Godfrey Chidyausiku
Encyclopedia
Godfrey Guwa Chidyausiku (born February 23, 1947) is a Zimbabwe
an judge
and former politician. He was involved in politics during Rhodesia
's unilaterally declared independence, being a member of the Rhodesia House of Assembly. After Zimbabwean independence he was elected as a Zimbabwe African National Union (Patriotic Front) member to the Zimbabwe House of Assembly, and served in the government as Attorney-General. After becoming a Judge he headed the Constitutional Convention in 1999, and was appointed Chief Justice in 2001.
Chidyausiku was born in Domboshawa
. He attended Mutake School at Makumbi Mission, and then St Ignatius college in Chishawasha. He won a place at the University of Rhodesia from 1968 to 1972 where he read law. He went into private legal practice. At the 1974 general election
he won the Harari African Roll constituency, standing with the unofficial support of the African National Council which had been set up by ZANU
, ZAPU
and FROLIZI
. He acted in opposition to the government of Ian Smith
. Chidyausiku stood down at the 1977 election.
In the 1980 election
Chidyausiku was elected as 12th on ZANU-PF's list for Mashonaland East
when ZANU-PF won 14 seats. He was Deputy Minister of Local Government and Housing and of Justice from 1980, and was promoted to be Attorney-General in 1982.
Chidyausiku was later promoted to be a judge and served as chair of the Constitutional Convention charged with drafting a new constitution for Zimbabwe. He ensured that the constitution accorded with the wishes of the government, including an executive Presidency; many members of the convention had argued against it. However, in the referendum on the constitution, the electorate rejected the text.
After the resignation of Anthony Gubbay
, Chidyausiku was named as Zimbabwe's new Chief Justice in July 2001.
Mr Chidyausiku is married to the late Sheila Madzima 1948-2009.
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...
an judge
Judge
A judge is a person who presides over court proceedings, either alone or as part of a panel of judges. The powers, functions, method of appointment, discipline, and training of judges vary widely across different jurisdictions. The judge is supposed to conduct the trial impartially and in an open...
and former politician. He was involved in politics during 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...
's unilaterally declared independence, being a member of the Rhodesia House of Assembly. After Zimbabwean independence he was elected as a Zimbabwe African National Union (Patriotic Front) member to the Zimbabwe House of Assembly, and served in the government as Attorney-General. After becoming a Judge he headed the Constitutional Convention in 1999, and was appointed Chief Justice in 2001.
Chidyausiku was born in Domboshawa
Domboshawa
Domboshava is a village in the province of Mashonaland Central, Zimbabwe. It is located in an area of granite hills about 27 km north of Harare. The village is named after a large granite hill near the village. There are several rock formations at the top of the hill which have been formed by...
. He attended Mutake School at Makumbi Mission, and then St Ignatius college in Chishawasha. He won a place at the University of Rhodesia from 1968 to 1972 where he read law. He went into private legal practice. At the 1974 general election
Rhodesia general election, 1974
The Rhodesia general election of July 30, 1974 saw the Rhodesian Front of Ian Smith re-elected, once more winning every one of the 50 seats elected by white voters.-Background:...
he won the Harari African Roll constituency, standing with the unofficial support of the African National Council which had been set up by ZANU
Zimbabwe African National Union
The Zimbabwe African National Union was a militant organization that fought against the standing government in Rhodesia, formed as a split from the Zimbabwe African People's 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 FROLIZI
Front for the Liberation of Zimbabwe
The Front for the Liberation of Zimbabwe was a militant nationalist organization that fought against the government of Rhodesia from its founding in October 1971 until it merged into the African National Congress on 6 December 1974. Dissatisfied members of the Zimbabwe African People's Union and...
. He acted in opposition to the government of Ian Smith
Ian Smith
Ian Douglas Smith GCLM ID was a politician active in the government of Southern Rhodesia, the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland, Rhodesia, Zimbabwe Rhodesia and Zimbabwe from 1948 to 1987, most notably serving as Prime Minister of Rhodesia from 13 April 1964 to 1 June 1979...
. Chidyausiku stood down at the 1977 election.
In the 1980 election
Zimbabwean parliamentary election, 1980
General elections were held in Southern Rhodesia in February 1980 in order to elect a government which would govern the country after it was granted independence as Zimbabwe, in accordance with the conclusions of the Lancaster House Agreement...
Chidyausiku was elected as 12th on ZANU-PF's list for Mashonaland East
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...
when ZANU-PF won 14 seats. He was Deputy Minister of Local Government and Housing and of Justice from 1980, and was promoted to be Attorney-General in 1982.
Chidyausiku was later promoted to be a judge and served as chair of the Constitutional Convention charged with drafting a new constitution for Zimbabwe. He ensured that the constitution accorded with the wishes of the government, including an executive Presidency; many members of the convention had argued against it. However, in the referendum on the constitution, the electorate rejected the text.
After the resignation of Anthony Gubbay
Anthony Gubbay
Anthony Ray Gubbay is the former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Zimbabwe. He served in the position from 1990 to 2001, when he was forced to take early retirement and replaced by Godfrey Chidyausiku....
, Chidyausiku was named as Zimbabwe's new Chief Justice in July 2001.
Mr Chidyausiku is married to the late Sheila Madzima 1948-2009.