Heroes Month Spotlight – Vitalis Zvinavashe: Zimbabwean General and Political Figure

Vitalis Musungwa Gava Zvinavashe (27 September 1943 – 10 March 2009) was a high-ranking military commander and politician in Zimbabwe. He became the first person to hold the position of Commander of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF), overseeing both the army and air force after the reorganization of the country’s military in the 1990s. Known for his strategic mind despite a relatively modest academic background, Zvinavashe played a prominent role in Zimbabwe’s post-independence military and political developments.

Early Military Involvement

Zvinavashe became involved in the liberation struggle in 1967, training the following year at Chunya Camp in Tanzania. His military career developed rapidly, and by 1977, he had secured a seat on the ZANU-PF Central Committee while serving as the party’s deputy head of security and intelligence.

After independence in 1980, he was appointed commander of the Three Brigade based in Mutare. In July 1994, he assumed the top role in the newly established Zimbabwe Defence Forces, a position that placed him in charge of both the national army and the air force.

Regional Military Operations

Zvinavashe led several regional peacekeeping missions under the Southern African Development Community (SADC) banner. Notably, during the Second Congo War, he commanded the joint SADC military intervention led by Zimbabwe to support DRC President Laurent Kabila against rebel forces backed by Rwanda and Uganda.

However, Zimbabwe’s involvement in the conflict later attracted criticism and allegations of resource exploitation, particularly diamond looting, with Zvinavashe among those named in the reports.

Retirement and Sanctions

He retired from military service in December 2003 and was succeeded by General Constantino Chiwenga. That same year, the European Union and the United States placed him on targeted sanctions lists, citing political and human rights concerns. These restrictions remained in place until his death.

Political Career and Final Years

Following his military career, Zvinavashe entered politics. He ran as a ZANU-PF candidate for a Senate seat in Gutu during the 2008 elections but was defeated by Empire Makamure of the MDC. After the elections, he openly acknowledged the opposition’s victory and urged fellow party members to respect the outcome and maintain national peace. He criticized then-President Robert Mugabe for contributing to the party’s electoral losses in Masvingo province.

In early 2009, Zvinavashe returned from Cuba where he had been receiving treatment for liver cancer. He passed away shortly thereafter, on March 10, 2009, at the Manyame Military Hospital. He was survived by his wife, Margaret, and 12 children, and was buried at the National Heroes’ Acre.