Jacob Mudenda
Jacob Mudenda | |
---|---|
![]() Jacob Mudenda in 2019. | |
Speaker of the National Assembly of Zimbabwe | |
Assumed office 31 July 2018 | |
Preceded by | Lovemore Moyo |
Personal details | |
Born | Jacob Francis Mudenda Zimbabwe |
Nationality | Zimbabwean |
Political party | ZANU PF |
Residence | Harare, Zimbabwe |
Education | Postgraduate Diploma in Law, Bachelor of Arts |
Alma mater | University of Zimbabwe, University of South Africa |
Occupation | Speaker of Parliament |
Profession | Lawyer |
Jacob Francis Mudenda is the current Speaker of the National Assembly of Zimbabwe[1] and a member of the Zimbabwe African National Union - Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF).[2] A longtime schoolteacher and lawyer, Mudenda joined the Zimbabwe political scene after it gained independence from the British in 1980.[3] Mudenda is well known for his relationship with former Zimbabwe president, Robert Mugabe, along with the rise and fall of his political career after the Willowgate scandal.
Background[]
Jacob Francis Mudenda was born in Zimbabwe in 1949.[4] Mudenda earned numerous degrees before joining the workforce. Mudenda earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of South Africa while majoring in English and education.[1] He followed this degree by achieving his Bachelor of Laws honour degree from the University of Zimbabwe.[1] In addition, he went back to school a third time to receive a Postgraduate Diploma in Law from the University of Zimbabwe.[5] After gaining his second diploma from the University of Zimbabwe, Mudenda went on to practice law and teach in Zimbabwe until his decision to enter politics.
Early political career[]
Upon independence in 1980 from British control, Mudenda was selected by the Mugabe government regime as a district administrator. Through connections to Mugabe personally and good results, Mudenda was soon promoted to provincial administrator and provincial governor.[3] In 1984, after continued success in politics, Mudenda was named resident minister for the government when the position was created. The appointment left Mudenda in charge of the Matabeleland North Province.[6] The new position, as spokesperson for Matabeleland North, the second most populous province in Zimbabwe,[7] continued Mudenda's rise in Mugabe's circle. While holding this position, Mudenda, Mugabe and Zimbabwe as a nation took significant fire for the incident known as Gukurahundi.[8] The incident, from early 1983 to late 1987 left over 20,000 individuals dead, and Mudenda is considered to have been Mugabe's line of contact through the period.[9]
Willowgate scandal and aftermath[]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/17/Carte_du_Zimbabwe_FR.png/220px-Carte_du_Zimbabwe_FR.png)
In the late 1980s, Mudenda, along with other members of the Zimbabwe government, were implicated in a scandal involving the illegal sales of cars. Mudenda, along with the other individuals involved, purchased vehicles from a legal importer in Willowvale at a low rate and would sell the vehicles at a highly inflated price.[10] Mugabe, and many other politicians were involved in the investigation. Mudenda was found to have made more than 100,000 Zimbabwe dollars ($51,000) in the purchase and resale of one vehicle.[11] The scandal ended the political careers of many individuals, including Maurice Nyagumbo.[10] Mudenda, however, was able to make his way back into politics after years away from serving as a government official. In his time away from politics, Mudenda spent significant time establishing his law firm. The firm, Mudenda Attorneys Legal Practitioners, still practices in Bulawayo today.[12]
Return to politics[]
In February, 2013 Mudenda stepped back into the public sphere with his appointment as the chairman of the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission (ZHRC).[13] The return to politics did not come without controversy. Some in Zimbabwe felt that Mudenda's appointment did not follow constitutional procedures.[14] Mudenda's appointment lasted only a short period of time, however, as he was elected the Speaker of the House on July 31 of the same year.[15] On September 3, 2013 Mudenda took his position replacing former Speaker, Lovemore Moyo[15] Mudenda has remained in the same position since his appointment in 2013.
See also[]
References[]
- ^ a b c "Jacob Mudenda". Pindula. Retrieved 4 October 2018.
- ^ "Jacob Mudenda". Pindula. Retrieved 4 October 2018.
- ^ a b eDuzeNet. "Jacob Mudenda's political rise-fall-and-rise tale". Bulawayo24 News. Retrieved 12 October 2018.
- ^ "Jacob Mudenda sworn in as Speaker of Parliament". www.thezimbabwean.co. Retrieved 24 October 2018.
- ^ "Advocate Jacob Francis Mudenda".
- ^ "Jacob Mudenda resigns". Southern Eye. Retrieved 24 October 2018.
- ^ "Zimbabwe - Matabeleland North". www.zimbabwe-info.com. Retrieved 24 October 2018.
- ^ Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace in Zimbabwe; Legal Resources Foundation (1997). Breaking the Silence, Building True Peace.
- ^ Dzirutwe, MacDonald (1 June 2018). "Banned by Mugabe, play about Gukurahundi massacres finally staged". Reuters. Retrieved 24 October 2018.
- ^ a b "Willowgate Scandal". Pindula. Retrieved 24 October 2018.
- ^ Meldrum, A (1989). "The Corruption Controversy". Africa Report. 34: 36.
- ^ "Law Society bars 40 lawyers among them Mudenda from practising (See some of the names)". My Zimbabwe News. 25 May 2018. Retrieved 2 December 2018.
- ^ Salcedo-Albarán, Eduardo (January 2017). "Coltan Trafficking Network in the Democratic Republic of Congo". The Global Observatory of Transnational Criminal Networks. 5.
- ^ Chiduza, L. (2015). "The Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission: Prospects and challenges for the protection of human rights". Law Democracy & Development. 19.
- ^ a b Dzirutwe, MacDonald; Brock, Joe; Cropley, Ed (1 January 2018). "The inside story of Mugabe's downfall". New Agenda: South African Journal of Social and Economic Policy. 2018 (68): 32–35. hdl:10520/EJC-c70dcd83c. ISSN 1607-2820.
- 1949 births
- Living people
- 20th-century Zimbabwean politicians
- 21st-century Zimbabwean politicians
- Speakers of the National Assembly of Zimbabwe
- ZANU–PF politicians
- Zimbabwean lawyers
- Zimbabwean educators
- Provincial governors of Zimbabwe
- University of South Africa alumni
- University of Zimbabwe alumni
- Members of the National Assembly of Zimbabwe