List of Zimbabweans

Listed below are famous or notable Zimbabweans, people from Zimbabwe or of Zimbabwean descent.

Writers

• M. K. Asante - author of Washington Post bestseller Buck: A Memoir
• Catherine Buckle
• NoViolet Bulawayo - shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize
• Jacob Chikuhwa (born 1940)
• Brian Chikwava
• Shimmer Chinodya (born 1957)
• Judy Croome (born 1958)
• Tsitsi Dangarembga (born 1959)
• John Eppel (born 1947) - won the Ingrid Jonker prize for his first poetry book, and the M-Net Prize in 1994
• Petina Gappah
• Peter Godwin (born 1957)
• Chenjerai Hove (born 1956)
• Wiseman Magwa (born 1962)
• Onesimo Makani Kabweza (1939–1993)
• J. Nozipo Maraire (born 1966)
• Dambudzo Marechera (1952–1987)
• Alexander McCall Smith (born 1948) - creator of The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency
• Cont Mhlanga
• Charles Mungoshi (born 1947)
• Togara Muzanenhamo (born 1975)
• Angus Shaw (born 1949)
• Wilbur Smith (born 1933)
• Yvonne Vera (1964–2005)

Business people

• John Bredenkamp - founder of the Casalee Group
• Phillip Chiyangwa - founder of the Affirmative Action Group; chair of Native Africa Investments Ltd.
• David Hatendi (1953-2012) - former CEO of MBCA Bank Ltd and NMB Bank Ltd, founder of Hatendi Private Equity Advisers.
• Strive Masiyiwa - founder of Zimbabwe's largest telecommunications firm Econet Wireless and Botswana's Mascom Wireless.
• Mutumwa Mawere - multi-industrialist.
• Paul Tangi Mhova Mkondo - insurance guru, property magnate.
• Trevor Ncube - newspaper owner.

Musicians

See: List of Zimbabwean musicians

Politicians

• Canaan Banana - first non-executive president of the republic Zimbabwe (deceased)
• Gordon Chavunduka
• Aeneas Chigwedere - Education Minister; attempted to bring major reforms to the Zimbabwean education sector including the renaming of all schools with colonial names and the one uniform policy; both were rejected
• James Chikerema
• Chen Chimutengwende
• Chenhanho Chimutengwende
• Ruth Chinamano
• Joseph Chinotimba
• Jeremiah Chirau
• Emmanuel Chiroto
• Herbert Chitepo - former leader of the Zimbabwe African National Union (deceased)
• George Mutandwa Chiweshe
• Fay Chung
• Guy Clutton-Brock - politician and farmer (deceased)
• Charles Coghlan - former Premier of Southern Rhodesia, leader of Rhodesian Party (deceased)
• David Coltart - human rights lawyer, MDC-founder, and former Minister of Education
• Dumiso Dabengwa
• Margaret Dongo - former Independent MP
• Fletcher Dulini
• Enoch Dumbutshena - Chief Justice Zimbabwe High Court; Founder FORUM Party (deceased)
• Winston Field - former Prime Minister of Southern Rhodesia, leader of Rhodesian Front (deceased)
• Guy Georgias
• Border Gezi
• Aleck Gumbo
• Josiah Zion Gumede
• Munyaradzi Gwisai
• Sally Hayfron
• Byron Hove
• Godfrey Huggins - former Prime Minister of Southern Rhodesia and Prime Minister of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland, leader of United Rhodesia Party (deceased)
• Chenjerai "Hitler" Hunzvi - War Veterans leader (deceased)
• Tichaona Jokonya
• Learnmore Jongwe
• Patrick Kombayi - Opposition politician (deceased)
• Wilson Kumbula
• Lovemore Madhuku
• Moven Mahachi
• Charles Shanyurai Majange
• Alfred Makwarimba
• Washington Malianga
• Witness Mangwende
• Elliot Manyika
• Muchadeyi Masunda
• Cain Mathema
• Lovemore Matombo
• Bright Matonga
• Isaac Matongo
• Amos Midzi
• Priscilla Misihairabwi-Mushonga
• George Mitchell - former Prime Minister of Southern Rhodesia, leader of Rhodesian Party (deceased)
• Promise Mkwananzi
• Emmerson Mnangagwa - Minister of Defence, former Speaker of Parliament
• Max Mnkandla
• Howard Unwin Moffat - former Premier of Southern Rhodesia, leader of Rhodesian Party (deceased)
• Swithun Mombeshora
• Jonathan Moyo - MP and former Information Minister
• Simbi Mubako
• Olivia Muchena
• Opa Muchinguri
• Elias Mudzuri
• Grace Mugabe
• Robert Mugabe - President of Zimbabwe and leader of ZANU-PF
• Joyce Mujuru - Vice-President
• Solomon Mujuru
• Elphas Mukonoweshuro
• Samuel Mumbengegwi
• Chris Mushohwe
• Arthur Mutambara - Deputy Prime Minister, leader of MDC-M party
• Charles Mutasa
• Munacho Mutezo
• Giles Mutsekwa
• Simon Muzenda - former Vice-President of Zimbabwe (deceased)
• Abel Muzorewa - former Prime Minister of Zimbabwe-Rhodesia
• Ben Ncube
• Japhet Ndabeni Ncube
• Welshman Ncube - Minister of Industry and Commerce
• Francis Nhema
• Naomi Nhiwatiwa (1941–2012), cabinet minister
• Enos Nkala
• Joshua Nkomo - former Vice-President of Zimbabwe (deceased)
• Denis Norman
• Maurice Nyagumbo
• Mike Nyambuya
• George Nyandoro
• Mark Partridge
• Engelbert Rugeje
• Tinos Rusere
• Thompson Samkange
• Nathan Shamuyarira
• Daniel Shumba
• Felix Magalela Mafa Sibanda
• Jabulani Sibanda
• Nkululeko Sibanda
• Ndabaningi Sithole - former President leader of Zimbabwe African National Union (ZANU) and later ZANU-Ndonga (deceased)
• Ian Smith - former Prime Minister of Rhodesia, leader of Rhodesian Front and Conservative Alliance of Zimbabwe (deceased)
• Timothy Stamps
• Trudy Stevenson
• Leopold Takawira
• Edgar Tekere - former Secretary-General ZANU-PF, former leader of Zimbabwe Unity Movement (deceased)
• Garfield Todd - former Prime Minister of Southern Rhodesia, leader of United Rhodesia Party, United Federal Party and Central Africa Party, opponent of white minority rule, former member of the Senate of Zimbabwe (deceased)
• Judith Todd
• Langton Towungana
• Morgan Tsvangirai - Prime Minister Republic of Zimbabwe, leader of MDC-T party
• Josiah Tungamirai
• Herbert Ushewokunze
• Denis Walker
• Roy Welensky - former Prime Minister of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland, leader of United Federal Party (deceased)
• Edgar Whitehead - former Prime Minister of Southern Rhodesia, leader of United Federal Party (deceased)

Military and security service leaders

• Happyton Bonyongwe - current director-general of the Central Intelligence Organisation and former Brigadier in the Zimbabwe National Army
• Constantine Chiwenga - current commander of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces
• Dumiso Dabengwa - former head of Zimbabwe People's Revolutionary Army (ZIPRA) intelligence
• Azim Daudpota - second commander of the Air Force of Zimbabwe
• Ken Flower - former head of the Central Intelligence Organisation, 1961 to mid-1980s (deceased)
• Chenjerai Hunzvi - former ZIPRA soldier and former war veterans leader (deceased)
• Alfred Nikita Mangena - former commander of ZIPRA (deceased)
• Elson Moyo - former deputy commander of the Air Force of Zimbabwe and key figure in the 2007 Zimbabwean coup d'état attempt
• Solomon Mujuru - former commander of after Josiah Tongogara, second commander of the Zimbabwe National Army
• Perence Shiri - former commander of the Fifth Brigade and incumbent commander of the Air Force of Zimbabwe
• Jabulani Sibanda - former ZIPRA soldier and current war veterans leader
• Josiah Tongogara - former commander of ZANLA (deceased)
• Josiah Tungamirai - former political commissar of ZANLA, third commander of the Air Force of Zimbabwe (deceased)
• Norman Walsh - former senior officer, Rhodesian Air Force and first commander of the Air Force of Zimbabwe (deceased)
• Peter Walls - former Commander of the Combined Operations Headquarters of the Rhodesian military, first commander of the Zimbabwe National Army
• Vitalis Zvinavashe - third commander of the Zimbabwe National Army and first commander of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces (deceased)

Sports

• Byron Black (born 1969) - retired professional tennis player, won grand slams doubles
• Cara Black (born 1979) - active professional tennis player, won grand slams
• Wayne Black (born 1973) - retired professional tennis player, won grand slams doubles
• Warren Carne (born 1975) - cyclist, competed at 2007 African MTB Championships
• Tendai Chimusasa (born 1971) - retired long distance runner
• Kirsty Coventry (born 1983) - Olympic champion swimmer
• Brendon de Jonge - professional golfer on the PGA
• Duncan Fletcher (born 1948) - former national cricket captain and former England cricket team coach
• Andy Flower (born 1968) - former Test cricketer and national captain
• Bruce Grobbelaar (born 1957) - retired professional football goalkeeper, played for Liverpool F.C.; started his playing days at Highlanders, a local club based in Bulawayo
• Jonathan Hunt (born 1984) - cyclist
• Justice Majabvi (born 1984) - active professional footballer playing for XM Vicem Hai phong FC, previously played for Lask Linz FC; in Zimbabwe he played for Dynamos FC
• Pommie Mbangwa (born 1976) - cricketer and commentator
• Beast Mtawarira - professional rugby union player playing for Natal Sharks and Springboks
• Benjani Mwaruwari (born 1978) - active professional footballer playing for Manchester City, previously played for AJ Auxerre and Portsmouth F.C.; graduated from the Highlanders junior teams in Zimbabwe
• Waddington Mwayenga (born 1984) - cricketer
• Peter Ndlovu (born 1973) - active professional footballer playing for Mamelodi Sundowns FC, previously played for Coventry City F.C., Birmingham City F.C. and Sheffield United F.C.; in Zimbabwe he played for Highlanders
• Tinashe Nengomasha (born 1982) - active professional footballer playing for Kaizer Chiefs FC
• Esrom Nyandoro (born 1980) - active professional footballer playing for Mamelodi Sundowns FC, previously played for One Time League Champions Amazulu FC
• Henry Olonga (born 1976) - retired professional cricketer
• David Pocock - Australian rugby player, born in Zimbabwe
• Nick Price (born 1957) - active professional golfer, British Open winner (1994), PGA Championship winner (1992, 1994), 2005 Bob Jones Award winner, eventual World Golf Hall of Famer
• Ray Price - retired Zimbabwean spin bowler
• Heath Streak (born 1974) - fast bowler and bowling coach of Bangladesh
• Vitalis Takawira (born 1972) - professional footballer, a product of Dynamos FC
• Micheen Thornycroft (born 1987) - Zimbabwean rower
• Kevin Ullyett (born 1972) - active professional tennis player, won grand slams doubles

Clerics

• Ezekiel H. Guti - founder and President of ZAOGA Forward In Faith
• Prophet Emmanuel Makandiwa - founder and President of UFIC United Family International Church

References