Greeks in Zimbabwe

Zimbabwean Greeks
اΈλληνες της Ζιμπάμπουε
Regions with significant populations
Harare
Languages
English, Greek
Religion
Greek Orthodox Church
Zimbabwe

Greek Zimbabweans (Greek: Έλληνες της Ζιμπάμπουε) comprise about 2,500 people of Greek origin, almost half of them from the island of Cyprus.[1] Zimbabwe currently hosts eleven Greek Orthodox churches and fifteen Greek associations and humanitarian organizations.[2]

History

The Greek community in Zimbabwe numbered between 13,000 and 15,000 people in 1972 but following the deterioration of Zimbabwe's domestic and financial situation has been reduced to a fraction of its former size.[1] The country's highest-scoring flying ace of World War II, John Plagis, was the son of Greek immigrants from the island of Lemnos.[3]

Present situation

The local Greek community and Greece itself are active in the field of humanitarian assistance to Zimbabwe.[4] Apart from a few landowners and businesspeople the majority of Greeks in the country are occupied in trade and other activities that contribute considerably to the country's economy.[1] There are Greek communities in various cities in the country,[2] including Bulawayo, Mutare, Gweru and Harare where the local community has been operating a Greek school since 1954.[1] The Holy Archbishopric of Zimbabwe and Southern Africa is under the jurisdiction of the Patriarchate of Alexandria.[2]

Notable people

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Hellenic Republic: Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Zimbabwe: The Greek Community
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria and all Africa Holy Archbishopric of Zimbabwe
  3. ↑ Shores, Christopher F; Williams, Clive (1966). Aces High: the Fighter Aces of the British and Commonwealth Air Forces in World War II. London: Neville Spearman Publishing. p. 73. OCLC 654945475.; Charousis, Chariton (December 2010). Έλληνες Άσσοι σε Συμμαχικές Αεροπορίες κατά το Β΄ Παγκόσμιο Πόλεμο [Greek Aces in Allied Air Forces in World War II]. Aviation Review (in Greek) (Athens: Hellenic Air Force): pp. 114–127. Retrieved 14 September 2013.
  4. ↑ Greeks 'strongly behind' Zimbabwe