Learnmore Jongwe

Learnmore Judah Jongwe (born April 28, 1974 in Samambwa village in Zhombe, died October 24, 2002) was a Zimbabwean politician.

Education

Jongwe did his Advanced Levels at Lower Gwelo Mission between 1993 and 1994 before enrolling at the University of Zimbabwe (UZ) in 1995.

Jongwe soon got actively involved in student politics. He was elected into the Committee of the Zimbabwe Law Students Association (ZILSA) at the end of 1995.

He was also involved in campus politics. As a result, he was suspended briefly in July 1996 by the then Vice Chancellor Professor Graham Hill. The suspension lasted for a few weeks before he was reinstated with the other two student leaders who had been suspended together with him. (Daniel Molokele (Acting President) and Tirivanhu Chitongo (Acting Vice President)

Soon afterwards, he was elected as the UZ Student Representative Council (SRC) President in October 1996.

The years 1996 and 1997 saw the formal revival of the national students’ mother body, the Zimbabwe National Students Union (ZINASU), which assumed the motto ‘Struggle is our Birthright.’

A conference to re-launch ZINASU was held from the 28th of February to the 2nd of March 1997. Jongwe was duly elected as the first President of the revived ZINASU.

Other comrades who were elected into that executive included Daniel Molokele from the UZ (Deputy President), Charlton Hwende from Harare Polytechnic (Secretary General), Job Sikhala from UZ (Information and Publicity) and Promise Sande from the UZ (Treasurer).

The then 23-year-old lad and 3rd-year law student at the UZ was to lead the national students union for the next two years.

Jongwe served the students union with passion and commitment, such that ZINASU became a force to reckon within the country’s political landscape. During the 1998 food riots, Jongwe led countywide students’ protests against the rising cost of living in the country.

He was succeeded by Hopewell ‘Msavaya’ Gumbo as ZINASU President at the 2nd ZINASU Bi-Annual Congress at the University of Zimbabwe in 1999. After serving as president of the union Jongwe was later appointed ZINASU Board Secretary, a position he held until 2001.

Politics

As ZINASU President, Jongwe played a critical role in the formation of an alternative political force, the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC). Jongwe became the first National Chairperson of the MDC Youth Assembly and later became the party’s national Spokesperson. Because of his attributes that include bravery, charisma, eloquence, and brilliance Jongwe remains one of the most inspirational student leaders ever to emerge from this land. Learnmore Jongwe was the first spokesman for the Zimbabwean Movement for Democratic Change Party and Member of Parliament for Kuwadzana.

Confession

In July 2002, he confessed to having murdered his wife after finding her having sex with another man.It is believed. ^[1]

Death

He died in prison on October 24, 2002.^[2]

References