Abel Muzorewa

School / Education

Muzorewa received part of his education at Hartzel Theological College (Hartzell High School). He later received a scholarship to study for a bachelor's degree from the Central Methodist Church in Fayette, Missouri, America. ^[4] He later on earned a masters degree from Scarrit College in Nashville Tennessee before attaining a doctorate in divinity from the Central Methodist Church in Missouri.^[4]

Service / Career

Religious career

Muzorewa was appointed a lay preacher in 1947 by the United Methodist Church in Mutoko and Murehwa. He was given the task to administer five small congregations while he was still studying theology at Old Umtali Biblical College. Muzorewa also worked as teacher in Murehwa up to 1949. ^[5] He was ordained in 1953 and was appointed a circuit preacher for five years before spending 1958 to 1963 at Methodist colleges in Missouri, United States, where he completed a master's degree.^[6] By the 1950s he supported his people's rising nationalist feelings and, after his return, he took up a conference post as youth director, where he could channel his ministry into political activity. ^[6] He led protests against the deportation of Bishop Ralph Dodge, who opposed the increasing political repression of the Ian Smith government, which unilaterally proclaimed the independent white-ruled nation of Rhodesia in 1965. In 1968, Muzorewa was elected bishop to succeed Dodge, becoming the first African head of a major church in Rhodesia.^[6]

Political career

Muzorewa entered national politics in 1971. It was after he was requested to lead a new movement, the African National Council; an alliance of followers of the banned Zimbabwe African People's Union (Zapu) and the Zimbabwe African National Union (Zanu). In 1975, Muzorewa attended an international Conference in Dar es Salem in which the frontline states led by Julius Nyerere of Tanzania encouraged a united effort against the Rhodesian Front. ^[5]

In 1976 Muzorewa went into self-imposed exile in Mozambique, an operational base for "freedom fighters". When he returned to Salisbury more than a year later, he was welcomed by a crowd of 100 000. ^[5] He played a prominent part in the 1976 Geneva conference on Rhodesia. Eventually, after protracted negotiations with Ian Smith, in 1978 he was able to sign an agreement for majority rule, "the culmination of a hard fight". The accord, more favourable to the blacks than that proposed previously by Britain, signaled an end to 90 years of white domination and ushered in the country's first popular elections for all adult blacks in April 1979.

He won a seat to the House of Assembly in the 1980 elections.

In the Zimbabwe 1985 Parliamentary Election, Glen View returned to Parliament:

• Idah Mashonganyika of Zanu PF - 31 506 votes.
• Abel Tendekayi Muzorewa of UANC - 2876 votes.
• Felix Magalela Mafa Sibanda of PF - ZAPU - 838 votes.
• Elton Zinduku Pamberi of ZANU - 400 votes.

In the 2000 Elections, (see A History of Zimbabwean Elections) Makoni West returned to Parliament:

• Moven Enock Mahachi of Zanu PF with 11 138 votes,
• Elisha Remus Makuwaza of MDC with 7 356 votes,
• Abel Tendekai Muzorewa of UP with 923 votes,
• Egypt Dzinemunenzva of ANP with 862 votes.

Events

Awards

In 1973, Muzorewa was honoured with a United Nations Peace Prize for his outstanding role in human rights activism. In both capacities as a politician and cleric, Muzorewa had relentlessly clashed with the Rhodesian racist policies which segregated against the blacks. He thus created the platform to call for racial equality not only in Rhodesia but in the Southern Africa region.

The Peak of Muzorewa's Political Career

The United African National Congress (UANC) led by Muzorewa won 51 of the 72 black seats, propelling him to power as prime minister in April 1979. He thus became the first black Prime Minister of Zimbabwe-Rhodesia from 1 June 1979 to 12 December 1979. ^[7] But the complex constitution of the new nation of Zimbabwe-Rhodesia fell short of complete majority rule and failed to win immediate international recognition. The constitution, the elections and the new government were rejected by the guerrillas, who stepped up the war effort and threatened to assassinate Muzorewa and his black colleagues.

During his brief spell in power he asserted that the outside world "does not appreciate the need to retain the confidence of the whites and hence their experience and expertise". He also believed in a middle path ideology towards the political problems which were bedeviling the country. He appreciated black majority rule but he did not see the absolute exclusion of the whites as a feasible political framework in independent Zimbabwe. For this reason, Muzorewa was faced with lethal criticism from other nationalists, the likes of Robert Mugabe and Joshua Nkomo, for being unnecessarily sympathetic to the Rhodesian cause. ^[8]

In the spring/autumn of 1979 Muzorewa, Smith and the nationalist leaders took part in 14 weeks of talks for the Lancaster House Agreement in Britain, agreeing to a ceasefire and to independence terms that were internationally acceptable. After the formal restoration of a legal government in Southern Rhodesia, Muzorewa was ousted in the elections of March 1980 and his party won only 3 out of more than 100 seats.

Attempted Political Comeback

In independent Zimbabwe, Muzorewa made two failed attempts to come back into mainstream politics of the country. In 1995, he re-organised his political party and arranged rallies to amass support. He however could not garner considerable support as his rallies attracted only a few hundreds. Three years later Muzorewa made a come back to mainstream politics and this time his rallies attracted thousands of supporters in areas dominated by Robert Mugabe's Zimbabwe African National Union Patriotic Front (Zanu PF). He claimed that his supporters from the Africans and from the Zimbabwean white community had urged him to run for presidency. His efforts were nonetheless said to have been derailed by financial constrains.

Successes

• Success 1.

Bishop Abel Muzorewa as he was known in the religious circle was instrumental in the growth of the Methodist Church in Zimbabwe. He also facilitated the founding of Africa University in Mutare Zimbabwe which is still being run by the Methodist Church and the only University in Manicaland Province. He also developed a hospital and a secondary school located close to the mission.^[9] He also wrote his life history in an autobiography book titled Rise up & walk: The autobiography of Bishop Abel Tendekai Muzorewa which was published in 1978.^[10]

References