Canaan Banana
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| Canaan Banana | |
 Prime Minister Robert Mugabe (left) and President Canaan Banana attend the ceremony for the independence of Zimbabwe in April 18, 1980 |
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| In office 31 December 1980 – 31 December 1987 |
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| Succeeded by | Robert Mugabe |
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| Born | March 05, 1936 Esiphezini, Southern Rhodesia |
| Died | November 10, 2003 |
| Spouse | Janet Banana |
Canaan Sodindo Banana (5 March 1936 – 10 November 2003), a Methodist minister, was Zimbabwe's first President. He held the largely ceremonial office from 18 April 1980 until 31 December 1987, during which time his eventual successor Robert Mugabe served as prime minister and was the dominant figure in the Zimbabwean government.
During his lifetime he brought the Zimbabwe African National Union (ZANU) and the Zimbabwe African People's Union (ZAPU), two of the country's political parties, together, became a diplomat for the Organisation of African Unity, and headed the religious department of the University of Zimbabwe. His later life is tainted by charges of sodomy, for which he was imprisoned.
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[edit] Early life
Born in 1936 in Esiphezini in the former British colony of Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) from a Ndebele-cultured mother and a Malawian father who had emigrated to Rhodesia. He was educated by missonaries in a local school and was later schooled at a teacher training institute.[1]
He married Janet (b. 1938) in 1961, and they had four children together He took a diploma in theology at Epworth Theological College in Harare and was ordained as a United Methodist minister in 1962. Becoming involved in politics, he denounced Ian Smith's practices as a prime minister, took part in the uprising of the black liberation movement, and rose to be vice-president of the African National Council.[1]
[edit] Zimbabwe's President
When many Council members were arrested in the late 1960s, Banana and his family fled to the United States and did not return until 1975. Banana was arrested on his return but was released a year later, kept under house arrest, and then allowed to participate in Abel Muzorewa's plans for the country. However, he abandoned that effort and joined ZANU (led by Robert Mugabe), which was dedicated to overthrowing the Smith administration. Returning to Rhodesia in December 1976, Banana was arrested once more for his support of ZANU; upon Christopher Soames', Rhodesia's last British ruler, ascension to power in 1979 he was released from prison.[2]
Under the country's new constitution Banana became the first president in 1980 and first black leader of Zimbabwe.[1] In 1982 a law was passed forbidding citizens from making jokes about his name.[2] In 1987 his post was taken over by Mugabe, who made himself executive president. Banana then became a diplomat for the Organisation of African Unity and head of the religious department at the University of Zimbabwe. He played a large role in bringing the two major groups of independence fighters, ZANU and ZAPU, together to form the Zimbabwe African National Union - Patriotic Front, a merger that took place in 1988.
[edit] Sexual charges and imprisonment
In 1997 he was arrested in Zimbabwe on charges of sodomy, following accusations made during the murder trial of his former bodyguard, Jefta Dube.[1] Banana was found guilty of eleven charges of sodomy, attempted sodomy and indecent assault in 1998. He fled to South Africa while on bail before he could be imprisoned, apparently believing Mugabe was planning his death. He returned to Zimbabwe in December 1998, after a meeting with Nelson Mandela. Banana was sentenced on January 18, 1999 to ten years in jail, nine years suspended and he was also defrocked. He served two years in prison before being released in January 2001, and died of cancer in 2003, in London, according to the Zimbabwean high commissioner in that city. The Guardian Unlimited, however, claims that Banana had travelled to South Africa, where he eventually died, in order to receive appropriate treatment for his cancer.[1] He was buried in Zimbabwe without the full honours expected to be accorded a former head of state.[2] His wife sought asylum in Britain in October 2000.[2]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
[edit] External links
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by (none) |
President of Zimbabwe 1980–1987 |
Succeeded by Robert Mugabe |
| Presidents of Zimbabwe |  |
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| Canaan Banana • Robert Mugabe |
| Persondata | |
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| NAME | Banana, Canaan |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | |
| SHORT DESCRIPTION | 1st President of Zimbabwe |
| DATE OF BIRTH | 5 March 1936 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Esiphezini, Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) |
| DATE OF DEATH | 10 November 2003 |
| PLACE OF DEATH | London |
