Vitalis Zvinavashe
Encyclopedia
Lt. Gen. Vitalis Zvinavashe (27 September 1943 – 11 March 2009) was a retired former Commander of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces and politician. He was also a member of the Politburo of the ZANU-PF. Zvinavashe had modest academic credentials but was renowned among Zimbabwe’s military circles as a strategist.
In 1977, he was elected as a Zanu-PF Central Committee member and deputy chief of national security and intelligence.
He was appointed commander of Three Brigade in Mutare at independence in 1980 before becoming the country’s Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF) commander in July 1994 assuming overall command over the army and the Air Force under a new military structure. He oversaw various peacekeeping missions in the Southern African Development Community
(SADC) region.
In the Second Congo War
, he was in charge of the SADC allied task force troops led by Zimbabwe which fought rebels backed by Uganda and Rwanda to topple the now slain DRC leader Laurent Kabila. The deployment of the Zimbabwean troops later led to the allegations of plunder of natural resources, especially diamonds, in which Zvinavashe was implicated.
Following his retirement in December 2003, General Constantine Chiwenga
succeeded him to the post.
in the Senate, but lost to Empire Makamure of the MDC
. He told other ZANU-PF candidates on April 23 that they needed to "accept the reality" that the MDC had won, and he stressed that the importance of preserving peace. He blamed Mugabe for the ZANU-PF candidates' defeat, saying that the people of Masvingo had rejected Mugabe and that the parliamentary candidates suffered as collateral damage.
He had just returned from Cuba
where he had gone to seek medical assistance for liver cancer when he died at Manyame Air Base
hospital on March 11, 2009. He is survived by his wife Margaret and 12 children.
Military career
He joined the liberation struggle in 1967 and went for military training in Chunya Camp in Tanzania in 1968.In 1977, he was elected as a Zanu-PF Central Committee member and deputy chief of national security and intelligence.
He was appointed commander of Three Brigade in Mutare at independence in 1980 before becoming the country’s Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF) commander in July 1994 assuming overall command over the army and the Air Force under a new military structure. He oversaw various peacekeeping missions in the Southern African Development Community
Southern African Development Community
The Southern African Development Community is an inter-governmental organization headquartered in Gaborone, Botswana. Its goal is to further socio-economic cooperation and integration as well as political and security cooperation among 15 southern African states...
(SADC) region.
In the Second Congo War
Second Congo War
The Second Congo War, also known as Coltan War and the Great War of Africa, began in August 1998 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo , and officially ended in July 2003 when the Transitional Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo took power; however, hostilities continue to this...
, he was in charge of the SADC allied task force troops led by Zimbabwe which fought rebels backed by Uganda and Rwanda to topple the now slain DRC leader Laurent Kabila. The deployment of the Zimbabwean troops later led to the allegations of plunder of natural resources, especially diamonds, in which Zvinavashe was implicated.
Following his retirement in December 2003, General Constantine Chiwenga
Constantine Chiwenga
- Personal life :He was born in 1956 in Hwedza district of Mashonaland East Province. General Chiwenga was educated up to Form 4 at St Mary's Mission in Hwedza, together with Air Marshal Perence Shiri and Brigadier General Shungu, Commander Mechanised Brigade....
succeeded him to the post.
Post-retirement and death
In the 2008 parliamentary election, he ran on the ZANU-PF ticket for the Gutu districtGutu (Senatorial constituency)
Gutu is a Senatorial constituency in the Senate of Zimbabwe. It covers most of the Gutu district in Masvingo Province, and is one of six senatorial constituencies in the province.The equivalent seats in the House of Assembly are:* Gutu North* Gutu South...
in the Senate, but lost to Empire Makamure of the MDC
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:...
. He told other ZANU-PF candidates on April 23 that they needed to "accept the reality" that the MDC had won, and he stressed that the importance of preserving peace. He blamed Mugabe for the ZANU-PF candidates' defeat, saying that the people of Masvingo had rejected Mugabe and that the parliamentary candidates suffered as collateral damage.
He had just returned from Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
where he had gone to seek medical assistance for liver cancer when he died at Manyame Air Base
Manyame Air Base
Manyame Air Base is one of the two main air bases for the Air Force of Zimbabwe. Formerly known as New Sarum Air Force Station, Manyame Air Base is situated in Harare and is the principal air force establishment and provides facilities for aircraft squadrons of differing roles, training schools for...
hospital on March 11, 2009. He is survived by his wife Margaret and 12 children.