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Simon Khaya Moyo

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Simon Khaya Moyo
Simon Khaya Moyo Biography
Born(1945-10-01)October 1, 1945
Plumtree, Zimbabwe
DiedNovember 15, 2021(2021-11-15) (aged 76)
Mater Dei Hospital
Cause of deathUndisclosed
Occupation
  • Secretary for Information and Publicity in ZANU PF
Known forBeing a politician
Spouse(s)Margaret Mhambi
ChildrenKhanyisa and Mandlenkosi
Parents
  • Robert Khaya Ngulani Moyo (father)
  • Tshagara Moyo (mother)


Simon Khaya Moyo (or Khaya-Moyo) was a politician and spokesperson of Zanu-PF and the former Minister of Energy and Power Development. He was an ambassador of Zimbabwe to South Africa. He died in November 2021.

Personal Details

Born: 1 October 1945.
Marriage: to Sibonokhuhle.
Children: They had two sons Khanyisa Khaya Mduduzi Moyo (born 7 July 1982) and Langa Mandlenkosi Khaya Moyo (born 4 April 1986). [1][2]
Divorced: 20 February 2013.
Marriage: A Bulawayo businesswoman Margaret Mhambi in 2013. [1]
Death: 14 November 2021

On 14 November 2021, the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation reported that Simon Khaya Moyo had died. ZBC did not disclose the cause of death. However, another publication, ZimLive said Khaya Moyo had been battling cancer.

His father Robert Khaya Ngulani Moyo succumbed to diabetes in August 2006 aged 88, while his mother Tshagara Moyo died in a traffic accident in June 2002 aged 78. [2]

School / Education

He was enrolled at Fletcher Secondary School up to 1965. Between 1966 and 1967, he worked as a research assistant at Mpilo Hospital. In early 1968, Cde Khaya Moyo left the country for Zambia. In Zambia, ZAPU sent him to the University of Zambia and in 1969 he graduated with a diploma in Social Sciences. [3]
Khaya Moyo was deployed by ZAPU to Makerere University in Uganda in 1970 to study for a BA Degree in Social Sciences, which he completed in March 1973 with an upper second class honours.

Service / Career

Khaya-Moyo joined the nationalist movement in 1968 as a member of the Zimbabwe African People's Union(ZAPU). He left the country in 1968 heading to Zambia to join the liberation struggle. [2].

He lectured in Uganda for a while, as well as being the ZAPU chief representative. In 1975, he returned to Lusaka and was appointed secretary and special assistant to ZAPU President Dr Joshua Nkomo. [2]

Khaya Moyo underwent military and intelligence training in the Germany Democratic Republic (GDR), and had refresher courses in Cuba and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR). He attended the Malta, Geneva and Lancaster House Conference which resulted in the Lancaster House Agreement together with Joshua Nkomo. [3]

After 1980, he became an assistant secretary in the Ministry of Home Affairs and in 1983, he was appointed to be an undersecretary in the Ministry of Justice. In 1989, Khaya Moyo was awarded the Liberation Decoration Medals (Gold and Silver) for his role in the liberation of Zimbabwe.

He left Government service in 1989 to become the first Head of Corporate Affairs of the Development Trust of Zimbabwe (DTZ) — a trust founded by Dr Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo.

In 1989, he was elected to be a member of the Zanu PF's Central Committee. [3] In March 1990, he became the Member of Parliament (MP) for Bulilima Mangwe South constituency. Two years later, he became the Deputy Minister of Industry and Commerce. In September 1994, he was appointed to be the Deputy Secretary for Administration in Zanu PF. Between July 1997 and July 2000, Khaya-Moyo was the Deputy Secretary for Legal Affairs in ZANU PF. [3]

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

  • Simon Khaya-Moyo of Zanu PF with 12 151 votes,
  • Michael Ndawana of ZUM with 1 502 votes.

Turnout - 15 233 or 45.67 %

In the 2000 Parliamentary Election (see A History of Zimbabwean Elections) Bulilima-Mangwe South returned:

In 2007 he was appointed Zimbabwe's ambassador to South Africa, a post he held until 2011. He was, in 2013 tipped to assume the role of the second Vice-President after the death of John Nkomo in that year. He was appointed to be the Senior Minister in the President's Office without a specific portfolio in 2013. This triggered political analysts to conclude that he was not going to be the next vice president. [4]

He became one of the first Zanu PF officials to openly declare that there were factions in the party. [5] Moyo's utterances and stance were necessitated by the fact that the media revealed that there were two factions within the party. One of the two factions was headed by Vice President Joice Mujuru who was sucked after the ZANU PF 6th National Conference that was held in December 2014 and the other by Emmerson Mnangagwa who was by then the Minister of Defence, who was appointed to replace Mujuru after the party's congress..

Events

Divorce

He divorced his wife Sibonokhuhle Getrude Ngwenya in 2013 accusing her of infidelity. The couple had been married for more than 30 years. He openly stated that there was no longer sexual intimacy between them because his wife was bedding another man.[6] The couple had been married since 1980.

Major Successes

He adopted a 12-year old boy, Prime Ndlovu, in Matobo village in 2013. He promised to cater his educational needs up to university level. [7]

Bidding for the Vice Presidency

Khaya-Moyo's bid for the vice presidency began as early as 2011 after the death of John Nkomo who was the then country's vice president. According to the Unity Accord of 1987, the second vice president post in the ZANU PF government should be reserved for an senior ex-ZAPU cadre. [8] This has always been the tradition that was un-broken as people like Joshua Nkomo, Joseph Msika and John Nkomo followed the hierarchy to be part of the presidium as vice presidents of the country.

Furthermore, Khaya-Moyo was also appointed to the position of national chairman of the Zanu PF party which seemed to be a step closer to the vice presidency post. This elevation raised hopes that Moyo was destined for the presidium. However, Khaya Moyo was smart enough not to publicly register his interest for the post

Bid Hits Brick Wall

Moyo's bid for a post in the presidium was resisted by some senior members of the Zimbabwe African People's Union (ZAPU).[8] Retired General Ambrose Mutinhiri and Naison Kutshwekaya distanced themselves from a meeting held on 22 September 2013 which is believed to have endorsed Moyo for the vice presidency post. [8] These two later on revealed that they did not support the move although they actually attended the meeting.

Factionalism Allegations

In a party infested with factionalism and divisive politics, Khaya Moyo was not left out in the accusations. He was accused of being one of the senior party members behind the Mujuru faction which was fronting for the elevation of vice president Joice Mujuru to become the country's president. He was believed to be working together with the likes of Rugare Gumbo, Didymus Mutasa and Amos Midzi campaigning for Mujuru. [8]

In relation to this, some members of the Matabeleland South Provincial Co-coordinating Committee (PCC) saved Khaya-Moyo from losing his seat in the Central Committee. These members blocked a motion to veto Khaya-Moyo's nomination in the committee. [9] Some disgruntled war veterans from Matabeleland South wanted Khaya-Moyo to be purged as they argued that he was dining with the enemy (Mujuru). An unidentified executive member from Khaya-Moyo's province stated that

The cleansing of the party is on going. Ambassador Simon Khaya-Moyo is one of the most serious pretenders. He is one of the architects of factionalism. He also lies that he is the most senior surviving ex-member of ZAPU, yet he is not [9]

Notwithstanding this, in November 2014, Khaya-Moyo was appointed to be the Zanu PF party's acting spokesperson at a politburo meeting held at the party headquarters in Harare. This was after the dismissal of Rugare Gumbo who was given a five year suspension on allegations of fanning factionalism in the party.

After the ZANU PF 6th National People's Conference which was held in December which buttressed the demise of those who were perceived to be supporting Mujuru, Khaya-Moyo was amongst the few Mujuru allies who survived the chop. It was allegedly reported that Khaya-Moyo together with Sydney Sekeramayi apologised to Mugabe who is believed to have pardoned them. [10] Khaya-Moyo was however demoted as he was appointed to be the party's Secretary of Information and Publicity from his position of as National Chairman which was never filled. Khaya-Moyo's demotion has been regarded as a form of punishment that was meted on him by the party, especially by Mugabe.

As the party's Secretary for Information and Publicity

As the party's new Secretary for Information and Publicity, Khaya-Moyo was criticised for not speaking out about the party's stance after Mutasa issued a press statement which was entitled Members of Zanu PF statement to the citizens of Zimbabwe. Khaya-Moyo revealed that he was to break the silence when he resumes his duty. [11]

Appointment as Minister of Media, Information and Broadcasting Services

On 9 October 2017 the Predident of Zanu PF, Robert Mugabe, reshuffled his cabinet and Simon Khaya Moyo was appointed as the Minister of Media, Information and Broadcasting Services.

Health

In 2017, Simon Khaya Moyo, a Government minister at the time, went on sick leave on a full salary for 8 months. In September 2021, Obert Mpofu announced that Dr Mike Bimha had been appointed acting Secretary for Information and Publicity with immediate effect in Moyo's absence.

While Mpofu did not reveal the reasons behind Simon Khaya Moyo’s absence, the communication desk was previously held by Patrick Chinamasa in an acting capacity from late 2020 to early 2021.

Further Reading

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Simon Khaya Moyo ties the knot, Bulawayo 24News, Published: June 29, 2013, Retrieved: July 3, 2014
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Walter Muchinguri, SK Moyo’s journey over the years, The Herald, Published: 15 November 2021, Retrieved: 15 November 2021
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 BIOGRAPHY, PMG, published: 2004, retrieved: 15 January 2015"
  4. ↑ Patrice Makova, Simon Khaya-Moyo cleared for VP post, The Standard, Published: 29 September 2013, Retrieved: July 3, 2014
  5. ↑ Talent Bhachi, Khaya-Moyo admits fissures in Zanu (PF), The Zimbabwean, Published: 1 August 2012, Retrieved: 3 July 2014
  6. ↑ TendaiKamhungira, Simon Khaya-Moyo pays off wife, Nehanda Radio, Published: February 21, 2013, Retrieved: July 2014
  7. ↑ SK MOYO ADOPTS BOYNewsDzeZimbabwe, Published: August 21, 2013, Retrieved: July 3, 2014
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 , SK Moyo VP Bid Hits Snag, "The Herald", published: 28 Oct 2014, retrieved: 19 Nov 2014"
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Khaya Moyo lives to die another day, The Sunday Mail, published: 30 Nov 2014, retrieved: 15 January 2015"
  10. ↑ Grovelling saves Sekeramayi, Khaya, New Zimbabwe, published: 14 Jan 2015, retrieved: 15 January 2015"
  11. ↑ Khaya Moyo breaks silence, The Herald, published: 16 Jan 2015, retrieved: 16 January 2015"

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