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Solomon Mujuru, also known as Rex Nhongo (May 1, 1949 – August 15, 2011) was a Zimbabwean military officer and politician who led Robert Mugabe's guerrilla forces during the Rhodesian Bush War. He was from the Zezuru clan. In post-independence Zimbabwe, he went on to become army chief before leaving government service in 1995. After leaving his post in the Zimbabwe National Army, he got into politics becoming Member of Parliament for Chikomba on a Zanu PF ticket. He was generally regarded as one of the most feared men in Zimbabwe. His wife, Joyce Mujuru, became Vice-President of Zimbabwe in 2004.

Rhodesian Bush War

During the Rhodesian Bush War Mujuru, with Josiah Tongogara, led the ZANLA forces when Mugabe languished in jail for 10 years from 1964 to 1974. Robert Mugabe and Edgar Tekere with the help of chief Rekayi Tangwena their medium, had slipped into Mozambique after their immediate release from jail with the active support of Mujuru, who implored guerrillas, most of whom had never met Mugabe, to accept him as their leader. "As a result Mugabe owes (Solomon) Mujuru an eternal favour," said one Zanu-PF insider.

Post-Independence

General Mujuru took over the command of the Zimbabwe National Army at independence in 1980, retiring 10 years later to go into business. Popular speculation is that he owned anywhere between six and sixteen farms, including Alamein farm, a productive and high-value operation illegally requisitioned as part of a "landgrab" from Guy Watson-Smith in 2001 , as found by the Zimbabwe High Court and international courts. However, he remained an influential member of the ruling ZANU-PF politburo and central committees.

In the mid-1990s Mujuru clashed with Emmerson Mnangagwa, long considered Mugabe's favoured heir, when Solomon bid to buy into the multi-billion dollar Zimasco, a chrome mining and smelting concern in Zimbabwe's Midlands Province.

In 2001 Mujuru became the subject of the first legal action against any member of Mugabe's inner circle implicated in the illegal seizure of land and assets. His seizure of Alamein Farm was ruled illegal by the Supreme Court of Zimbabwe.

Mujuru and his wife are among the ZANU-PF party members subject to personal sanctions imposed by the United States.

Kingmaker

According to newspaper reports Mujuru had been under house arrest and 24-hour surveillance since November 2007 for his role in attempting to oust Mugabe. It is generally thought that Mujuru has a tremendous amount of influence on who leads ZANU-PF and the country. There was media speculation that he would be backing Simba Makoni. Makoni was a candidate in the March 2008 presidential election. However, the speculation was false and Mujuru never endorsed Makoni, who later formed his own party, named Mavambo Kusile Dawn (MKD), meaning "The Beginning of a New Dawn".

Death

Solomon Mujuru died in the early hours of August 16, 2011 in a fire at a farm in Beatrice.

References

1. "It is universally accepted in Zanu-PF that without Solomon's active support, Mugabe would have been a nobody. Solomon and the late Josiah Tongogara led the Zanla forces", Sunday Tribune, January 9, 2005
2. "Farm owner given minutes to leave his Farm" , The London Evening Standard, Febuary 10, 2003
3. " Evicted farmer sues for return of £2m assets", The Telegraph, December 24, 2001
4. " Britain must act on Zimbabwe", The London Evening Standard, January 25, 2002
5. " Mujuru under house arrest", The Zimbabwean, February 18, 2008
6. "Senior figures from within the party led by former army chief Solomon Mujuru are expected to challenge Mr Mugabe", The Zimbabwean, February 18, 2008
7. Zimbabwe's General Solomon Mujuru dies in fire Mail and Guardian

External links

• Commercial Farmers Union report on Land Grabs
• Executive Order - Blocking Property of Additional Persons Undermining Democratic Processes or Institutions in Zimbabwe
• Zanu-PF rivals square up over Mugabe's job
• Details of Zimbabwean Supreme Court Case
• BBC NEWS website, Official Profile
• Sunday Telegraph Article on Illegal Land Grab

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• Zimbabwean generals
• Zimbabwean politicians
• 1949 births
• 2011 deaths
• Zimbabwe African National Union – Patriotic Front politicians
• Deaths from fire