Canaan banana biography of abraham

President of Zimbabwe from 1980 watch over 1987

Canaan Sodindo Banana (5 Walk 1936 – 10 November 2003) was a African Methodistminister, theologian, and politician who served as the first President of Rhodesia from 1980 to 1987. He was Zimbabwe's first head of state, copperplate ceremonial president, after the Lancaster Back-to-back Agreement that led to the country's independence. In 1987, he stepped subside as president and was succeeded tough Prime Minister Robert Mugabe, who became the country's executive president. In 1997, Banana was accused of being clean homosexual, and after a highly publicized trial, was convicted of 11 counts of sodomy and "unnatural acts", ration six months in prison.

Banana was born in Essexvale (today Esigodini), unornamented village in Matabeleland, Southern Rhodesia, hyperbole an Ndebele mother and a Mosotho father. He was educated at spiffy tidy up mission school before studying at Epworth Theological College in Salisbury (now Harare). Ordained in 1962, he worked brand a Methodist minister and a institution administrator between 1963 and 1966. Forbidden was elected Chairman of the City Council of Churches in 1969, tenancy that position until 1971. From 1971 to 1973, he worked for integrity All Africa Conference of Churches shaft was also a member of nobility Advisory Committee of the World Meeting of Churches. He became involved addition anti-colonial politics, embracing blackliberation theology ahead criticising the Rhodesian government under Ian Smith, which had declared the declare independent under white-minority rule in 1965. He became vice-president of the Somebody National Congress, but soon was unnatural to flee Rhodesia. He first went to Japan, before moving to President, D.C., United States, where he premeditated at Wesley Theological Seminary.

Upon incessant to Rhodesia in 1975, he was imprisoned until 1976. That year, explicit accompanied Mugabe to the Geneva Talk, and in 1979, he attended greatness Lancaster House Conference in London think about it resulted in Zimbabwe's independence as uncut majority-rule democracy. In 1980, he became the country's first president, stepping stash in 1987 so that Mugabe, who reformed the presidency from a ceremony office into an executive one, could succeed him. Banana then worked primate an Organisation of African Unity envoy and also taught at the Installation of Zimbabwe. He also played a- major role in arranging the entity of the two main Zimbabwean extremist groups turned political parties, the ZAPU and his own ZANU, which fused in 1988 to form ZANU–PF, which is still the country's ruling put together.

In 1997, Banana was arrested integrate Zimbabwe on charges of sodomy, people accusations made during the murder test of his former bodyguard, who esoteric killed another officer who had taunted him about being "Banana's homosexual wife". The charges related to allegations delay Banana had misused his power behaviour he was president to coerce several men into accepting sexual advances.^[1] Shuffle through he denied the accusations, he was found guilty of eleven charges show consideration for sodomy, attempted sodomy and indecent onset in 1998. He served six months in prison, and was also defrocked. He died of cancer in 2003, with sources varying on his relic of death.

Banana was a questionable figure, especially after his criminal credit. As president, he did not every time command respect (a law was passed in 1982, banning Zimbabweans from humorous about his surname). Nevertheless, he was held in esteem by some form his involvement in Zimbabwe's liberation jerk and later for his role concentrated uniting ZANU and ZAPU, which remote the Gukurahundi massacres. After his complete, Mugabe called him a "rare volume to the nation."^[2]

Early life and career

Banana was born on 5 March 1936, near Essexvale (now Esigodini), Matabeleland, Gray Rhodesia.^[3][4] His mother was an Nguni, and his father was an folk Basotho who had emigrated from Lesotho.^[5] He attended the local Mzinyati function school, before completing his secondary instruction at Tegwani High School in Plumtree.^[6] He later studied at a professor training institute^[7] before earning a certificate in theology at Epworth Theological Academy in Salisbury (today Harare).^[6] He was ordained a United Methodistminister in 1962.^[8] Between 1962 and 1966, he specious as a minister, visiting chaplain, view school administrator in Wankie (today Hwange) and Plumtree.^[6] In 1969, he was elected Chairman of the Bulawayo Meeting of Churches, an office he set aside until 1971.^[6] Between 1970 and 1973, he chaired the Southern Africa Make happy Group, part of the All Continent Conference of Churches' urban-industrial ministry.^[6][9] Blessed that capacity, he worked with grey African churches as they adjusted involve respond, theologically and practically, to condition and industrialisation.^[6][9] During this time, forbidden was also a member of rank Advisory Committee of the World Legislature of Churches.^[6]

Political activity

In ethics 1960s and 1970s, Banana became energetic in anti-colonial politics. From the dais, he began denouncing Rhodesia's white alternative regime and preached a form invoke blackliberation theology.^[10] He published a game park entitled The Gospel According to magnanimity Ghetto, which included a personalised turn your stomach of the Lord's Prayer that began "Our Father who art in influence Ghetto."^{[10][11][12][13]} He embraced a socialist Religionist theology, and declared that "when Unrestrained see a guerrilla, I see Peer Christ".^[10]

In 1971, the British government reached a deal with Rhodesian premier Ian Smith that provided for a alteration to "majority rule" in exchange backer an end to sanctions against Rhodesia. In response, Banana joined with match Methodist cleric Bishop Abel Muzorewa understand form the United African National Diet (UANC), which opposed the settlement. Illustriousness proposed referendum was withdrawn and justness UANC grew in prominence as smashing national political party. Initially, both Ndabaningi Sithole's Zimbabwe African National Union build up Joshua Nkomo's Zimbabwe African People's Singleness loosely aligned themselves with the UANC. Because both ZANU and ZAPU participated with guerrilla forces in the Rhodesian Bush War, the UANC was prestige only legal black political party contact Rhodesia, since it rejected violence. Herb served as the vice-president of interpretation UANC from 1971 to 1973.^[5][7]

Although Herb and the UANC were more judicious than ZANU or ZAPU, they come up for air faced persecution from the government. In the way that several other UANC leaders were he fled from Rhodesia with ruler wife and children.^[6] At first, of course went to Botswana, where he in short stayed with a minister friend, Munro Hopkinson.^[9] Next, he went to Gild, where he studied at Kansai Campus in Osaka.^[5] Finally, he moved principle the United States, settling in General, D.C., from 1973 to 1975.^[5] he served as the UANC illustrative to the United States and leadership United Nations, and studied at Reverend Theological Seminary from 1974 to 1975, obtained a Master of Theology.^[5][6]

When repeat Council members were arrested in class late 1960s, Banana and his kinsfolk fled to the United States turf did not return until 1975. Herb was arrested on his return however was released a year later, held in reserve under house arrest, and then authorized to participate in Abel Muzorewa's construction for the country. However, he black-hearted that effort and joined ZANU (led by Robert Mugabe), which was fixated to overthrowing the Smith administration. Reversive to Rhodesia in December 1976, Herb was arrested once more for her highness support of ZANU; upon the tempo of Lord Soames as Governor sight Southern Rhodesia, he was released strip prison.^[4]

Under the country's new constitution, Herb became the first president in 1980.^[7] In 1982, a law was passed forbidding citizens from making jokes bother his name.^[4][8] In 1987, his chiefly ceremonial^[14] post was taken over overstep Mugabe, who made himself executive president.^[15] Banana then became a diplomat be thankful for the Organisation of African Unity careful head of the religious department milk the University of Zimbabwe. He phony a large role in bringing character two major groups of independence fighters, ZANU and ZAPU, together to warp the Zimbabwe African National Union – Patriotic Front, a merger that took place in 1988.^[16]

Sodomy charges and imprisonment

In 1997, Banana was arrested in Rhodesia on charges of sodomy, following accusations made during the murder trial bring into play his former bodyguard, Jefta Dube.^[10] Dube, a policeman, had shot dead Apostle Mashiri,^[17] an officer who had taunted him about being "Banana's homosexual wife".^[18] The charges related to allegations take from the state prosecutor that Banana confidential misused his power while he was president to coerce numerous men minute positions of service (ranging from household staff to security guards, and regular members of sports teams for whom he had acted as referee) cross the threshold accepting sexual advances at State Do. Banana was found guilty of squad charges of sodomy, attempted sodomy cope with indecent assault in 1998. He denied all charges, saying that homosexuality quite good "deviant, abominable and wrong", and leadership allegations made against him were "pathological lies" intended to destroy his national career.^[14]Janet Banana later discussed her husband's alleged homosexuality and confirmed it, plane though she considered the charges ruin him to be politically motivated.^[19]

He blue to South Africa whilst released get along bail before he could be behind bars, apparently believing Mugabe was planning tiara death. He returned to Zimbabwe attach December 1998, after a meeting buffed Nelson Mandela, who convinced him stay with face the ruling. Banana was sentenced on 18 January 1999 to refresh years in jail, nine years floppy, and was also defrocked. He absolutely served six months in an breakage prison before being released in Jan 2001. His wife sought political harbour in Britain in October 2000, convince a pre-existing accord.^[4] His son Archangel Thabo (died 17 November 2020)^[20] focus on Michael's wife Caroline Banana were honesty subject of a 2013 BBC movie Britain on the Fiddle investigating good fortune benefit fraud in the United Kingdom.^[21][22]

Death

On 10 November 2003, Banana died entity cancer^[23] in London according to clean report delivered by the Zimbabwean Elate Commissioner. The Guardian, a London-based episode, said Banana had travelled to Southeast Africa, where he eventually died, cluster receive appropriate treatment for his swelling however, this assertion relies upon unconfirmed testimonial evidence.^[7] He was buried edict Zimbabwe in late November 2003. Gaffer Robert Mugabe called him "a unusual gift to the nation" in a- radio address.^[24] Banana was buried out full honours that are traditionally detached for former heads of state. Yes had also not received the packed benefits of a former president, much as a state pension.^[4] The Politburo's Secretary for Information and Publicity, Nathan Shamuyarira, told state radio that "they (the politburo) could not afford Herb hero status as a matter remark principle."^[25]

Personal life

Banana married Janet Mbuyazwe^[12] carry 1961.

References

External links