Josiah Tungamirai
Encyclopedia
Air Chief Marshal
Josiah Tungamirai (8 October 1948 – 25 August 2005), born Thomas Mberikwazvo, was a Zimbabwe
an military officer and politician. He was commander of the Air Force and later served as Minister of State for Indigenization and Empowerment in President Robert Mugabe
's government before his death in 2005.
, Masvingo Province in what was then Southern Rhodesia
. He received his primary education at the Mutero Mission in Gutu from 1957 to 1964. His secondary education was completed at the Chikwingwizha Seminary. Tungamirai went up to Salisbury Polytechnic
and he completed his studies in Physics and Mathematics in 1970.
's Zimbabwe African National Liberation Army
during its war to overthrow white rule in former Rhodesia
. He was a loyalist during the Nhari and Vashandi rebellions against ZANLA command, and was among those ZANLA officers who escaped Zambia, following the Zambian government's round-up of senior ZANU officials after the assassination of Herbert Chitepo
. Towards the end of the war, he served as ZANLA Political Commissar.
When Zimbabwe became independent in 1980, Tungamirai became a major general
in the newly formed Zimbabwe National Army
and was appointed to the Zimbabwe Joint High Command. He was involved in the work to integrate the formerly belligerent Zimbabwe African National Liberation Army
and Zimbabwe People's Revolutionary Army as well as the Rhodesian Army
.
In 1982 Tungamirai was transferred to the Air Force of Zimbabwe
to fill the post of Chief of Staff. At that time he was redesignated an air vice-marshal
. Tungamirai qualified as a pilot in October 1984.
Tungamirai went on to reach the rank of air chief marshal
and serve as the commander of the Air Force of Zimbabwe
.
In 1992 Tungamirai was replaced by Perence Shiri
as Air Force commander.
in a by-election. He was soon afterwards appointed to the Cabinet as Minister of State for Indigenisation and Empowerment on February 9, 2004.
n hospital for emergency treatment. He died there on 25 August 2005. After Josiah Tungamirai's death, his widow Pamela Tungamirai claimed that he had been poisoned.
Air Chief Marshal
Air chief marshal is a senior 4-star air-officer rank which originated in and continues to be used by the Royal Air Force...
Josiah Tungamirai (8 October 1948 – 25 August 2005), born Thomas Mberikwazvo, was a 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...
an military officer and politician. He was commander of the Air Force and later served as Minister of State for Indigenization and Empowerment in President Robert Mugabe
Robert Mugabe
Robert Gabriel Mugabe is the President of Zimbabwe. As one of the leaders of the liberation movement against white-minority rule, he was elected into power in 1980...
's government before his death in 2005.
Early years and education
Tungamirai was born into a peasant family as Thomas Mberikwazvo on 8 October 1948 in GutuGuţu
Guţu is a Romanian surname:* Ana Guţu* Ion Guţu* Lidia Guţu* Octavian Guţu...
, Masvingo Province in what was 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...
. He received his primary education at the Mutero Mission in Gutu from 1957 to 1964. His secondary education was completed at the Chikwingwizha Seminary. Tungamirai went up to Salisbury Polytechnic
Harare Polytechnic
Harare Polytechnic is a third level educational institution located in Harare, Zimbabwe. It is the oldest third level college in Zimbabwe. It was originally named Salisbury Technical School and was established in 1926....
and he completed his studies in Physics and Mathematics in 1970.
Military career
Tungamirai served in Robert MugabeRobert Mugabe
Robert Gabriel Mugabe is the President of Zimbabwe. As one of the leaders of the liberation movement against white-minority rule, he was elected into power in 1980...
's Zimbabwe African National Liberation Army
Zimbabwe African National Liberation Army
Zimbabwe African National Liberation Army was the military wing of the Zimbabwe African National Union, a militant African nationalist organization, and participated in the Rhodesian Bush War against Republican Rule in Rhodesia....
during its war to overthrow white rule in former Rhodesia
Rhodesia
Rhodesia , officially the Republic of Rhodesia from 1970, was an unrecognised state located in southern Africa that existed between 1965 and 1979 following its Unilateral Declaration of Independence from the United Kingdom on 11 November 1965...
. He was a loyalist during the Nhari and Vashandi rebellions against ZANLA command, and was among those ZANLA officers who escaped Zambia, following the Zambian government's round-up of senior ZANU officials after the assassination of Herbert Chitepo
Herbert Chitepo
Herbert Wiltshire Chitepo led the Zimbabwe African National Union until he was assassinated on March 1975. Although his murderer remains unidentified, the Rhodesian author Peter Stiff says that a former British SAS soldier, Hugh Hind was responsible.Chitepo became the first black citizen of...
. Towards the end of the war, he served as ZANLA Political Commissar.
When Zimbabwe became independent in 1980, Tungamirai became a major general
Major General
Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
in the newly formed Zimbabwe National Army
Zimbabwe National Army
The Zimbabwe National Army is the land warfare branch of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces. The ZNA currently has an active duty strength of 30,000.-History:...
and was appointed to the Zimbabwe Joint High Command. He was involved in the work to integrate the formerly belligerent Zimbabwe African National Liberation Army
Zimbabwe African National Liberation Army
Zimbabwe African National Liberation Army was the military wing of the Zimbabwe African National Union, a militant African nationalist organization, and participated in the Rhodesian Bush War against Republican Rule in Rhodesia....
and Zimbabwe People's Revolutionary Army as well as the Rhodesian Army
Rhodesian Army
The Rhodesian Security Forces consisted of the Rhodesian Army, Royal Rhodesian Air Force, British South Africa Police, Rhodesian Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Guard Force.- Rhodesian Army :...
.
In 1982 Tungamirai was transferred to the Air Force of Zimbabwe
Air Force of Zimbabwe
The Air Force of Zimbabwe is the air force of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces. It was known as the Rhodesian Air Force until 1980. The Air Force of Zimbabwe saw service in the Mozambican Civil War in 1985 and the Second Congo War of 1998–2001....
to fill the post of Chief of Staff. At that time he was redesignated an air vice-marshal
Air Vice-Marshal
Air vice-marshal is a two-star air-officer rank which originated in and continues to be used by the Royal Air Force. The rank is also used by the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence and it is sometimes used as the English translation of an equivalent rank in...
. Tungamirai qualified as a pilot in October 1984.
Tungamirai went on to reach the rank of air chief marshal
Air Chief Marshal
Air chief marshal is a senior 4-star air-officer rank which originated in and continues to be used by the Royal Air Force...
and serve as the commander of the Air Force of Zimbabwe
Air Force of Zimbabwe
The Air Force of Zimbabwe is the air force of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces. It was known as the Rhodesian Air Force until 1980. The Air Force of Zimbabwe saw service in the Mozambican Civil War in 1985 and the Second Congo War of 1998–2001....
.
In 1992 Tungamirai was replaced by Perence Shiri
Perence Shiri
Air Marshal Perence Shiri is the current commander of the Air Force of Zimbabwe and a member of the Joint Operations Command which exerts day-by-day control over Zimbabwe's government.Perence Shiri is a cousin of President Robert Mugabe...
as Air Force commander.
Political career
In early 2004, Tungamirai was elected to parliament from Gutu NorthGutu North
Gutu North is a parliamentary constituency of the House of Assembly of Zimbabwe. In a 2004 by-election, Air Chief Marshal Josiah Tungamirai was elected to the House to succeed incumbent Simon Muzenda, who had died the year before, Tungamirai died the next year.In 2008, Maramwidze Edmore won...
in a by-election. He was soon afterwards appointed to the Cabinet as Minister of State for Indigenisation and Empowerment on February 9, 2004.
Death
Following what anonymous members of Tungamirai's family said were problems with rejection of a kidney transplant carried out several years previously, Tungamirai was flown to a South AfricaSouth Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
n hospital for emergency treatment. He died there on 25 August 2005. After Josiah Tungamirai's death, his widow Pamela Tungamirai claimed that he had been poisoned.