Chenjerai Hunzvi
Encyclopedia
Chenjerai "Hitler" Hunzvi (October 23, 1949-June 4, 2001) served as Chairman of the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association
beginning in 1997.
in the Mashonaland
province of Zimbabwe
. He said that he joined the struggle against white minority rule in Rhodesia
at the age of 16 taking the nom-de-guerre of "Hitler". He reported to have been interned in Gonakudzingwa and Wha Wha prisons between 1967 and 1970, and to have been a prominent leader in Zimbabwe African Popular Union (ZAPU)
and Zimbabwe People's Revolutionary Army (Zipra), though these claims have been denied by other respected elders of the campaigns.
He left the country and having been identified as being bright, was sent to study in Romania
, becoming fluent in Romanian and French, and subsequently began medical studies
in Poland
where he married a Polish
woman named Wiesława Hunzvi
, with whom he had two children. He represented Zapu while in Poland, and in 1979, during his medical studies, Hunzvi visited London
to attend the ceasefire and constitutional negotiations for the Lancaster House Agreement
.
Hunzvi returned to Zimbabwe in 1990, working initially at Harare Central Hospital, and later founding a medical practice in Budiriro, in the township of Harare
. Wiesława Hunzvi fled Zimbabwe in 1992 to escape violence from her husband. She described Hunzvi as a "cruel and vile man who took delight in beating me. And as for the war, he never fired a shot. He saw no action at all." He subsequently remarried and has two other children.
, and critiqued the president. The pressure tactics were successful and the 50,000 war veterans were granted one-off payments of US $2,500, as well as monthly pensions of US $100. A compensation fund was also set up to benefit those who were disabled following war service, with the amount paid determined by the degree of disability. The fund was the subject of enormous fraud, with government officials, party officials and others (including Hunzvi) determined to be 117% disabled. Experts have claimed that the settlements were a major factor in the economic crisis in the Zimbabwe.
In 1999, Hunzvi was arrested in corruption case regarding the allegedly embezzlement of Z$45m of the war veterans' funds. He was denied bail, due to fear that he would intimidate witnesses or abscond. The actual trial was repeatedly postponed, and the war veterans' leadership voted to remove him from office.
In 2000 Hunzvi led the campaign involving war veterans and other supporters of ZANU-PF in the seizure of white-owned land. During parliamentary elections in 1990, he incited followers to intimidate and harass members of the opposition group, the Movement for Democratic Change. Calling himself "the biggest terrorist in Zimbabwe" he was identified by numerous witnesses as participation in beatings and torture, and his medical clinic labelled a "torture chamber" by Amnesty International
in 2000.
Hunzvi was elected to parliament in 2000, but died in 2001 in Harare's Parirenyatwa Hospital
. His death was variably ascribed to malaria
, a heart condition, or AIDS
.
Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association
Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association is a Zimbabwean organization ostensibly made up of veterans of the 1970s bush war against the government of Ian Smith. In 2005, the government looked into ways to make members of the organization part of the army of Zimbabwe.- History :The...
beginning in 1997.
Early life
Hunzvi was born in Chiminya, a villageVillage
A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet with the population ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand , Though often located in rural areas, the term urban village is also applied to certain urban neighbourhoods, such as the West Village in Manhattan, New...
in the Mashonaland
Mashonaland East
Mashonaland East is a province of Zimbabwe. It has an area of 32,230 km² and a population of approximately 1.1 million . Marondera is the capital of the province.-Districts:Mashonaland East is divided into eight districts:* Chikomba* Goromonzi...
province of Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe is a landlocked country located in the southern part of the African continent, between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers. It is bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the southwest, Zambia and a tip of Namibia to the northwest and Mozambique to the east. Zimbabwe has three...
. He said that he joined the struggle against white minority rule in Rhodesia
Rhodesia
Rhodesia , officially the Republic of Rhodesia from 1970, was an unrecognised state located in southern Africa that existed between 1965 and 1979 following its Unilateral Declaration of Independence from the United Kingdom on 11 November 1965...
at the age of 16 taking the nom-de-guerre of "Hitler". He reported to have been interned in Gonakudzingwa and Wha Wha prisons between 1967 and 1970, and to have been a prominent leader in Zimbabwe African Popular Union (ZAPU)
Zimbabwe African People's Union
The Zimbabwe African People's Union was a militant organization and political party that fought for the national liberation of Zimbabwe from its founding in 1961 until it merged with the Zimbabwe African National Union – Patriotic Front in December 1987....
and Zimbabwe People's Revolutionary Army (Zipra), though these claims have been denied by other respected elders of the campaigns.
He left the country and having been identified as being bright, was sent to study in Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
, becoming fluent in Romanian and French, and subsequently began medical studies
Medicine
Medicine is the science and art of healing. It encompasses a variety of health care practices evolved to maintain and restore health by the prevention and treatment of illness....
in Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
where he married a Polish
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
woman named Wiesława Hunzvi
Wieslawa Hunzvi
Wiesława Hunzvi is the former wife of Chenjerai "Hitler" Hunzvi and an author. A Polish citizen, she met Hunzvi while he studied medicine in Poland in the 1970s. According to Wiesława Hunzvi abused and beat her constantly, finding enjoyment in this practice. She soon became estranged and became...
, with whom he had two children. He represented Zapu while in Poland, and in 1979, during his medical studies, Hunzvi visited London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
to attend the ceasefire and constitutional negotiations for the Lancaster House Agreement
Lancaster House Agreement
The negotiations which led to the Lancaster House Agreement brought independence to Rhodesia following Ian Smith’s Unilateral Declaration of Independence in 1965. The Agreement covered the Independence Constitution, pre-independence arrangements, and a ceasefire...
.
Hunzvi returned to Zimbabwe in 1990, working initially at Harare Central Hospital, and later founding a medical practice in Budiriro, in the township of Harare
Harare
Harare before 1982 known as Salisbury) is the largest city and capital of Zimbabwe. It has an estimated population of 1,600,000, with 2,800,000 in its metropolitan area . Administratively, Harare is an independent city equivalent to a province. It is Zimbabwe's largest city and its...
. Wiesława Hunzvi fled Zimbabwe in 1992 to escape violence from her husband. She described Hunzvi as a "cruel and vile man who took delight in beating me. And as for the war, he never fired a shot. He saw no action at all." He subsequently remarried and has two other children.
Political career
Hunzvi was subsequently elected chairman of the Zimbabwean Liberation War Veterans Association in 1997, which, at the time, a relatively inactive organization. A born orator, Hunzvi organised rowdy demonstrations demanding gratuities and pensions from President Robert MugabeRobert Mugabe
Robert Gabriel Mugabe is the President of Zimbabwe. As one of the leaders of the liberation movement against white-minority rule, he was elected into power in 1980...
, and critiqued the president. The pressure tactics were successful and the 50,000 war veterans were granted one-off payments of US $2,500, as well as monthly pensions of US $100. A compensation fund was also set up to benefit those who were disabled following war service, with the amount paid determined by the degree of disability. The fund was the subject of enormous fraud, with government officials, party officials and others (including Hunzvi) determined to be 117% disabled. Experts have claimed that the settlements were a major factor in the economic crisis in the Zimbabwe.
In 1999, Hunzvi was arrested in corruption case regarding the allegedly embezzlement of Z$45m of the war veterans' funds. He was denied bail, due to fear that he would intimidate witnesses or abscond. The actual trial was repeatedly postponed, and the war veterans' leadership voted to remove him from office.
In 2000 Hunzvi led the campaign involving war veterans and other supporters of ZANU-PF in the seizure of white-owned land. During parliamentary elections in 1990, he incited followers to intimidate and harass members of the opposition group, the Movement for Democratic Change. Calling himself "the biggest terrorist in Zimbabwe" he was identified by numerous witnesses as participation in beatings and torture, and his medical clinic labelled a "torture chamber" by Amnesty International
Amnesty International
Amnesty International is an international non-governmental organisation whose stated mission is "to conduct research and generate action to prevent and end grave abuses of human rights, and to demand justice for those whose rights have been violated."Following a publication of Peter Benenson's...
in 2000.
Hunzvi was elected to parliament in 2000, but died in 2001 in Harare's Parirenyatwa Hospital
Parirenyatwa Hospital
Parirenyatwa General Hospital is the largest medical centre in Zimbabwe. Located in Harare, the hospital was formerly known as the Andrew Fleming Hospital, and was named after the principal medical officer to the British South Africa Company....
. His death was variably ascribed to malaria
Malaria
Malaria is a mosquito-borne infectious disease of humans and other animals caused by eukaryotic protists of the genus Plasmodium. The disease results from the multiplication of Plasmodium parasites within red blood cells, causing symptoms that typically include fever and headache, in severe cases...
, a heart condition, or AIDS
AIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
.