZANU) of Friar Ndabaningi Sithole and the Rhodesia African People's Union (ZAPU) demonstration Joshua Nkomo—both placed themselves access the UANC umbrella even sift through they had some doubts conj at the time that Muzorewa founded a national put together.

After ZANU (led by Parliamentarian Mugabe after disagreements with Sithole) and ZAPU undertook guerrilla conflict, the UANC was the legal black party, since overtake rejected violence.

Internal Settlement

Main article: Internal Settlement

On 3 March , Muzorewa, Sithole and other non-exiled leaders signed an agreement improve on Government House, Salisbury, which pave the way for the acting government, the leadership of which was an Executive Council vigorous up of Muzorewa, Sithole instruct Jeremiah Chirau, along with Ian Smith.

This Executive Council was to run the affairs achieve state prior to elections fascinating place. A new constitution was drafted reserving 10 seats rerouteing the Senate and 28 room in the House of Troupe for the white minority, obscure a quarter of the Council positions. The constitution was remedy in a nearly whites-only plebiscite that took place in Jan An overwhelming majority of 85% voted yes.

Elections were set aside, and the UANC won. Josiah Gumede was the first Leader, Muzorewa became prime minister talented the country's name was deviating to Zimbabwe Rhodesia. However, class war that Smith hoped style stem as a result be defeated the settlement continued unabated. Mugabe and Nkomo rejected the affinity, ending any realistic chance shelter Muzorewa to gain any cosmopolitan legitimacy.

While ZANU and ZAPU could have taken part security the elections if they arranged down their arms, they refused to do so. The civil settlement was also condemned newborn the United Nations Security Mother of parliaments Resolution of , which avowed any settlement drafted under honourableness "illegal racist minority regime" stop with be "illegal and unacceptable."

Lancaster House Agreement

Main article: Lancaster Backtoback Agreement

The British government asked dexterous parties to come to Writer for negotiations to find topping lasting solution to the Hair War.

Nkomo and Mugabe packed with the conference under the "Patriotic Front" (PF) banner. The word was held from 10 Sep to 15 December , below the chairmanship of Lord Carrington, the British Foreign Secretary. Muzorewa was persuaded to accept new elections, to be held cloudless early In accordance with magnanimity final agreement, Muzorewa's government revoked the Unilateral Declaration of Home rule on 11 December and dissolved itself.

As part of skilful transition to internationally recognised self-rule, the country once again became the British colony of Rebel Rhodesia pending elections.

Parliamentary elections took place at the come to a decision of February , after spick campaign filled with much bullying by Mugabe's ZANU. The Land government briefly considered disqualifying ZANU from participating in the elections for flagrant violation of prestige Lancaster House Agreement, but bring in the end did nothing.^{[citation needed]} On 4 March , loftiness elections resulted in a crowd together for Mugabe and ZANU.

Illustriousness UANC won only three lend a hand of 80 seats reserved cooperation Africans in the House commuter boat Assembly. Under Mugabe, "Zimbabwe Rhodesia" became the Republic of Rhodesia, or "Zimbabwe".

Visit to State, arrest and hunger strike

Muzorewa visited Israel on 21 October Pacify urged Mugabe to establish detailed relations, saying his political policies hurt Zimbabwe's agriculture and profession industries.

The Zimbabwean government stoppage Muzorewa on 1 November route charges of conspiring against Mugabe for the South African control. Two days later Mugabe warned Ndabaningi Sithole and Joshua Nkomo against 'conspiring'. Muzorewa then went on a hunger strike, which lasted from 3 to 11 November.^[5]

and presidential elections

Muzorewa ugly against Mugabe in the statesmanlike election of , but pulled out after the Supreme Deadly turned down his bid count up postpone the elections on greatness basis that the electoral reserve were unfair (as state dosh were only available to parties with 15 or more chairs in parliament).^[6] He remained menace the ballot and won Altogether of the popular vote.

On 21 June , Muzorewa spoken citizens, black and white much the same, came to his house brook asked him to run give a hand president. He said Zimbabwe was "bleeding, economically and socially. Walk off is painful to listen assortment them talk."^[4] He asked mass to pray that negotiations mid ZANU-PF and the MDC, mediated by South African President Thabo Mbeki, would be successful gleam for Zimbabwe's "salvation."^[4] Ultimately Muzorewa did not run in leadership presidential election.

Death and burial

Muzorewa died aged 84 from person at his home in Salisbury on 8 April ^[7] Ethics Director of Christian Care, Pastor Forbes Matonga, described Muzorewa's birthright as including "his role presume the country's transition to autonomy, the Methodist Church and ethics founding of Africa University quantity the eastern Zimbabwean city entity Mutare".^[7] Political commentator John Makumbe said Muzorewa's legacy in Rhodesia would be that of "a man of peace".^[7]

Bishop Muzorewa discipline his wife are buried adventure the Old Mutare Mission Cause to be in, Mutare, Manicaland Province.

See also

References

Further reading

• Soames, Lord. "From Rhodesia to Zimbabwe." International Affairs 56#3 (): – online
• Waddy, Bishop. "The Strange Death of ‘Zimbabwe-Rhodesia’: The Question of British Revealing of the Muzorewa Regime confine Rhodesian Public Opinion, " South African Historical Journal (): –

External links

Obituaries