Fay Chung
Encyclopedia
Fay King Chung is a Zimbabwean educator and an independent candidate for the March 2008 Zimbabwean senatorial election
. She is one of the early public supporters of independent presidential candidate, Simba Makoni
, who announced his presidential candidacy in early February 2008. She was Deputy Secretary for Administration in the Ministry of Education from 1980 to 1988 and Minister of Education in President Robert Mugabe
's cabinet from 1988 to 1993. In 1980, 5% of the black population in Zimbabwe had access to basic education as provided by government schools (at that time mission schools provided the majority of basic education); by 1993, Zimbabwe had achieved a 95% primary education rate. Fay has worked to extend access to education and to bring ‘education-with-production’ principles into school curricular in Zimbabwe
and other developing countries.
(now Zimbabwe) in the 1950’s and trained as an educator at the University of Zimbabwe
(then known as University of Rhodesia
) and in 1968 went on to earn her post-graduate degree in education and masters in philosophy in English literature at the University of Leeds
. Most recently, Fay also earned a BA in Economics from the University of London
’s School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS).
During the 1960s, Fay taught underprivileged students in one of the largest Zimbabwean townships in Gweru
and in the early 70’s became a lecturer in the Department of Education at the University of Zambia
. In Zambia
she became a vocal supporter of the African nationalist movement. With the escalation of the guerrilla war inside Rhodesia Fay joined the Zimbabwe African National Union (ZANU) the Zimbabwe liberation struggle in 1973. Her participation in the liberation struggle forced her into exile in Tanzania and Mozambique
in the mid and late ‘70’s where she learned to speak Shona
fluently. Her initial role within ZANU was in the Information and Media Department she subsequently became the senior official responsible for implementing ZANU’s teacher training and curriculum development in refugee camps through the 70’s.
After resigning from the Ministry of Education, Fay worked to replicate the Zimbabwean education platform in developing countries around the world as Chief of the Education Cluster at UNICEF in New York. In 1998 she returned to Africa where she was the founder and first director of UNESCO
’s International Institute for Capacity Building in Africa based in Ethiopia
.
: Memories of the Liberation Struggle for Zimbabwe, her memoir. In addition, she has continued to be active in various organizations, including supporting various women’s education, leadership and empowerment efforts in Africa
. She is a founder of FAWE (Forum for African Women Educationalists), ASHEWA (Association for Strengthening Higher Education for Women in Africa) and is also the Chairperson of the board of Trustees of the Women’s University in Africa which she helped co-found in 2003.
, Fay Chung returned to the political arena and stood as an independent candidate within the Mavambo Formation of Simba Makoni
for the Mvurachena senatorial
constituency. She gained 2,238 votes, losing to Rutendo Chikukwa of ZANU-PF.
Zimbabwean parliamentary election, 2008
A parliamentary election was held in Zimbabwe on March 29, 2008 to elect members to both the House of Assembly and the Senate of the Zimbabwean parliament...
. She is one of the early public supporters of independent presidential candidate, Simba Makoni
Simba Makoni
Simbarashe Herbert Stanley Makoni is a Zimbabwean politician and was a candidate for the March 2008 presidential election against incumbent Robert Mugabe. He was Minister of Finance and Economic Development in President Robert Mugabe's cabinet from 2000 to 2002...
, who announced his presidential candidacy in early February 2008. She was Deputy Secretary for Administration in the Ministry of Education from 1980 to 1988 and Minister of Education in President Robert Mugabe
Robert 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...
's cabinet from 1988 to 1993. In 1980, 5% of the black population in Zimbabwe had access to basic education as provided by government schools (at that time mission schools provided the majority of basic education); by 1993, Zimbabwe had achieved a 95% primary education rate. Fay has worked to extend access to education and to bring ‘education-with-production’ principles into school curricular in 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...
and other developing countries.
Background
Fay grew up in a Chinese family in racially segregated RhodesiaRhodesia
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...
(now Zimbabwe) in the 1950’s and trained as an educator at the University of Zimbabwe
University of Zimbabwe
The University of Zimbabwe in Harare, is the oldest and largest university in Zimbabwe. It was founded through a special relationship with the University of London and it opened its doors to its first students in 1952. The university has ten faculties offering a wide variety of degree programmes...
(then known as University of 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...
) and in 1968 went on to earn her post-graduate degree in education and masters in philosophy in English literature at the University of Leeds
University of Leeds
The University of Leeds is a British Redbrick university located in the city of Leeds, West Yorkshire, England...
. Most recently, Fay also earned a BA in Economics from the University of London
University of London
-20th century:Shortly after 6 Burlington Gardens was vacated, the University went through a period of rapid expansion. Bedford College, Royal Holloway and the London School of Economics all joined in 1900, Regent's Park College, which had affiliated in 1841 became an official divinity school of the...
’s School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS).
During the 1960s, Fay taught underprivileged students in one of the largest Zimbabwean townships in Gweru
Gweru
Gweru is a city near the centre of Zimbabwe at . It has a population of about 146,073 , making it the third largest city in the nation. Gweru is the capital of Midlands Province. Gweru was founded in 1894 by Dr. Leander Starr Jameson. The first bank opened in Gweru in 1896, and the stock exchange...
and in the early 70’s became a lecturer in the Department of Education at the University of Zambia
University of Zambia
The University of Zambia is Zambia's largest university, founded in 1966. It has a student population of about 10,000.-Academics:The University of Zambia is divided into the following faculties:*School of Agricultural Sciences *School of Engineering...
. In Zambia
Zambia
Zambia , officially the Republic of Zambia, is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. The neighbouring countries are the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the north, Tanzania to the north-east, Malawi to the east, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia to the south, and Angola to the west....
she became a vocal supporter of the African nationalist movement. With the escalation of the guerrilla war inside Rhodesia Fay joined the Zimbabwe African National Union (ZANU) the Zimbabwe liberation struggle in 1973. Her participation in the liberation struggle forced her into exile in Tanzania and Mozambique
Mozambique
Mozambique, officially the Republic of Mozambique , is a country in southeastern Africa bordered by the Indian Ocean to the east, Tanzania to the north, Malawi and Zambia to the northwest, Zimbabwe to the west and Swaziland and South Africa to the southwest...
in the mid and late ‘70’s where she learned to speak Shona
Shona language
Shona is a Bantu language, native to the Shona people of Zimbabwe and southern Zambia; the term is also used to identify peoples who speak one of the Shona language dialects: Zezuru, Karanga, Manyika, Ndau and Korekore...
fluently. Her initial role within ZANU was in the Information and Media Department she subsequently became the senior official responsible for implementing ZANU’s teacher training and curriculum development in refugee camps through the 70’s.
Post-Independence
Fay co-founded ZIMFEP, an NGO that combined education with agricultural production theory to assist war veterans and their families and was subsequently appointed Deputy Minister of Administration of the Ministry of Education at Zimbabwe’s independence in 1980. Fay was appointed Minister of Education by Mugabe in 1988. During her tenure at the Ministry of Education, Fay developed and implemented a nationwide primary and secondary education program. She resigned from the Ministry of Education after disagreeing with the government.After resigning from the Ministry of Education, Fay worked to replicate the Zimbabwean education platform in developing countries around the world as Chief of the Education Cluster at UNICEF in New York. In 1998 she returned to Africa where she was the founder and first director of UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
’s International Institute for Capacity Building in Africa based in Ethiopia
Ethiopia
Ethiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...
.
Return to Zimbabwe
Fay returned home to Zimbabwe in 2003 ostensibly to retire, though she has continued to be outspoken on Zimbabwean politics. In 2006, she authored Re-Living the Second ChimurengaChimurenga
Chimurenga is a Shona word for 'revolutionary struggle'. The word's modern interpretation has been extended to describe a struggle for human rights, political dignity and social justice, specifically used for the African insurrections against British colonial rule 1896–1897 and the guerrilla war...
: Memories of the Liberation Struggle for Zimbabwe, her memoir. In addition, she has continued to be active in various organizations, including supporting various women’s education, leadership and empowerment efforts in Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
. She is a founder of FAWE (Forum for African Women Educationalists), ASHEWA (Association for Strengthening Higher Education for Women in Africa) and is also the Chairperson of the board of Trustees of the Women’s University in Africa which she helped co-found in 2003.
2008 Senatorial Election
In the Zimbabwean parliamentary election of 2008Zimbabwean parliamentary election, 2008
A parliamentary election was held in Zimbabwe on March 29, 2008 to elect members to both the House of Assembly and the Senate of the Zimbabwean parliament...
, Fay Chung returned to the political arena and stood as an independent candidate within the Mavambo Formation of Simba Makoni
Simba Makoni
Simbarashe Herbert Stanley Makoni is a Zimbabwean politician and was a candidate for the March 2008 presidential election against incumbent Robert Mugabe. He was Minister of Finance and Economic Development in President Robert Mugabe's cabinet from 2000 to 2002...
for the Mvurachena senatorial
Senate of Zimbabwe
The Senate of Zimbabwe is the upper chamber of the country's bicameral Parliament. It existed from 1980 to 1989, and was re-introduced in November 2005....
constituency. She gained 2,238 votes, losing to Rutendo Chikukwa of ZANU-PF.
See also
- Fay Chung Bibliography
- Zimbabwe Elections - Reuters Blog - Decision Time 2008
- Zimbabwe Elections - BBC Website
- Mugabe's Last Stand - Newsweek - March 31, 2008 Issue
External links
- Election Campaign Blog - Fay Chung
- Interview - TheStandard - March 16
- Fay Chung - zimDAILY - March 6, 2008
- Ex- Zim Minister Confirms Backing Makoni, vying for Senatorial Seat - The Zimbabwe Gazette - March 4, 2008
- News Article - February 26, 2008
- New article - February 10, 2008
- Simba Makoni Endorsement List
- New York Times Fay Chung Interview - Shadow On the Future - January 15, 1989