John Nkomo
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| The Honourable John Nkomo |
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Minister of Special Affairs in the President's Office
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| In office August 2002 – April 2005 |
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| President | Robert Mugabe |
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| In office April 2005 – March 2008 |
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| President | Robert Mugabe |
| Preceded by | Emmerson Mnangagwa |
| Succeeded by | Lovemore Moyo |
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National Chairman of ZANU-PF
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| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office 2006 |
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| Born | 22 August 1934 Southern Rhodesia |
| Nationality | Zimbabwean |
| Political party | ZANU-PF |
| Spouse(s) | Georgina Ngwenya |
| Residence | Bulawayo, Zimbabwe |
John Landa Nkomo (born August 22, 1934) is a Zimbabwean politician, currently serving as Vice-President of Zimbabwe. After serving for years as a minister in the government of Zimbabwe, he was the Speaker of Parliament from 2005 to 2008. He was then appointed to the Senate in 2008 and was Minister of State in the President's Office in 2009.[1] Nkomo is also a key figure in the Zimbabwe African National Union – Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF); he was National Chairman of ZANU-PF until December 2009, when he was elected as Vice-President of ZANU-PF. As a consequence of his elevation to the party's vice-presidency, he also became Vice-President of Zimbabwe in December 2009.
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[edit] Political career
Nkomo was a member of Joshua Nkomo's Zimbabwe African People's Union (ZAPU) before the party merged with Robert Mugabe's Zimbabwe African National Union (ZANU) to create ZANU-PF in 1987.[2] He was Minister of Labour, Manpower Planning, and Social Welfare as of May 1990.[3]
Nkomo, who had previously served as Minister of Home Affairs, was moved to the position of Minister of Special Affairs in the President's Office in a cabinet reshuffle on August 25, 2002.[4][5] This was seen as a demotion and was attributed to a power play in ZANU-PF.[5] Following the March 2005 parliamentary election, he became Speaker of Parliament in April 2005.[6]
In November 2006, while serving his term as the Speaker of Parliament, John Nkomo shocked many people declaring his intention to seek the candidature for ZANU-PF for the next presidential election.[7] Nkomo did not seek the nomination, however, as President Robert Mugabe chose to run for re-election.
Nkomo did not stand as a candidate in the 2008 parliamentary election, but following the election he was appointed to the Senate by Mugabe on August 25, 2008.[8] Later, when the national unity government was appointed in February 2009, he became Minister of State in the President's Office.[1]
Nkomo is widely viewed as a moderate within the ZANU-PF leadership.[2] He was elected as Vice-President of ZANU-PF by a party congress on December 12, 2009, succeeding Joseph Msika, who had died a few months beforehand.[9] He was then sworn in as Vice-President of Zimbabwe by President Mugabe on December 14. Along with Joyce Mujuru (who represents the party's ZANU wing), Nkomo is one of two vice-presidents. In an interview at the time of his swearing-in, Nkomo expressed his commitment to the success of the national unity government and said that he would work to facilitate the achievement of its goals.[2]
[edit] The Courts
Nkomo has been embroiled in a number of high profile court battles in Zimbabwe that received media coverage. In July 2006, he was in court fighting for a farm situated in Lupane, 200 km from Bulawayo.[10]
[edit] United States travel restriction
He is among a host of individuals not allowed to travel to the United States because the US government feels he has worked to undermine democracy in Zimbabwe.[11]
[edit] References
- ^ a b "Mugabe swears in 19 deputy ministers, 5 Ministers of State". NewZimbabwe.com. 20 Feb 2009. http://www.newzimbabwe.com/pages/minister23.19417.html. Retrieved 2009-02-20.
- ^ a b c "New Zimbabwe VP John Nkomo Calls for Unity of Purpose in Government", VOA News, December 15, 2009.
- ^ Jacob Chikuhwa, A Crisis of Governance: Zimbabwe (2004), page 331.
- ^ "Mugabe names new cabinet", Sapa-AFP (IOL), August 25, 2002.
- ^ a b "ZIMBABWE: New government without Makoni", SADOCC, August 25, 2002.
- ^ "MP's sworn in, new ministers appointed", SADOCC, April 16, 2005.
- ^ Nkomo confirms presidential ambitions[1](accessed 02/10/2008)
- ^ "President Appoints Ministers", The Herald (allAfrica.com), August 25, 2008.
- ^ Chengetai Zvauya, "Mugabe: Zimbabwe's unity govt has 'short life'", Associated Press, December 12, 2009.
- ^ Nkomo ordered off farm[2](accessed 02/10/2008)
- ^ Recent OFAC Actions, US Dept. of Treasury, November 23, 2005 (accessed 02/07/2008)
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