Dumiso Dabengwa

During Zimbabwe's war for independence, he was the head of Zimbabwe People's Revolutionary Army (ZIPRA) intelligence.

Personal Details

Born: 6 December 1939.
Marriage: Married and has two children.
Death: He passed away on 23 May 2019 in Nairobi, Kenya while in transit to Zimbabwe from India where he had gone for treatment. He was buried at Manxeleni Village in Ntabazinduna, Umguza district, about 37km from Bulawayo. ^[1]

School / Education

He holds four degrees, two of which are honorary.

• Honorary doctorate degree from the University of Zimbabwe
• Honorary degree for his dedication towards the emancipation of black people in Zimbabwe and Africa
• Diploma in Business Administration
• Bachelor of Commerce degree. ^[2]

Service/Career

He started political activism in 1958 when he was still working for the Bulawayo City Council. He then participated in the Second Chimurenga, heading the Zimbabwe People's Revolutionary Party (ZIPRA) intelligence. ^[3] Dabengwa received his military training in Moscow, Russia hence is known as the 'Black Russsian' by his fellow comrades. He was appointed Home Affairs Minister in 1992, a post which he held for eight years until 2000.

In the 1990 Parliamentary Election (see A History of Zimbabwean Elections) Nkulumane returned to Parliament:

• Dumiso Dabengwa of Zanu PF with 15 494 votes,
• Victor Katsolo of ZUM with 3 470 votes,
• Caleb Nyatoti of UANC with 328.

Turnout - 20 840 or 61.24 %

He was charged with treason in 1981 but the state failed to provide evidence for the offence but he was rearrested in 1982 and spent four years in detention for the offence until the death of his colleague Lookout Masuku in 1986. ^[4]

In the 2000 Parliamentary Election (see A History of Zimbabwean Elections) Nkulumane returned to Parliament:

• Gibson Sibanda of MDC with 20 380 votes,
• Dumiso Dabengwa of Zanu PF with 3 644 votes,
• Mike Parira Mpofu, Independent, with 417 votes,
• Mqondobanzi Progress Nduna Magonya of ZAPU with 205 votes,
• Shortie Ncube of UP with 63 votes,
• Mandhlaenkosi Nkala of LPZ with 36 votes,
• Ernerst Moyo, Independent, with 25 votes,
• Twoboy Jubane of Liberty Party with 18 votes.

In 2008 he quit Zanu PF to revive the Zimbabwe African People's Party thus reversing the 1987 Unity Accord which had merged Zanu PF and ZAPU into one political party. Dabengwa reportedly said he left Zanu PF because he was convinced the party would lose the election with the kind of leadership it had. ^[5]

He did not contest in the 2008 presidential election but supported another former Zanu-PF official Simba Makoni. Similarly, on 31 July 2013, elections, he formed a coalition with Welshman Ncube turning down Morgan Tsvangirai's call to form a grand coalition to oust Robert Mugabe ^[6]

Events

Formation of Dumiso Dabengwa Foundation

In 2018, Dabengwa formed the Dumiso Dabengwa Foundation. According to the website, the Foundation seeks the emancipation and capacitation of people for an independent, well-governed and self-reliant continent with empowered citizens. ^[7] It was reported that Dabengwa indicated that he will retire from active politics in 2020 as he would have served two terms as required in the constitution of his party. Hence, he formed the foundation, so that people will appreciate the country’s history, promoting values of democracy and constitutionalism, among others. ^[8]

Endorsing Nelson Chamisa

Dabengwa backed and endorsed Nelson Chamisa's bid for the presidency in the 2018 harmonized elections. He had to pull out of the presidential race and put his party's weight in support of Chamisa and the MDC Alliance. Dabengwa also said that this was one of the reasons why he did not file his nomination papers to contest in the 30 July elections. ^[9]

In a statement Dabengwa said

At the last minute yesterday ZAPU drew back from fielding its President as a candidate in the 2018 elections. Prior to this decision, we had facilitated protracted discussions and consultations with what we regarded as significant actors in Zimbabwe’s national politics, with a view to forging a Grand National Coalition. Needless to say the will to take this difficult but necessary path did not prevail, hence the number of opposition presidential candidates standing on their party tickets by the end of nominations yesterday.

In bilateral negotiations between ZAPU and the MDC-Alliance, the two entities have finally arrived at a Memorandum of a Political Cooperation Agreement. Through this agreement, the two entities have committed themselves to the promotion of practical cooperation in what they view as a turning point in the struggle for democracy and good governance in Zimbabwe.

A united front of opposition parties has failed mainly because of competition for the top spot of presidential candidate, yet it is essential to enhance the capacity of one of the opposition leaders to take over the country’s presidency. My party is, therefore, throwing its weight behind Nelson Chamisa as a Presidential Candidate in the 2018 elections for which I am not standing, in his favour.

This is consistent with the line we have taken that personal egos and vanity should not be allowed to prevent us from crafting a combination capable of bringing about a democratic transition essential for peace, security, economic reconstruction and development. Zimbabweans deserve this, both current and future generations.

In terms of our agreement, the parties remain autonomous and ZAPU will continue to campaign for its candidates. However, the two entities will make sure that they do not compete against each other in some parliamentary seats.

In addition, the MDC-Alliance will reserve some agreed slots for ZAPU among those to be chosen on the basis of proportional representation (PR). For my part, I will actively support the candidacy of Nelson Chamisa and be at hand to support if he wins the presidential contest, as I earnestly hope. Our candidates too will include in their campaigns the party’s commitment to the cooperation agreement and the presidency of Nelson Chamisa.

Picture Gallery

Video Gallery

Further Reading

• Dumiso Dabengwa - Tribute to a liberation icon, Big Saturday Read, Alex T. Magaisa, May 25, 2019, Accessed 5 June 2019
• Through the Darkness: A Life in Zimbabwe Judith Todd, (Struik Publishers, 2007)

References