David Anthony Chimhini
Encyclopedia
Hon. David Anthony Chimhini was born on 10 June 1950 in Mutasa
and is the MP for Mutasa North
in Manicaland
province, Zimbabwe
.
He attended Nyanga High school, Marist Brothers for his high school education. Hon Chimhini then proceeded to Kutama College
where he qualified as a teacher. Hon. Chimhini has a University of Zimbabwe
Certificate in Education in addition to a teacher’s certificate from Kutama Teachers’ College. Hon Chimhini also has a Master of Arts Degree in Development Studies specialising in Labour and Development from the Institute of Social Studies
– The Hague
, Netherlands
.
Whilst at the Institute of Social Studies in the Hague, Hon Chimhini was elected President of the Student Union. During the Zimbabwe liberation struggle Hon Chimhini taught and became a headmaster in the Manicaland
and Mashonaland West
provinces. He supported the independence struggle by providing food and basic supplies for the guerrilla soldiers. He became involved in trade unionism and joined the Rhodesia African Teacher's Association.
In 1988 he was appointed the National Training Secretary for the Zimbabwe Teachers Association (ZIMTA). In 1992 Hon Chimhini with like minded individuals like Reginald Matchaba-Hove, Nick Ndebele amongst others formed the Zimbabwe Human Rights Association. Hon Chimhini was then appointed executive director of Zimrights in 1995 leading the organisation into its most successful period in its history. Under Hon Chimhini ZimRights membership and profile grew rapidly. It became the biggest human rights organisation in Zimbabwe
. Its membership steadily grew from 3,000 in 1995 to over 14,000 in 1998. One of the biggest demonstrations organised by ZimRights took place in Harare
in 1995 under the leadership of David Chimhini, where protesters demonstrated against police brutality. In an inflammatory speech after the protest, President Mugabe labelled ZimRights "Zimlooters" and a "gangster organization".
Whilst at Zimrights Hon Chimhini was one of the founding members of the National Constitutional Assembly
in 1997 together with Morgan Tsvangirai
, Mike Auret, David Coltart
, Tendai Biti
, Thoko Matshe, Lovemore Madhuku
, Welshman Ncube
, Priscilla Misihairambwi, Brian Kagoro and many others. Hon Chimhini went on to serve on the NCA
board as taskforce member representing Human Rights for the next 4 years. In September 1999 Hon Chimhini was part of the group from civic society that was instrumental in the formation of the Movement for Democratic Change. He was a member of the interim leadership and served in the management committee before the party's inaugural congress in January 2000.
Hon Chimhini left ZimRights in 1999 and went on to become the first National Coordinator of the MDC. In the year 2000, Hon Chimhini became a spokesman and National Coordinator of the United People for National Survival (UPNS), an organisation which mobilised people to protest against the destructive policies adopted by the Zimbabwe government. The organisation introduced the now famous red cards with the inscription 'Mugabe must go now'. Other members of UPNS were Wilfred Mhanda of the Zimbabwe Liberators Platform and Archbishop PIus Ncube. Late in the year 2000 Hon Chimhini formed the Zimbabwe Civic Education Trust, an organisation which is involved in peace building, conflict resolution, human rights awareness and civic education and became its founding executive director. Whist working in civic society Hon Chimhini was a board member of the ZESN (Zimbabwe Election Support Network), Centre for Peace Initiatives In Africa and many other organisations.
In March 2008 Hon Chimhini contested the Mutasa North
seat under the MDC and won comfortably with 10,000 votes against 4,000 votes for Major-General Mike Nyambuya who was then Minister of transport and energy and represented Zanu PF. In parliament Hon Chimhini is a member of the select committee on Education as well as Housing and Social Welfare portfolio committee. Hon Chimhini is the treasurer of the African Parliament Network Against Corruption (Zimbabwe Chapter).
Hon Chimhini has continued fighting for human rights and is a member of the ZIMCET board.
Mutasa
Mutasa may refer to:*Didymus Mutasa*Mutasa in Manicaland Province, Zimbabwe...
and is the MP for Mutasa North
Mutasa North
Mutasa North is a constituency of Zimbabwe. It belongs to the province of Manicaland.In the 2005 general election the candidate of the Zanu PF was declared the winner, with an overall majority. This was in contrast to the fact that the candidate of the MDC polled an overall majority. In 2008 David...
in Manicaland
Manicaland
Manicaland is a province of Zimbabwe. It has an area of and a population of approximately 1.6 million . Mutare is the capital of the province. -Background:...
province, 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...
.
He attended Nyanga High school, Marist Brothers for his high school education. Hon Chimhini then proceeded to Kutama College
Kutama College
Kutama College , is an all-boys high school located near the town of Norton in the Zvimba area, 80 kilometres southwest of the Zimbabwean capital Harare...
where he qualified as a teacher. Hon. Chimhini has a University of Zimbabwe
University of Zimbabwe
The University of Zimbabwe in Harare, is the oldest and largest university in Zimbabwe. It was founded through a special relationship with the University of London and it opened its doors to its first students in 1952. The university has ten faculties offering a wide variety of degree programmes...
Certificate in Education in addition to a teacher’s certificate from Kutama Teachers’ College. Hon Chimhini also has a Master of Arts Degree in Development Studies specialising in Labour and Development from the Institute of Social Studies
Institute of Social Studies
The International Institute of Social Studies of Erasmus University Rotterdam in The Hague is a unique, independent and international graduate school in the social sciences...
– The Hague
The Hague
The Hague is the capital city of the province of South Holland in the Netherlands. With a population of 500,000 inhabitants , it is the third largest city of the Netherlands, after Amsterdam and Rotterdam...
, Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
.
Whilst at the Institute of Social Studies in the Hague, Hon Chimhini was elected President of the Student Union. During the Zimbabwe liberation struggle Hon Chimhini taught and became a headmaster in the Manicaland
Manicaland
Manicaland is a province of Zimbabwe. It has an area of and a population of approximately 1.6 million . Mutare is the capital of the province. -Background:...
and Mashonaland West
Mashonaland West
Mashonaland West is a province of Zimbabwe. It has an area of 57,441 km² and a population of approximately 1.2 million . Chinhoyi is the capital of the province.Mashonaland West is divided into 6 districts:* Chegutu* Hurungwe* Kadoma* Kariba...
provinces. He supported the independence struggle by providing food and basic supplies for the guerrilla soldiers. He became involved in trade unionism and joined the Rhodesia African Teacher's Association.
In 1988 he was appointed the National Training Secretary for the Zimbabwe Teachers Association (ZIMTA). In 1992 Hon Chimhini with like minded individuals like Reginald Matchaba-Hove, Nick Ndebele amongst others formed the Zimbabwe Human Rights Association. Hon Chimhini was then appointed executive director of Zimrights in 1995 leading the organisation into its most successful period in its history. Under Hon Chimhini ZimRights membership and profile grew rapidly. It became the biggest human rights organisation in 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...
. Its membership steadily grew from 3,000 in 1995 to over 14,000 in 1998. One of the biggest demonstrations organised by ZimRights took place in Harare
Harare
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...
in 1995 under the leadership of David Chimhini, where protesters demonstrated against police brutality. In an inflammatory speech after the protest, President Mugabe labelled ZimRights "Zimlooters" and a "gangster organization".
Whilst at Zimrights Hon Chimhini was one of the founding members of the National Constitutional Assembly
National Constitutional Assembly
The National Constitutional Assembly is a non-governmental organisation formed in 1997 as a grouping of individual Zimbabwean citizens and civic organisations including, labour movements, student and youth groups, women groups, churches, business groups and human rights organisations...
in 1997 together with Morgan Tsvangirai
Morgan Tsvangirai
Morgan Richard Tsvangirai is the Prime Minister of Zimbabwe. He is the President of the Movement for Democratic Change - Tsvangirai and a key figure in the opposition to President Robert Mugabe. Tsvangirai was sworn in as the Prime Minister of Zimbabwe on 11 February 2009...
, Mike Auret, David Coltart
David Coltart
David Coltart is a Zimbabwean lawyer, Christian leader and politician. He was a founding member of the Movement for Democratic Change when it was established in 1999 and its founding Secretary for Legal Affairs. He was the Member of Parliament for Bulawayo South in the House of Assembly from 2000...
, Tendai Biti
Tendai Biti
Tendai Laxton Biti is a Zimbabwean politician. He is the Secretary-General of the Movement for Democratic Change political party and a member of Parliament for Harare East; currently he is the Minister of Finance of Zimbabwe.-Early life:Biti was born in Dzivarasekwa, Harare...
, Thoko Matshe, Lovemore Madhuku
Lovemore Madhuku
Lovemore Madhuku was born on July 20, 1966. He is married to Annamercy and has two children, a daughter Tendai and a son Nyasha .- Education :...
, Welshman Ncube
Welshman Ncube
Welshman Ncube is a Zimbabwean politician. He is the President of the Movement for Democratic Change – Mutambara, and since February 2009 has been the Minister of Industry and Commerce. He was elected as a member of the House of Assembly of Zimbabwe for Bulawayo North East in the 2000 election and...
, Priscilla Misihairambwi, Brian Kagoro and many others. Hon Chimhini went on to serve on the NCA
NCA
NCA is a three-letter acronym, which may refer to the:* Constitutional Assembly of Zimbabwe* National Campaign for the Arts, a lobbying group for the arts in the United Kingdom...
board as taskforce member representing Human Rights for the next 4 years. In September 1999 Hon Chimhini was part of the group from civic society that was instrumental in the formation of the Movement for Democratic Change. He was a member of the interim leadership and served in the management committee before the party's inaugural congress in January 2000.
Hon Chimhini left ZimRights in 1999 and went on to become the first National Coordinator of the MDC. In the year 2000, Hon Chimhini became a spokesman and National Coordinator of the United People for National Survival (UPNS), an organisation which mobilised people to protest against the destructive policies adopted by the Zimbabwe government. The organisation introduced the now famous red cards with the inscription 'Mugabe must go now'. Other members of UPNS were Wilfred Mhanda of the Zimbabwe Liberators Platform and Archbishop PIus Ncube. Late in the year 2000 Hon Chimhini formed the Zimbabwe Civic Education Trust, an organisation which is involved in peace building, conflict resolution, human rights awareness and civic education and became its founding executive director. Whist working in civic society Hon Chimhini was a board member of the ZESN (Zimbabwe Election Support Network), Centre for Peace Initiatives In Africa and many other organisations.
In March 2008 Hon Chimhini contested the Mutasa North
Mutasa North
Mutasa North is a constituency of Zimbabwe. It belongs to the province of Manicaland.In the 2005 general election the candidate of the Zanu PF was declared the winner, with an overall majority. This was in contrast to the fact that the candidate of the MDC polled an overall majority. In 2008 David...
seat under the MDC and won comfortably with 10,000 votes against 4,000 votes for Major-General Mike Nyambuya who was then Minister of transport and energy and represented Zanu PF. In parliament Hon Chimhini is a member of the select committee on Education as well as Housing and Social Welfare portfolio committee. Hon Chimhini is the treasurer of the African Parliament Network Against Corruption (Zimbabwe Chapter).
Hon Chimhini has continued fighting for human rights and is a member of the ZIMCET board.