Simbarashe Mumbengegwi
Encyclopedia
Simbarashe Simbaneduku Mumbengegwi (born July 20, 1945) is a Zimbabwe
an politician and diplomat, currently serving as Minister of Foreign Affairs
whose right to entry is currently prohibited by Australia, Canada, the European Union, New Zealand and the United States.
Mumbengegwi was born in Chivi, Zimbabwe
(then Southern Rhodesia
). After receiving his primary and secondary education in Zimbabwe, he attended a Monash University
in Melbourne, Australia, in the late 1960s and 1970s. Invariably known as Simba, he was the popular and affable president of the African Students Association, and also worked as a teacher. He was a ZANU activist in exile at this time and served as a ZANU representative during the 1970s: he was Deputy ZANU Chief Representative in Australia and the Far East from 1973 to 1976, then Chief Representative in Australia and the Far East from 1976 to 1978, and Chief Representative to Zambia
from 1978 to 1980.
From 1980 to 1990, he was a Member of Parliament
in the House of Assembly of Zimbabwe
from the Midlands Province, and he was the Deputy Speaker and Chairman of Committees of the House of Assembly from 1980 to 1981. He joined the Cabinet as Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs in 1981, serving in that position until 1982, when he became Minister of Water Resources and Development. Later in the same year, he was moved to the position of Minister of National Housing, in which position he remained for two years. He was then Minister of Public Construction and National Housing from 1984 to 1988 and Minister of Transport from 1988 to 1990.
From 1981 to 1984, he was Provincial Treasurer of ZANU-PF for the Midlands Province. From 1984 to 1994, he was a member of the Central Committee of ZANU-PF, and he was the Central Committee's Deputy Secretary for Publicity and Information from 1984 to 1989.
Mumbengegwi was Zimbabwe's Permanent Representative to the United Nations
from 1990 to 1995; while there, he was Vice President of the United Nations General Assembly
from 1990 to 1991 as well as a member of the United Nations Security Council
from 1991 to 1992. He twice served as President of the Security Council, in February 1991 and April 1992. He was subsequently Ambassador to Belgium
, the Netherlands
, Luxembourg
and Permanent Representative to the European Communities
in 1995. He later became High Commissioner to the United Kingdom
and Ambassador to Ireland
in 1999, remaining there until 2005 (although he became Ambassador to the United Kingdom rather than High Commissioner in 2003, upon Zimbabwe's withdrawal from the Commonwealth of Nations
).
He became a Non-Constituency Member of Parliament in 2005. On April 15, 2005, he was appointed as Minister of Foreign Affairs
in a cabinet reshuffle, replacing Stan Mudenge
.
In the March 2008 parliamentary election
, Mumbengegwi was nominated by ZANU-PF as its candidate for the Senate
seat from Shurugwi-Zvishavane in the Midlands. He won the seat according to official results, receiving 24,055 votes against 11,988 for Vincent Gwarazimba of the Movement for Democratic Change
(MDC).
When the ZANU-PF–MDC national unity government
was sworn in on February 13, 2009, Mumbengegwi was retained as Minister of Foreign Affairs.
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 politician and diplomat, currently serving as Minister of Foreign Affairs
Foreign minister
A Minister of Foreign Affairs, or foreign minister, is a cabinet minister who helps form the foreign policy of a sovereign state. The foreign minister is often regarded as the most senior ministerial position below that of the head of government . It is often granted to the deputy prime minister in...
whose right to entry is currently prohibited by Australia, Canada, the European Union, New Zealand and the United States.
Mumbengegwi was born in Chivi, 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...
(then Southern Rhodesia
Southern Rhodesia
Southern Rhodesia was the name of the British colony situated north of the Limpopo River and the Union of South Africa. From its independence in 1965 until its extinction in 1980, it was known as Rhodesia...
). After receiving his primary and secondary education in Zimbabwe, he attended a Monash University
Monash University
Monash University is a public university based in Melbourne, Victoria. It was founded in 1958 and is the second oldest university in the state. Monash is a member of Australia's Group of Eight and the ASAIHL....
in Melbourne, Australia, in the late 1960s and 1970s. Invariably known as Simba, he was the popular and affable president of the African Students Association, and also worked as a teacher. He was a ZANU activist in exile at this time and served as a ZANU representative during the 1970s: he was Deputy ZANU Chief Representative in Australia and the Far East from 1973 to 1976, then Chief Representative in Australia and the Far East from 1976 to 1978, and Chief Representative to 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....
from 1978 to 1980.
From 1980 to 1990, he was a Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
in the House of Assembly of Zimbabwe
House of Assembly of Zimbabwe
The House of Assembly of Zimbabwe is the lower chamber of the country's bicameral Parliament. It was the unicameral legislative body from 1989 until late November 2005, when the Senate was re-introduced....
from the Midlands Province, and he was the Deputy Speaker and Chairman of Committees of the House of Assembly from 1980 to 1981. He joined the Cabinet as Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs in 1981, serving in that position until 1982, when he became Minister of Water Resources and Development. Later in the same year, he was moved to the position of Minister of National Housing, in which position he remained for two years. He was then Minister of Public Construction and National Housing from 1984 to 1988 and Minister of Transport from 1988 to 1990.
From 1981 to 1984, he was Provincial Treasurer of ZANU-PF for the Midlands Province. From 1984 to 1994, he was a member of the Central Committee of ZANU-PF, and he was the Central Committee's Deputy Secretary for Publicity and Information from 1984 to 1989.
Mumbengegwi was Zimbabwe's Permanent Representative to the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
from 1990 to 1995; while there, he was Vice President of the United Nations General Assembly
United Nations General Assembly
For two articles dealing with membership in the General Assembly, see:* General Assembly members* General Assembly observersThe United Nations General Assembly is one of the five principal organs of the United Nations and the only one in which all member nations have equal representation...
from 1990 to 1991 as well as a member of the United Nations Security Council
United Nations Security Council
The United Nations Security Council is one of the principal organs of the United Nations and is charged with the maintenance of international peace and security. Its powers, outlined in the United Nations Charter, include the establishment of peacekeeping operations, the establishment of...
from 1991 to 1992. He twice served as President of the Security Council, in February 1991 and April 1992. He was subsequently Ambassador to Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
, the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
, Luxembourg
Luxembourg
Luxembourg , officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg , is a landlocked country in western Europe, bordered by Belgium, France, and Germany. It has two principal regions: the Oesling in the North as part of the Ardennes massif, and the Gutland in the south...
and Permanent Representative to the European Communities
European Communities
The European Communities were three international organisations that were governed by the same set of institutions...
in 1995. He later became High Commissioner to the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and Ambassador to Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
in 1999, remaining there until 2005 (although he became Ambassador to the United Kingdom rather than High Commissioner in 2003, upon Zimbabwe's withdrawal from the Commonwealth of Nations
Commonwealth of Nations
The Commonwealth of Nations, normally referred to as the Commonwealth and formerly known as the British Commonwealth, is an intergovernmental organisation of fifty-four independent member states...
).
He became a Non-Constituency Member of Parliament in 2005. On April 15, 2005, he was appointed as Minister of Foreign Affairs
Foreign minister
A Minister of Foreign Affairs, or foreign minister, is a cabinet minister who helps form the foreign policy of a sovereign state. The foreign minister is often regarded as the most senior ministerial position below that of the head of government . It is often granted to the deputy prime minister in...
in a cabinet reshuffle, replacing Stan Mudenge
Stan Mudenge
Isaak Stanislaus Gorerazvo Mudenge is a Zimbabwean politician, currently serving as Minister of Higher Education. He was previously the Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1995 to 2005....
.
In the March 2008 parliamentary election
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...
, Mumbengegwi was nominated by ZANU-PF as its candidate for the Senate
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....
seat from Shurugwi-Zvishavane in the Midlands. He won the seat according to official results, receiving 24,055 votes against 11,988 for Vincent Gwarazimba of the Movement for Democratic Change
Movement for Democratic Change – Tsvangirai
The Movement for Democratic Change Zimbabwe is a political party and the largest party in the House of Assembly of Zimbabwe. It is the main formation formed from the split of the original Movement for Democratic Change in 2005.-Foundation:...
(MDC).
When the ZANU-PF–MDC national unity government
Zimbabwe Government of National Unity of 2009
The Government of National Unity refers to Zimbabwe's coalition government that was formed on 13 February 2009 following the inaugurations of Morgan Tsvangirai as Prime Minister and Thokozani Khuphe and Arthur Mutambara as Deputy Prime Ministers...
was sworn in on February 13, 2009, Mumbengegwi was retained as Minister of Foreign Affairs.
External links
- Transcript of David Frost interview of Simbarashe Mumbengegwi and Lord CarringtonPeter Carington, 6th Baron CarringtonPeter Alexander Rupert Carington, 6th Baron Carrington, is a British Conservative politician. He served as British Foreign Secretary between 1979 and 1982 and as the sixth Secretary General of NATO from 1984 to 1988. He is the last surviving member of the Cabinets of both Harold Macmillan and Sir...
on March 6, 2005.