AS Speaker of Parliament, Cde Emmerson Mnangagwa pledged to be fair and impartial to all the Members of Parliament, despite their political affiliations.
He assured legislators that his door would: “Always be open and hoped to make (this) legislature as relevant as possible to Zimbabwe for the development of our country.
I shall expect honourable members to be respectful of the House and each other as well as the Speaker’s office.
In turn you shall always find the Speaker fair, impartial and firm… a guardian of rights and privileges of this House.”
During his tenure as Speaker of Parliament, Cde Mnangagwa introduced Parliamentary reforms in the August House, to streamline the conduct of business and keeping abreast of the progress being made on the on-going implementation of his parliamentary reforms, “A clear testimony of our desire to make Parliament a truly representative and responsible institution….to make it a ‘people’s institution’.”
Reforms included setting up a Budget and Finance Committee, the introduction of Question Time Without Notice and its coverage on national television.
He agreed to public attendance, and liberalised the dress code by abolishing the (British) wigs for the Clerks of Parliament.
He repeatedly called for constructive debate; parliamentarians were frequently urged to focus on developmental and other issues of national interest, while calling for unity of purpose among the members.
“It is my hope that Parliamentary proceedings…will be underlined by political tolerance and unity of purpose,” he said.
With national and people developmental issues always uppermost on his agenda, the Speaker hoped: “The second session will usher a new era of constructive engagement and criticism…. pointing ways in which we can move further along the road to nation building, it will have made a notable contribution to strengthening democratic governance.”
He repeatedly called for unity between the parties represented in Parliament: ZANU PF, MDC and ZANU, when confronting the country’s socio-economic problems.
Calling on the three parties: he said: “It is now time to put our heads together and consolidate the fruits of our independence.”
An advocate for discipline, he reminded the House that: “Without discipline and political co-operating on the part of everyone, there can be no real achievement of these social and economic goals for which we all strive.”
In October 2002, during his tenure and under his direction, Parliament established Constituency Information Centres meant to facilitate interaction between the electorate and their representative, and “To enable the people to indicate the developmental preferences and lead to greater public involvement and increased security of executive initiatives by the parliamentarians.”
Parliamentary Information Centres were to provide guidance on expected rental levels, rates and other expenses; keep track of completed developmental programmes and programmes still in the pipeline.
Parliamentary Information Centres were also to extend to other regional and international bodies such as the SADC Parliamentary Forum, the Pan-African Parliament and the Inter-Parliamentary Union that was yet to be established.
Ever-cognisant of the importance of accountability, Cde Mnangagwa appealed to all parliamentarians to be accountable and ‘not to negate face-to-fact contact’ between the MPs and their electorate as a result of the information centres.
During his tenure as Speaker of Parliament, Cde Mnangagwa also emphasised the role of the media in democracy and socio-economic development and encouraged: “Voluntary media restraint, openness and independence, although this is beyond our control.”
Speaking during a three-day media relations workshop held in Kadoma on May 15 2001, organised by the Parliament of Zimbabwe in conjunction with the State University of New York, a US Agency for International development, he called on the media to ‘be partners and work closely’, saying: “The media can truly serve the public by covering Parliament in a manner that benefited the most representative institutions of the Government.”
Among the reforms he introduced in the House was the suspension of Rules and Orders governing Parliamentary Committees and Privileges which prevented the press from attending committee hearings or reporting on the deliberations before the committee’s findings were reported to the House.
Cde Mnangagwa explained to reporters at the workshop that the suspension of Rules and Orders was done to give ‘transparency and civic participation that would be ensured through the dissemination of information’.
In March 2001, while addressing a crowd of about 2 000 people in Malfarm in Gutu, during a traditional ceremony held to commemorate the launch of the land reclamation invasions that began in Masvingo in February 2000, and subsequently resulted in the fast-track Land Resettlement Programme, Cde Mnangagwa called on Government to declare February a public holiday to: “Invoke memories of the ‘Third Chimurenga’.”
The traditional ceremony or bira, was to appease ancestral spirits and seek guidance over the prolonged battle to control the land, was also attended by the late Vice-President Simon Muzenda, spirit mediums, chiefs, war veterans and Government ministers.
Traditional beer was in abundance during the bira ceremony with three beasts slaughtered. The ceremony began on Saturday and continued until Sunday morning.
In 2007, while Speaker of Parliament, he demonstrated empathy towards humanity when he sent a condolence message to his American counterpart – the Speaker of the House of Assembly, J. Dennis Hastert, on the bombing of the World Trade Center and the Pentagon in the US, where some Zimbabweans were among the victims.
Cde Mnangagwa was born in Shabani, on September 15 1942. He was born in a family of six in colonial Rhodesia; present-day Zvishavane in the Midlands Province of Zimbabwe.
He attended Lundi Primary School in the Mnangagwa Village for his early education, where he attained Standard Four.
It was during this time that he developed political consciousness and resolve.
His mother Mhurai and father Mafidhi Mnangagwa were peasant farmers staunchly opposed to the oppressive rule of the white colonial minority regime.
In 1955, the Mnangagwa family was banished and had to flee to Zambia.
In Zambia, he was sent to Mumbwe Boarding School.
Cde Mnangagwa undertook a building course at the Kafue Trade School.
Later, he enrolled for a four-year building programme at Hodgson Technical College where he attained his City and Guilds Industrial Building certification.
He was expelled from the college in the late 1950s due to his radical political activism.
His resolve for justice and black empowerment led him to join the United National Independence Party (UNIP) of Zambia led by Dr Kenneth Kaunda.
Aged 18, in 1962, he was recruited to join the Zimbabwe African People’s Union (ZAPU) and was sent to Tanzania and Egypt for military training.
In August 1963, together with other cadres, Cde Mnangagwa broke away from the party to join the newly-formed Zimbabwean African National Union (ZANU), from where he was sent to China for advanced military training, which he completed in 1964.
In China, he attended the Beijing School of Ideology run by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
Returning to Rhodesia (Zimbabwe), as a political activist during the liberation war, he formed part of the Crocodile Gang, an elite group of guerilla fighters during Zimbabwe’s war of independence, during which time he acquired the moniker ‘Ngwena’ for his clandestine military operations and a string of victories.
Sadly, some of his colleagues were betrayed by sell-outs; arrested and hung by the callous Rhodesian regime.
He served 10 years in prison. Initially, he was sent to Grey Street and Khami prisons before being transferred to Harare Prison where he met Cde Robert Mugabe and other nationalist leaders.
In 1965 he was arrested for allegedly helping to blow up a train near Fort Victoria (now Masvingo), for which he was given a death sentence.
While in detention, he was brutally tortured.
The brutalisation was so severe that it made Cde Mnangagwa unconscious for days. It resulted in the loss of hearing in one ear.
The death sentence was commuted on a technicality (he was said to be underage), to 10 years imprisonment, which he served in various prisons around the country.
After his release from prison, he was deported to Zambia, where he completed his Law degree. He worked for a short time, before leaving again Zambia to join the liberation struggle in Mozambique in 1976. He was assigned as the Special Assistant to Cde Mugabe.
Cde Mnangagwa and Cde Mugabe enjoyed a very close alliance.
Cde Mnangagwa studied Law while in detention. In 1974, he acquired a Bachelor of Law Degree from the University of Zambia.
He also studied Law at the University of London soon after independence.
While his political life was on the rise, his personal life fell apart when Cde Mnangagwa lost his first wife Jayne, sister to General Josiah Tongogara, whom he met in Lusaka, after being released from detention.
Refusing to be worn down by years of war, Jayne stood steadfastly by her husband throughout the liberation war.
The late Mrs Mnangagwa succumbed to cancer after a long battle, and passed away on January 31, 2002.
The couple had six children, five of them girls.
He is married to Auxillia. The couple has three children: Emmerson Junior, Collin and Sean.
Cde Auxillia Mnangagwa is the current House of Assembly Member for the Chirumhanzu Zibagwe Parliamentary seat in the Midlands Province.
She boasts her own credentials and is highly regarded by her friends, colleagues and neighbours.
Just like the crocodile, ‘Ngwena’, lay silently – watching; waiting; analysing; estimating; ready to catch his adversary for his opportunity to catch his nemesis off guard!
But, unlike the crocodile, Cde Mnangagwa has a lighter side; is people-centred and enjoys good humour!
At a ‘Meet-the-People’ rally held on October 26 1981, for the then Prime Minister Cde Mugabe, Cde Mnangagwa noting the restless mood, asked the crowd, after a choir had sung: “Did they sing well? ”
The crowd responded with a unanimous, “Yes.”
To everyone’s surprise, including Cde Mugabe, he said: “No, they did not sing well.
You see, I am the one who invited them to sing, so I am the one who did well, not them,” soliciting spontaneous laughter from the crowd.
At another rally, officiated by Richard Hove, the then Minister of Home Affairs, introducing ministers, Cde Mnangagwa said: “This man travels by day and by night.
He is a spook.
What he does and where he goes I really don’t know…” then both proceeded to dance a Chubby Checker ‘Twist’ on the sand, to the great delight of the audience.
Cde Mnangagwa is fluent in seven languages; besides Shona and English, he is conversant in Bemba, Tonga, Nyanja, isiNdebele and Mandarin.
During his travels across the country, at rallies or meeting people in his various capacities, his knowledge for languages came to the fore and often enthralled his audiences, as he changed from one language to another – often mumbling, “Sorry wrong language!”
On December 10 2014, Cde Mnangagwa was appointed as Vice-President of Zimbabwe during the ZANU PF 6th National People’s Conference held in Harare.
At the same time, he was appointed, Second Secretary of the ZANU PF.
Cde Mnangagwa also held the portfolio of Minister of Rural Housing and Social Amenities from 2005 to 2009, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of Defence during the Government of National Unity from 2009 to 2013 and also served as Secretary for Administration for ZANU PF.
Ever cognisant that unity, loyalty and determination were prerequisites for victory, appointed officials should act on a level cognisant of these qualities displayed by Cde Mnangagwa and be attuned to the needs and aspirations of the people of Zimbabwe.
Zimbabweans should not give him cause to lament again the lack of commitment by the people.
Rather, let us heed and respond united to his clarion call to be steadfast, hardworking and accountable; because what is being asked of us is not more than what is normally asked in any other place of the world.
History has shown that military leaders have been the most successful presidents; who usually introduce new ideas. While military service is not the only way to demonstrate dedication to one’s country or capability for high office, wars have given the world many of its most important political leaders.
In this regard, President Mnangagwa will be sharing history with Winston Churchill of Britain and eight American presidents, namely: George Washington, Andrew Jackson, Zachary Taylor, Ulysses S. Grant, Theodore Roosevelt, Dwight D. Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy and George H.W. Bush – all had distinguished military records.
Cde Mnangagwa’s own dedication to the country and his Chimurenga legacy is foolproof and infallible.
Apart from his military records, he was a national military shield to many insurrections that would have otherwise destabilised Zimbabwe in the early 1980s.
As Commander-in-Chief who served on the front he can lead the nation back to its foundations forged in war; to work to build a better nation in peace and unity.
The onus of socio-economic transformation is the responsibility of the President, but it is up to us to support our new President in the national cause to define a new destiny for ourselves.
The future lies in none but ourselves; hard work, dedication, honesty, and accountability.
From being made irrelevant in office, Cde Mnangagwa has become a driving force for the nation and the next generation.
A historical account of Cde Mnangagwa will reveal that his concern for his country’s welfare and security makes him eminently suitable for the office of the President.
The nation stands behind him as he accomplishes his goals!
Dr Tony Monda holds a PhD in Art Theory and Philosophy and a DBA (Doctorate in Business Administration) and Post-Colonial Heritage Studies. He is a writer, lecturer, musician, art critic, practising artist and corporate image consultant. He is also a specialist art consultant, post-colonial scholar, Zimbabwean socio-economic analyst and researcher.
For views and comments, email: tonym.MONDA@gmail.com