Abel Muzorewa

Abel Muzorewa, 1978

Abel Tendekayi Muzorewa (born April 14, 1925 in Umtali , Southern Rhodesia , † April 8, 2010 in Borrowdale near Harare ) was the only Prime Minister of Zimbabwe-Rhodesia .

Life

Muzorewa was the oldest of eight children of a preacher. Between 1943 and 1947 he worked as a teacher in Murewa . After that he was a preacher in Mtoko until 1947 . After studying theology at Old Umtali Biblical College , he became a pastor in Chiduku near Rusape in 1955 . Until his appointment as Bishop of Rhodesia of the United Methodist Church , he worked in various places.

On March 3, 1978, Abel Muzorewa and Ndabaningi Sithole , among others, paved the way for a transitional government to which Ian Smith and Jeremiah Chirau also belonged. After the elections, Josiah Zion Gumede became president and Muzorewa became prime minister. The country name was changed to Zimbabwe-Rhodesia. Robert Mugabe and Joshua Nkomo did not accept the election result and continued the civil war. The British government urged the civil warring parties to find a solution. From September 10th to December 15th 1979 the London Conference was held, which resulted in the Lancaster House Agreement . Muzorewa did not stand in the way of the new elections in the spring of 1980. The elections on March 4, 1980 were won by Robert Mugabe. He followed Muzorewa to the post of prime minister.

Honors

• 1973: United Nations Human Rights Prize

literature

• Louise Newitt: Prominent Rhodesian Personalities . Cover Publicity Services, Salisbury 1977.

Web links

• Bishop Abel Muzorewa dies at 84

Individual evidence

1. ^ United Nations , UNHCHR : The United Nations Prize in the Field of Human Rights . on www.ohchr.org (English)