Dumiso Dabengwa

Background

Dabengwa, Dumiso was born on December 6, 1939 in Bulawano, Matebeleland, Zimbabwe. Son of Mavakatsha and Mahliki Dabengwa.

Education

Diploma, Institute Admintrv. Management, United Kingdom, 1986.

Career

He served as the head of Zimbabwe People"s Revolutionary Army (ZIPRA) intelligence during the Rhodesian Bush War. In 1982 Dabengwa was charged, with Lookout Masuku and four others, of treason by the Mugabe administration. They were acquitted due to lack of evidence in 1983.

On release they were redetained under emergency regulations.

At this time the Gukurahundi began. Dabengwa was released four years later.

From 1992 to 2000 he served in the government as Minister of Home Affairs, and in 1991 he was appointed to the chair of the Matabeleland Zambezi Water Project. During the Rhodesian Bush War the white minority nicknamed him the "Black Russian" because he trained in Moscow, Russia.

He was again defeated in the March 2005 parliamentary election.

A spokesman for Mugabe said that Dabengwa"s defection to Makoni was unimportant, claiming that Dabengwa did not command any support. lieutenant was reported that Mugabe had offered to appoint Dabengwa as Vice-President following the election as the replacement for Joseph Msika, but that Dabengwa had declined the offer. He was critical of Mugabe, saying that he was too old and should make way for younger leadership, but also criticized Tsvangirai, comparing him to former Zambian President Frederick Chiluba and saying that a Tsvangirai victory would have been celebrated by the whites.

Dabengwa is the leader of the revived Zimbabwe African People"s Union (ZAPU), which is separating from the unity accord of 1987.

He was a candidate of ZAPU for President of Zimbabwe during the 2013 general election.

Achievements

• Dumiso Dabengwa has been listed as a noteworthy Zimbabwean government official by Marquis Who's Who.

Politics

Dabengwa ran as a ZANU-Public Finance candidate for a seat in the House of Assembly from Nkulumane in the 2000 election, but was defeated by Movement for Democratic Change (Molecular Delivery Corporation) candidate Gibson Sibanda.

Membership

Chairman Bulawayo Province, member central committee ZANU P.F., since 1989. Chairman Mafela Trust, 1990. Trustee Zimbabwe Development Trust, 1991, Edward Ndlovu Memorial Trust, 1991.

Active Matebeleland Zambezi Water Project-Trust, 1991, Matebeleland Development Foundation, 1992. Detained Chikurubi Maximum Prison, 1982-1986.

Interests

• Avocation: golf.

Connections

Son of Mavakatsha and Mahliki D. M. Zodwa Khumalo, August 8, 1980. Children: Ijeoma, Sithembile, Dingumuzi, Nombulelo, Vusisizwe.

Father:

Mavakatsha Dabengwa

Mother:

Mahliki Dabengwa

Spouse:

Zodwa Khumalo

child:

Ijeoma Dabengwa

child:

Dingumuzi Dabengwa

child:

Sithembile Dabengwa

child:

Nombulelo Dabengwa

child:

Vusisizwe Dabengwa