The making of a great statesman
Cde ED Mnangagwa was born on 15 September 1942 in Chief Mapanzure’s area in Zvishavane, the Midlands Province.
He joined the United National Independence Party (UNIP) led by former Zambian President, Dr Kenneth Kaunda, at a very tender age. He joined Zapu in 1962 when he was merely an 18-year-old boy.
He later joined the newly formed Zimbabwe African National Union (Zanu) in August 1963 as one of the founding members. He has been loyal to the revolutionary party from day one to date.
He is a tried and tested revolutionary leader who clearly understands our history and Zimbabwe’s destiny.
ED received military training in Tanzania and Egypt. He was also part of the Chinese trained Crocodile Group that spearheaded resistance against colonial rule through engaging in acts of sabotage.
Cde ED is a shrewd political figure who survived under extremely difficult political conditions. Together with the late Matthew Malowa, they blew a locomotive train in Fort Victoria (Masvingo) and infuriated the colonial regime, leading to his arrest and death sentence in 1965.
The death sentence was subsequently commuted on an age technicality to ten years imprisonment, which he served in various prisons such as Khami Prison in Zimbabwe while at the same time advancing his education through correspondence. As a result of the illtreatment and torture in prison, ED lost hearing in one ear.
While in prison, he met Cdes Robert Mugabe, Enos Nkala, Morris Nyagumbo, Edgar Tekere and Didymus Mutasa.
ED was released from prison and deported via Victoria Falls to Zambia in 1973, where he was received and hosted by Cde Peter Baya between 1973 and 1976. While in Zambia, he completed his Law Degree and was admitted to the Bar of the High Court of Zambia in 1976.
He voluntarily left Zambia to join the liberation struggle in Mozambique in 1976, where he was assigned as the Special Assistant to the former President, Cde Mugabe.
In 1977, he was elected as Special Assistant to the President and Member of the National Executive of Zanu at the Chimoio Congress which effectively made him a member of the Central Committee and High Command as well as Head of both Military and Civil Intelligence.
He was deputised by the late Retired General Vitalis Musungwa Gava Zvinavashe. In 1980, he led the first group of comrades, including Didymus Mutasa and the late Eddison Zvobgo, from Maputo to Harare during ceasefire.
Positions held in Government. • Minister of State Security (19801988);
• Minister of Justice and Legal Affairs (1988-2000);
• Speaker of the House of Assembly (2000-2005);
• Minister of National Rural Housing and Social Amenities (20052009);
• Minister of Defence (2009-2013); • Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs (2013-2017);
• Vice-President of Zimbabwe (2014-2017);
• President of the republic of Zimbabwe (November 2017 to date).