Joshua Nkomo

Joshua Nkomo (1917-1999), Zimbabwean nationalist leader and co-vice president of Zimbabwe (1990-1999). He was born in Matabeleland, the son of a lay preacher and teacher, and was trained as a social worker. Entering politics in 1952, Nkomo led a succession of banned nationalist movements, notably the Zimbabwe African People’s Union (ZAPU). Held in detention from 1964 to 1974 by Ian Smith’s white minority government, he symbolized the struggle for black majority rule in Rhodesia (now Zimbabawe). In 1976 Nkomo joined Robert Gabriel Mugabe to form the Patriotic Front, which fought a guerrilla war against Smith’s regime in the late 1970s. When majority rule was achieved in 1980, ZAPU lost the first free elections to Mugabe’s party, the Zimbabwe African National Union (ZANU). Nkomo was named to Mugabe’s cabinet but was dismissed in 1982 on charges that he was plotting to overthrow the government. He reclaimed his cabinet position in 1988 after the union of ZAPU and ZANU. In 1990 Nkomo was named to the newly created position of second vice president of Zimbabwe, a position he held until his death.