Leopold Takawira
Encyclopedia
Leopold Takawira served as the Vice President of the Zimbabwe African National Union
after supporting the National Democratic Party (NDP) and later the Zimbabwe African People's Union
.Leopold Takawira was also known by his Mhazi to totem as 'Shumba yeChirumanzi'
Takawira was born at Chirumanzi, Victoria district in 1916. He obtained his education locally and at Mariannhill
in Natal
, South Africa
. He qualified as a teacher, and after several years as an assistant teacher, was appointed Headmaster of Chipembere Government School in Highfield
. He gave up teaching in order to join Colonel
David Stirling
's Capricorn Africa Society, of which he became Executive Officer.
branch and member of the Central Executive. On 19 July 1960, Takawira was amongst a number of leading activists that were arrested on suspicion of belonging to the ANC. These arrests sparked unrest that became known as the March of the 7000. At a meeting on 21 September 1960, he was elected Interim President in place of Michael Mawema. At the party congress in November of that year, he stood for the post of President, but lost the contest Joshua Nkomo
. One of Nkomo's first acts was to appoint Takawira as his replacement as Director of International Relations (based in London
). In 1961 Takawira sent a strongly worded cable to Joshua Nkomo condemning the acceptance by the NDP delegation of the proposals for constitutional change. This led to an emergency trip to London and to a reversal of the NDP's stance.
(ZAPU) on its founding in 1961 was appointed Secretary for External Affairs. During the following year, however, he became disenchanted with Nkomo's leadership in April 1963. Nkomo suspended him in July 1963. He joined Ndabaningi Sithole
's breakaway movement, the Zimbabwe African National Union
(ZANU), in August and was appointed Vice President.
, Ndabaningi Sithole
, Robert Mugabe
and Edgar Tekere
. After Rhodesia's Unilateral Declaration of Independence
from the United Kingdom, he was moved to Salisbury Prison where he remained until his death in 1970. His death is believed to have been caused by neglect of his diabetes by the prison authorities. He is buried at Zimbabwe National Memorial Monument called Heroes Acre on the South Western Outskirts of Harare.
Zimbabwe African National Union
The Zimbabwe African National Union was a militant organization that fought against the standing government in Rhodesia, formed as a split from the Zimbabwe African People's Union...
after supporting the National Democratic Party (NDP) and later the Zimbabwe African People's Union
Zimbabwe African People's Union
The Zimbabwe African People's Union was a militant organization and political party that fought for the national liberation of Zimbabwe from its founding in 1961 until it merged with the Zimbabwe African National Union – Patriotic Front in December 1987....
.Leopold Takawira was also known by his Mhazi to totem as 'Shumba yeChirumanzi'
Takawira was born at Chirumanzi, Victoria district in 1916. He obtained his education locally and at Mariannhill
Mariannhill
Mariannhill is a little suburb near Pinetown in KwaZulu Natal, South Africa....
in Natal
Natal Province
Natal, meaning "Christmas" in Portuguese, was a province of South Africa from 1910 until 1994. Its capital was Pietermaritzburg. The Natal Province included the bantustan of KwaZulu...
, South Africa
South 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...
. He qualified as a teacher, and after several years as an assistant teacher, was appointed Headmaster of Chipembere Government School in Highfield
Highfield
Highfield may refer toplaces in England*Highfield, Bolton*Highfield, Derbyshire*Highfield, Gloucestershire*Highfield, Hampshire, a suburb of Southampton*Highfield, Hertfordshire a neighbourhood in Hemel Hempstead*Highfield, Oxfordshire...
. He gave up teaching in order to join Colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
David Stirling
David Stirling
Colonel Sir Archibald David Stirling, DSO, DFC, OBE was a Scottish laird, mountaineer, World War II British Army officer, and the founder of the Special Air Service.-Life before the war:...
's Capricorn Africa Society, of which he became Executive Officer.
National Democratic Party
In late 1959, upon hearing that a new nationalist party was being planned to replace the banned Rhodesian African National Congress, he applied to join the new party, the National Democratic Party. In 1960 he was elected as Chairman of the HarareHarare
Harare before 1982 known as Salisbury) is the largest city and capital of Zimbabwe. It has an estimated population of 1,600,000, with 2,800,000 in its metropolitan area . Administratively, Harare is an independent city equivalent to a province. It is Zimbabwe's largest city and its...
branch and member of the Central Executive. On 19 July 1960, Takawira was amongst a number of leading activists that were arrested on suspicion of belonging to the ANC. These arrests sparked unrest that became known as the March of the 7000. At a meeting on 21 September 1960, he was elected Interim President in place of Michael Mawema. At the party congress in November of that year, he stood for the post of President, but lost the contest Joshua Nkomo
Joshua Nkomo
Joshua Mqabuko Nyongolo Nkomo was the leader and founder of the Zimbabwe African People's Union and a member of the Kalanga tribe...
. One of Nkomo's first acts was to appoint Takawira as his replacement as Director of International Relations (based in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
). In 1961 Takawira sent a strongly worded cable to Joshua Nkomo condemning the acceptance by the NDP delegation of the proposals for constitutional change. This led to an emergency trip to London and to a reversal of the NDP's stance.
ZAPU and ZANU
Takawira joined the Zimbabwe African People's UnionZimbabwe African People's Union
The Zimbabwe African People's Union was a militant organization and political party that fought for the national liberation of Zimbabwe from its founding in 1961 until it merged with the Zimbabwe African National Union – Patriotic Front in December 1987....
(ZAPU) on its founding in 1961 was appointed Secretary for External Affairs. During the following year, however, he became disenchanted with Nkomo's leadership in April 1963. Nkomo suspended him in July 1963. He joined Ndabaningi Sithole
Ndabaningi Sithole
Ndabaningi Sithole founded the Zimbabwe African National Union, a militant organization that opposed the government of Rhodesia, in July 1963. A member of the Ndau ethnic group, he also worked as a Methodist minister. He spent 10 years in prison after the government banned ZANU...
's breakaway movement, the Zimbabwe African National Union
Zimbabwe African National Union
The Zimbabwe African National Union was a militant organization that fought against the standing government in Rhodesia, formed as a split from the Zimbabwe African People's Union...
(ZANU), in August and was appointed Vice President.
Detention and death
He was detained in late 1964 and confined at first to Sikombele alongside Joshua NkomoJoshua Nkomo
Joshua Mqabuko Nyongolo Nkomo was the leader and founder of the Zimbabwe African People's Union and a member of the Kalanga tribe...
, Ndabaningi Sithole
Ndabaningi Sithole
Ndabaningi Sithole founded the Zimbabwe African National Union, a militant organization that opposed the government of Rhodesia, in July 1963. A member of the Ndau ethnic group, he also worked as a Methodist minister. He spent 10 years in prison after the government banned ZANU...
, 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...
and Edgar Tekere
Edgar Tekere
Edgar Zivanai Tekere was a Zimbabwean politician. He was a president of the Zimbabwe African National Union who organised the party during the Lancaster House talks and served in government before his popularity as a potential rival to Robert Mugabe caused their...
. After Rhodesia's Unilateral Declaration of Independence
Unilateral Declaration of Independence (Rhodesia)
The Unilateral Declaration of Independence of Rhodesia from the United Kingdom was signed on November 11, 1965, by the administration of Ian Smith, whose Rhodesian Front party opposed black majority rule in the then British colony. Although it declared independence from the United Kingdom it...
from the United Kingdom, he was moved to Salisbury Prison where he remained until his death in 1970. His death is believed to have been caused by neglect of his diabetes by the prison authorities. He is buried at Zimbabwe National Memorial Monument called Heroes Acre on the South Western Outskirts of Harare.