John Nkomo
Encyclopedia
John Landa Nkomo is a Zimbabwe
an politician, 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. 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.
'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. He was Minister of Labour, Manpower Planning, and Social Welfare as of May 1990.
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. This was seen as a demotion and was attributed to a power play in ZANU-PF. Following the March 2005 parliamentary election, he became Speaker of Parliament in April 2005.
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
. 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. Later, when the national unity government was appointed in February 2009, he became Minister of State in the President's Office.
Nkomo is widely viewed as a moderate within the ZANU-PF leadership. 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. 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.
that received media coverage. In July 2006, he was in court fighting for a farm situated in Lupane
, 200 km from Bulawayo
.
because the US government feels he has worked to undermine democracy 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...
an politician, 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
Senate of Zimbabwe
The Senate of Zimbabwe is the upper chamber of the country's bicameral Parliament. It existed from 1980 to 1989, and was re-introduced in November 2005....
in 2008 and was Minister of State in the President's Office
Minister of State in the President's Office (Zimbabwe)
The Minister of State in the President's Office is a non-cabinet ministerial position in the government of Zimbabwe. The position is vacant, following the promotion of John Nkomo to Vice-President....
in 2009. 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.
Political career
Nkomo was a member of 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...
's 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....
(ZAPU) before the party merged with 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...
's 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) to create ZANU-PF in 1987. He was Minister of Labour, Manpower Planning, and Social Welfare as of May 1990.
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. This was seen as a demotion and was attributed to a power play in ZANU-PF. Following the March 2005 parliamentary election, he became Speaker of Parliament in April 2005.
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
Zimbabwean presidential election, 2008
The Republic of Zimbabwe held a presidential election along with a parliamentary election on 29 March 2008. The three major candidates were incumbent President Robert Mugabe of the Zimbabwe African National Union - Patriotic Front , Morgan Tsvangirai of the Movement for Democratic Change , and...
. 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
Zimbabwean parliamentary election, 2008
A parliamentary election was held in Zimbabwe on March 29, 2008 to elect members to both the House of Assembly and the Senate of the Zimbabwean parliament...
, but following the election he was appointed to the Senate by Mugabe on August 25, 2008. Later, when the national unity government was appointed in February 2009, he became Minister of State in the President's Office.
Nkomo is widely viewed as a moderate within the ZANU-PF leadership. He was elected as Vice-President of ZANU-PF by a party congress on December 12, 2009, succeeding Joseph Msika
Joseph Msika
Joseph Wilfred Msika was a Zimbabwean politician who served as Vice President of Zimbabwe from 1999 to 2009.-Early life:...
, who had died a few months beforehand. He was then sworn in as Vice-President of Zimbabwe by President Mugabe on December 14. Along with Joyce Mujuru
Joyce Mujuru
Joice Mujuru is a Zimbabwean politician serving as Vice President of Zimbabwe. She has held this post since December 2004, and is also Vice President of ZANU-PF...
(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.
Court battles
Nkomo has been embroiled in a number of high profile court battles in ZimbabweZimbabwe
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...
that received media coverage. In July 2006, he was in court fighting for a farm situated in Lupane
Lupane
Lupane can refer to :*Lupane District in Zimbabwe*Lupane triterpenes...
, 200 km from Bulawayo
Bulawayo
Bulawayo is the second largest city in Zimbabwe after the capital Harare, with an estimated population in 2010 of 2,000,000. It is located in Matabeleland, 439 km southwest of Harare, and is now treated as a separate provincial area from Matabeleland...
.
United States travel restriction
He is among a host of individuals not allowed to travel to the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
because the US government feels he has worked to undermine democracy in Zimbabwe.