Phillip Chiyangwa

Philip Chiyangwa (born 1959) is a co-founder of the Affirmative Action Group together with the late Peter Pamire (1962-1997), a chair of Native Africa Investments Ltd.,[1] and has served as an MP for the ZANU-PF party in Zimbabwe.[2] He was long believed to be a cousin of President Robert Mugabe. But Mugabe's nephew, Patrick Zhuwao, revealed that Chiyangwa is not even related to President Mugabe.[3]

Life and career

Philip Chiyangwa grew up in Chegutu , some 100 km south of Harare. He went to St. Francis school. His mother was from the Guta raJehovah City of the Lord sect. His young brothers James (Jimalo), Josphat and Mophat went to Pfupajena school. He worked for Chakari Mine before he was called up as a member of the BSAP African Reserve.

As a member of the BSAP African Reserve, he served for several months at the time of the March 1980 election. In the November 2000 publication The History of the British South Africa Police, Chiyangwa was featured in a photograph taken at the time of the election lying prone with a police-issued FN, chatting to a senior, white BSAP officer. A copy was leaked to Zimbabwe's independent press bringing a vehement denial by Chiyangwa who offered a substantial reward for information as to the photo's source. The photo was, in fact, taken from the BSAP's magazine Outpost archives in the early 1980s, to be used at a later date for the-then unplanned history.

Chiyangwa was the party chairman of Mashonaland West, one of the party's most powerful constituencies after Mashonaland Central.

In 1996 he proposed the indigenisation of Zimbabwe through the removal of white farmers from the country, threatening "Rwanda" if they didn't choose to leave.[4]

Chiyangwa is the proprietor of Native Africa Investments Ltd. based in Harare. His company has been involved in a few high-profile takeovers, the most famous being G&D Shoes which he tried, with success to save from liquidation. Chiyangwa and the late Peter Pamire (1962-1997) founded the Affirmative Action Group (AAG)now led by Chamu chiwanza. He was also responsible for the 1998 visit to Zimbabwe by singer Michael Jackson and after announcing to National media that he would be working with the singer on various business projects.

In 2004–05 he was arrested and detained for several months by Mugabe's notorious CIO after being accused of passing state secrets to South Africa agents. He allegedly received severe beatings and torture and suffered a mild stroke, and has subsequently moved away from politics and is now concentrating on his growing empire.

Phillip Chiyangwa is also believed to have been involved in the death of the late Peter Pamire.

Chiyangwa is now married and has several children.

Involvement in Football Administration

Phillip Chiyangwa is the current ZIFA president. On 17 December 2016 he was elected COSAFA President. On the 15 of March 2017 he led a successful coup against CAF President Issa Hayatou. Hayatou had served as CAF President since 1988 and had been seeking an eighth term. Chiyangwa and Hayatou became sworn enemies when Hayatou heard rumours of the intention to defeat him at the March 15 2017 CAF elections held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. FIFA President Infantino visited Zimbabwe to celebrate Chiyangwa's 59th birthday that's when rumours of the alliance first surfaced. Hayatou lost by 20 votes to 34 votes against Ahmad Ahmad the former boss of Madagascar Football Federation.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Dashwood, Hevina Smith. Zimbabwe: The Political Economy of Transformation. Page 104.
  2. ↑ Patrick Burnett and Firoze Madatally Manji. African Voices on Development and Social Justice: Editorials from Pambazuka News 2004. Page 226.
  3. ↑ "Mugabe's family disowns Chiyangwa", My Zimbabwe News, 17 May 2015.
  4. ↑ Hope, Christopher (2003). Brothers Under the Skin Travels in Tyranny. Macmillan. pp. 206–207. ISBN 1-4050-0555-6.
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