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{{Short description|Former head of government in Zimbabwe}}
{{EngvarB|date=August 2014}}
{{EngvarB|date=August 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2022}}
{{refimprove|date=November 2017}}
{{More citations needed|date=November 2017}}
{{Infobox official post
{{Infobox official post
|post = Prime Minister
| post = Prime Minister
|body = the<br />Republic of Zimbabwe
| body = the<br />Republic of Zimbabwe
|insignia = Coat of Arms of Zimbabwe.svg
| insignia = Coat of arms of Zimbabwe.svg
|insigniasize = 125px
| insigniasize = 125px
|insigniacaption = Coat of arms of Zimbabwe
| insigniacaption = Coat of arms of Zimbabwe
|image =
| image =
|imagesize = 120px
| imagesize = 120px
|imagecaption =
| imagecaption =
|style =
| style =
|residence =
| residence = [[Zimbabwe House, Harare]]
|appointer = [[President of Zimbabwe]]
| appointer = [[President of Zimbabwe]]
|appointer_qualified =
| appointer_qualified =
|precursor =
| precursor =
|formation = 18 April 1980<br />11 February 2009
| formation = 18 April 1980<br />11 February 2009
|first = [[Robert Mugabe]]
| first = [[Robert Mugabe]]
|last = [[Morgan Tsvangirai]]
| last = [[Morgan Tsvangirai]]
|abolished = 31 December 1987<br />11 September 2013
| abolished = 31 December 1987<br />11 September 2013
|succession =
| succession =
|salary =
| salary =
}}
}}

{{Politics of Zimbabwe}}
{{Politics of Zimbabwe}}


The '''Prime Minister of Zimbabwe''' was a political office in the government of [[Zimbabwe]] that existed on two separate occasions. The first person to hold the position was [[Robert Mugabe]] from 1980 to 1987 following independence from the United Kingdom. He took office when [[Southern Rhodesia]] became the Republic of Zimbabwe on 18 April 1980. This position was abolished when the constitution was [[Constitutional amendment|amended]] in 1987 and Mugabe became [[List of Presidents of Zimbabwe|President of Zimbabwe]], replacing [[Canaan Banana]] as the [[head of state]] while also remaining the [[head of government]]. The office of Prime Minister was restored in 2009 and held by [[Morgan Tsvangirai]] until the position was again abolished by the 2013 [[Constitution of Zimbabwe]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Mugabe appoints ZANU-PF lawyer as Zimbabwe finance minister|publisher=[[Reuters]]|url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/2013/09/10/uk-zimbabwe-cabinet-idUKBRE9890XN20130910}}</ref>
The '''prime minister of Zimbabwe''' was a political office in the government of [[Zimbabwe]] that existed on two occasions. The first person to hold the position was [[Robert Mugabe]] from 1980 to 1987 following independence from the United Kingdom. He took office when [[Southern Rhodesia]] became the Republic of Zimbabwe on 18 April 1980. This position was abolished when the constitution was [[Constitutional amendment|amended]] in 1987 and Mugabe became [[president of Zimbabwe]], replacing [[Canaan Banana]] as the [[head of state]] while also remaining the [[head of government]]. The office of prime minister was restored in 2009 and held by [[Morgan Tsvangirai]] until the position was again abolished by the 2013 [[Constitution of Zimbabwe]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Chinaka |first=Cris |date=10 September 2013 |title=Mugabe appoints ZANU-PF lawyer as Zimbabwe Finance Minister |language=en |work=[[Reuters]] |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-zimbabwe-cabinet-idUKBRE9890XN20130910 |access-date=17 April 2022}}</ref>


==History of the office==
==History of the office==

===Original office===
===Original office===


Zimbabwe's prime ministerial office owes its origins to the country's predecessor states. The position began with [[George Mitchell (Rhodesia)|George Mitchell]] who became [[Prime Minister of Rhodesia|Prime Minister]] of [[Southern Rhodesia]] in 1933. All subsequent predecessor-states continued with the post until [[Abel Muzorewa]] who became [[Prime Minister of Zimbabwe Rhodesia|Prime Minister]] of [[Zimbabwe Rhodesia]] in 1979 under the [[Internal Settlement]]. The [[Lancaster House Agreement]] brought an independence constitution which made provision for a parliamentary system, with a President as head of state and a Prime Minister as head of government. The presidency was mostly ceremonial; real power was vested with the Prime Minister.
Zimbabwe's prime ministerial office owes its origins to the country's predecessor states. The position began with [[George Mitchell (Rhodesia)|George Mitchell]] who became [[Prime Minister of Rhodesia|prime minister]] of [[Southern Rhodesia]] in 1933. All subsequent predecessor-states continued with the post until [[Abel Muzorewa]] who became [[Prime Minister of Zimbabwe Rhodesia|prime minister]] of [[Zimbabwe Rhodesia]] in 1979 under the [[Internal Settlement]]. The [[Lancaster House Agreement]] brought an independence constitution which made provision for a parliamentary system, with a president as head of state and a prime minister as head of government. The presidency was mostly ceremonial; real power was vested with the prime minister.


The [[Southern Rhodesian general election, 1980|1980 election]] resulted in a [[Zimbabwe African National Union – Patriotic Front|ZANU–PF]] victory with Robert Mugabe becoming Prime Minister and [[Canaan Banana]] President. Mugabe and Banana were returned to office in the [[Zimbabwean parliamentary election, 1985|1985 election]].
The [[1980 Southern Rhodesian general election|1980 election]] resulted in a [[Zimbabwe African National Union – Patriotic Front|ZANU–PF]] victory with Robert Mugabe becoming prime minister and [[Canaan Banana]] president. Mugabe and Banana were returned to office in the [[1985 Zimbabwean parliamentary election|1985 election]].


However, in 1987 the government revised the constitution and made the presidency an executive post. The Prime Minister's post was abolished, and its functions were effectively merged with those of the president. Mugabe ascended to the presidency.
However, in 1987 the government revised the constitution and made the presidency an executive post. The prime minister's post was abolished, and its functions were effectively merged with those of the president. Mugabe ascended to the presidency.


===Restored office===
===Restored office===
{{main|2008–2009 Zimbabwean political negotiations}}


The restoration of the office of prime minister in 2009 was a result of a power-sharing agreement made in September 2008 between Mugabe's ZANU–PF and rival candidate Morgan Tsvangirai's [[Movement for Democratic Change – Tsvangirai|MDC–T]] after the [[2008 Zimbabwean general election|2008 presidential election]] and later [[Second round of voting in the 2008 Zimbabwean presidential election|run-off]]. Mugabe remained president while Tsvangirai was sworn into the office of prime minister on 11 February 2009. Executive authority was shared between the president, the prime minister and the cabinet, with ZANU–PF and the MDC–T sharing portfolio ministries. It was the prime minister's role to chair the council of ministers and act as the deputy chairperson of Cabinet and also oversee the formulation of government policies by the Cabinet. In addition, the prime minister was a member of the [[National Security Council (Zimbabwe)|National Security Council]], chaired by the president and sat alongside the heads of the armed forces, intelligence, prison services and police. According to section 20.1.8 of the 1980 Constitution of Zimbabwe (No. 19) Amendment, the prime minister, vice-presidents and [[Deputy Prime Minister of Zimbabwe|deputy prime ministers]] became ''[[ex officio]]'' members of the House of Assembly without needing to represent parliamentary constituencies, and the party of a constituency-based MP who concurrently served in any of the above offices held the right to nominate non-constituency members to such offices. The post of prime minister did not hold the full executive powers it held during the 1980s and the president remained head of the cabinet. In 2012 Tsvangirai claimed that the power-sharing agreement was not being honoured and that he was not being consulted by the president over some appointments.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Green |first=Adam Robert |date=5 March 2012 |title=Morgan Tsvangirai, Prime Minister of Zimbabwe |work=This Is Africa Online |url=http://www.thisisafricaonline.com/Policy/Morgan-Tsvangirai-Prime-Minister-of-Zimbabwe?ct=true |url-status=dead |access-date=19 February 2014 |archive-date=24 February 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140224105745/http://www.thisisafricaonline.com/Policy/Morgan-Tsvangirai-Prime-Minister-of-Zimbabwe?ct=true }}</ref> The government held a [[2013 Zimbabwean constitutional referendum|referendum]] in March 2013 to approve a new constitution. As a result, the post of prime minister was abolished from 11 September 2013. Tsvangirai and Mugabe both contested the [[2013 Zimbabwean general election|general election]] in July 2013 for the single post of president. Mugabe was elected.
{{main|2008–09 Zimbabwean political negotiations}}


==List==
The restoration of the office of Prime Minister in 2009 was a result of a power-sharing agreement made in September 2008 between Mugabe's ZANU–PF and rival candidate Morgan Tsvangirai's [[Movement for Democratic Change – Tsvangirai|MDC–T]] after the [[Zimbabwean general election, 2008|2008 presidential election]] and later [[Second round of voting in the 2008 Zimbabwean presidential election|run-off]]. Mugabe remained president while Tsvangirai was sworn into the office of Prime Minister on 11 February 2009. Executive authority was shared between the president, the prime minister and the cabinet, with ZANU–PF and the MDC–T sharing portfolio ministries. It was the Prime Minister's role to chair the council of ministers and act as the Deputy Chairperson of Cabinet and also oversee the formulation of government policies by the Cabinet. In addition, the prime minister was a member of the [[National Security Council (Zimbabwe)|National Security Council]], chaired by the president and sat alongside the heads of the armed forces, intelligence, prison services and police. According to section 20.1.8 of the 1980 Constitution of Zimbabwe (No. 19) Amendment, the Prime Minister, Vice-Presidents and Deputy Prime Ministers became ''[[ex officio]]'' members of the House of Assembly without needing to represent parliamentary constituencies, and the party of a constituency-based MP who concurrently served in any of the above offices held the right to nominate non-constituency members to such offices. The post of prime minister did not hold the full executive powers it held during the 1980s and the President remained head of the cabinet. In 2012 Tsvangirai claimed that the power-sharing agreement was not being honoured and that he was not being consulted by the President over some appointments.<ref>{{cite news|author=Adam Robert Green|title=Morgan Tsvangirai, Prime Minister of Zimbabwe|url=http://www.thisisafricaonline.com/Policy/Morgan-Tsvangirai-Prime-Minister-of-Zimbabwe?ct=true|publisher=This Is Africa Online|date=5 March 2012|accessdate=19 February 2014}}</ref> The government held a [[Zimbabwean constitutional referendum, 2013|referendum]] in March 2013 to approve a new constitution. As a result, the post of Prime Minister was abolished from 11 September 2013. Tsvangirai and Mugabe both contested the [[Zimbabwean general election, 2013|general election]] in July 2013 for the single post of President. Mugabe was elected.
===Southern Rhodesia (1923–1970)===
;Political Parties
{{legend2|#FF7F00|[[Responsible Government Association|Rhodesia Party]]|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}<br>
{{legend2|#0087DC|[[United Federal Party|United Party / United Rhodesia Party / United Federal Party]]|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}<br>
{{legend2|{{party color|Rhodesian Front}}|[[Rhodesian Front]]|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}


{| class="wikitable" style="width:90%; text-align:center;"
==Prime Ministers of Zimbabwe (1980–1987; 2009–2013)==

{{big|'''Key'''}}
;''Political parties''
*{{legend|{{Zimbabwe African National Union – Patriotic Front/meta/color}}|[[Zimbabwe African National Union]] (ZANU)|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}
*{{legend|{{Movement for Democratic Change-Tsvangirai/meta/color}}|[[Movement for Democratic Change – Tsvangirai]] (MDC–T)|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
|-
! colspan="2" width=30|#
! {{Abbr|No.|Number}}
! style="width:80px;"| Picture
! width=70|Portrait
! Name<br />{{small|(Birth–Death)}}
! width=25%|Name<br><small>(Birth–Death)</small>
! colspan="3" width=30%|Term of office
! Elected
! width=25%|Political Party
! Took office
! width=7%|Legislature<br /><small>(Election)</small>
! Left office
! [[List of British monarchs|Monarch]]<br /><small>(Reign)</small>
! Political Party
! President
|-
|-
! style="background:{{Zimbabwe African National Union – Patriotic Front/meta/color}}; color:white;"| 1
! style="background:#FF7F00;"|
! 1
| [[File:President Zimbabwe , Robert Mugabe bezoekt Nederland Robert Mugabe , kop, Bestanddeelnr 932-1922.jpg|80px]]
| [[File:Sir Charles Coghlan, circa 1925.jpg|70px]]
| '''[[Robert Mugabe]]'''<br />{{small|(1924–)}}
| [[Sir]] [[Charles Coghlan (politician)|Charles Coghlan]] †<br><small>(1863–1927)</small>
| [[Southern Rhodesian general election, 1980|1980]]<br />[[Zimbabwean parliamentary election, 1985|1985]]
| [[First Cabinet of Southern Rhodesia|•]]
| 18 April 1980 || 31 December 1987
| 1 October 1923
| [[Zimbabwe African National Union|ZANU]]
| 28 August 1927
| [[Canaan Banana]]<br><small>(1980–1987)</small>
| [[Responsible Government Association|Rhodesia Party]]
| 1st<br><small>([[Southern Rhodesian general election, 1924|1924]])</small>
| align="center" rowspan=5|[[George V]]<br />[[File:George V of the united Kingdom.jpg|70px]]<br /><small>(1926–1936)</small>
|-
|-
! style="background:#FF7F00;"|
| ''Post abolished (31 December 1987 – 11 February 2009)''
! 2
|
| [[File:No image.svg|70px]]
|
| [[Howard Unwin Moffat]]<br><small>(1869–1951)</small>
|
| [[Cabinet of Zimbabwe|•]]
|
| 2 September 1927
|
| 5 July 1933
|
| [[Responsible Government Association|Rhodesia Party]]
| rowspan=3| [[Robert Mugabe|Robert<br>Mugabe]]<br><small>(1987–2017)</small>
| rowspan=2|2nd<br><small>([[Southern Rhodesian general election, 1928|1928]])</small>
|-
|-
! style="background:{{Movement for Democratic Change-Tsvangirai/meta/color}}; color:white;"| 2
! style="background:#FF7F00;"|
! 3
| [[File:Morgan Tsvangirai Oslo 2009 A.jpg|80px]]
| [[File:No image.svg|70px]]
| '''[[Morgan Tsvangirai]]'''<br />{{small|(1952–2018)}}
| [[George Mitchell (Rhodesia)|George Mitchell]]<br><small>(1867–1937)</small>
| [[Zimbabwean general election, 2008|2008]]<ref>Appointed to the post of Prime Minister following the [[2008–09 Zimbabwean political negotiations|2008–09 political negotiations]].</ref>
| [[Cabinet of Zimbabwe|•]]
| 11 February 2009 || 11 September 2013
| 5 July 1933
| [[Movement for Democratic Change – Tsvangirai|MDC–T]]
| 12 September 1933
| [[Responsible Government Association|Rhodesia Party]]
|-
|-
! rowspan=5 style="background:#0087DC;"|
| ''Post abolished (11 September 2013)''
! rowspan=5|4
|
| rowspan=5|
|
| rowspan=5|[[Viscount]] [[Godfrey Huggins, 1st Viscount Malvern|Godfrey Huggins]]<br><small>(1883–1971)</small>
|
| [[Cabinet of Zimbabwe|1]]
|
| rowspan=5|12 September 1933
|
| rowspan=5|7 September 1953
|
| rowspan=5|[[United Federal Party|United Party]]
| 3rd<br><small>([[Southern Rhodesian general election, 1933|1933]])</small>
|-
|-
| [[Cabinet of Zimbabwe|2]]
|3
| 4th<br><small>([[Southern Rhodesian general election, 1934|1934]])</small>
|
|-
|[[Emmerson Mnangagwa|Emmerson]]
| [[Cabinet of Zimbabwe|3]]
[[Emmerson Mnangagwa|Mnangagwa]]
| 5th<br><small>([[Southern Rhodesian general election, 1939|1939]])</small>
| align="center" rowspan=3|[[George VI]]<br />[[File:King George VI crop.jpg|70px]]<br /><small>(1936–1952)</small>
|-
| [[Cabinet of Zimbabwe|4]]
| 6th<br><small>([[Southern Rhodesian general election, 1946|1946]])</small>
|-
| [[Cabinet of Zimbabwe|5]]
| 7th<br><small>([[Southern Rhodesian general election, 1948|1948]])</small>
|-
! style="background:#FF7F00;"|
! 5
| [[File:Garfield todd.jpg|70px]]
| [[Sir]] [[Garfield Todd]]<br><small>(1908–2002)</small>
| [[Cabinet of Zimbabwe|•]]
| 7 September 1953
| 17 February 1958
| [[United Rhodesia Party]]
| 8th<br><small>([[Southern Rhodesian general election, 1954|1954]])</small>
| align="center" rowspan=4|[[Elizabeth II]]<br /><br /><small>(1952–1970)</small>
|-
! style="background:#FF7F00;"|
! 6
| [[File:EWhitehead.jpg|70px]]
| [[Sir]] [[Edgar Whitehead]]<br><small>(1905–1971)</small>
| [[Cabinet of Zimbabwe|•]]
| 17 February 1958
| 17 December 1962
| [[United Federal Party]]
| 9th<br><small>([[Southern Rhodesian general election, 1958|1958]])</small>
|-
!
! 7
| [[File:Winston Field 1960.jpg|70px]]
| [[Winston Field]]<br><small>(1904–1969)</small>
| [[Cabinet of Zimbabwe|•]]
| 17 December 1962
| 13 April 1964
| [[Rhodesian Front]]
| 10th<br><small>([[Southern Rhodesian general election, 1962|1962]])</small>
|-
!
! 8
| [[File:Ian Smith 1950s.jpg|70px]]
| [[Ian Smith]]<br><small>(1919–2007)</small>
| [[Cabinet of Zimbabwe|1]]
| 13 April 1964
| 2 March 1970{{refn|Smith's government continued to affirm allegiance to Elizabeth II as "Queen of Rhodesia" following its declaration of independence until 1970, but this was not acknowledged.{{sfn|Wood|2008|p=471}}}}
| [[Rhodesian Front]]
| 11th<br><small>([[Rhodesian general election, 1965|1965]])</small>
|}


; Notes
<small>(1955–)</small>
* † Died in office
|

|2017
==Prime Minister of Zimbabwe Rhodesia (1979)==
|
;Parties
|
{{legend2|{{party color|United African National Council}}|[[United African National Council]]|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}
|[[Emmerson Mnangagwa|Emmerson<br>Mnangagwa]]<br><small>(2017–)</small>

{| class="wikitable" text-align:center;"
|-
! rowspan=2| {{abbr|No.|Number}}
! rowspan=2| Portrait
! rowspan=2| Name<br />{{small|(Birth–Death)}}
! colspan=3| Term of office
! rowspan=2| Political party
! rowspan=2| Election
! rowspan=2| Cabinet
|-
! Took office
! Left office
! Time in office
|-
{{Officeholder table
| order2 = 1
| image = Muzorewa 1978 b.jpg
| officeholder = [[Abel Muzorewa]]
| officeholder_note = {{small|MP for [[Mashonaland|Mashonaland East]]}}
| born_year = 1925
| died_year = 2010
| term_start = 1 June 1979
| term_end = 12 December 1979
| timeinoffice = {{Age in years and days|1979|6|1|1979|12|12}}
| alt_party = United African National Council
| election = [[1979 Rhodesian general election|1979]]
| cabinet = [[Government of Zimbabwe Rhodesia|Government]]
}}
|}
|}

==Prime ministers of Zimbabwe (1980–1987; 2009–2013)==
{{Officeholder table start
| showorder = y
| showimage = y
| officeholder_title = Prime Minister
| showtermlenght = y
| showelection = y
| showaltofficeholder = y
| alt_officeholder_title = [[President of Zimbabwe|President(s)]]
| party_col = 1
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order2 = 1
| image = President Zimbabwe , Robert Mugabe bezoekt Nederland Robert Mugabe , kop, Bestanddeelnr 932-1922.jpg
| officeholder = [[Robert Mugabe]]
| officeholder_sort = Mugabe, Robert
| born_year = 1924
| died_year = 2019
| term_start = 18 April 1980
| term_end = 31 December 1987
| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1980|04|18|1987|12|31}}
| alt_party = Zimbabwe African National Union
| election = [[1980 Southern Rhodesian general election|1980]]
| election2 = [[1985 Zimbabwean parliamentary election|1985]]
| alt_officeholder = [[Canaan Banana]]
}}
|- style="text-align:center;"
| colspan=9| ''Post abolished (31 December 1987 – 11 February 2009)''
{{Officeholder table
| order2 = 2
| image = Morgan Tsvangirai Oslo 2009 B.jpg
| officeholder = [[Morgan Tsvangirai]]
| officeholder_sort = Tsvangirai, Morgan
| born_year = 1952
| died_year = 2018
| term_start = 11 February 2009
| term_end = 11 September 2013
| timeinoffice = {{ayd|2009|02|11|2013|09|11}}
| alt_party = Movement for Democratic Change – Tsvangirai
| election = [[2008 Zimbabwean general election|2008]]{{efn|Appointed to the post of prime minister following the [[2008–2009 Zimbabwean political negotiations|2008–2009 political negotiations]].}}
| alt_officeholder = [[Robert Mugabe]]
}}
|- style="text-align:center;"
| colspan=9| ''Post abolished (11 September 2013 – present)''
{{Officeholder table end}}


==Rank by time in office==
==Rank by time in office==
Line 121: Line 251:
|[[Morgan Tsvangirai]]
|[[Morgan Tsvangirai]]
|{{Age in years and days|2009|02|11|2013|09|11}}
|{{Age in years and days|2009|02|11|2013|09|11}}
|-
|3
|[[Emmerson Mnangagwa|Emmerson]]
[[Emmerson Mnangagwa|Mnangagwa]]
<br />
|
|}
|}


==Living former prime ministers==
==Living former prime ministers==
Following the death of [[Robert Mugabe]] on 6 September 2019, there are no living former prime ministers of Zimbabwe.

There is one living former Prime Minister of Zimbabwe (as of {{Date}}):
<gallery>
File:Robert Mugabe May 2015 (cropped).jpg|<center>'''[[Robert Mugabe]]'''<br>(1980–1987)<br><small>{{birth date and age|mf=yes|1924|02|21}}</small></center>
</gallery>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}


==See also==
==See also==

*[[President of Zimbabwe]]
*[[President of Zimbabwe]]
*[[Deputy Prime Minister of Zimbabwe]]
*[[Prime Minister of Rhodesia]]
*[[Prime Minister of Rhodesia]]
*[[Prime Minister of Zimbabwe Rhodesia]]
*[[Prime Minister of Zimbabwe Rhodesia]]

==Notes==
{{Notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}


==External links==
==External links==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20090309025415/http://www.zimbabweprimeminister.org/ Zimbabwe Prime Minister Online]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20090309025415/http://www.zimbabweprimeminister.org/ Zimbabwe Prime Minister Online]


{{Zimbabwe topics}}
{{ZimbabwePMs}}
{{ZimbabwePMs}}
{{Zimbabwe topics}}
{{Heads of state and government of African states}}
{{Heads of state and government of Africa}}
{{Prime Minister}}
{{Prime Minister}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Prime Minister Of Zimbabwe}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Prime Minister Of Zimbabwe}}
[[Category:Lists of prime ministers|Zimbabwe, Prime Minister of]]
[[Category:Lists of prime ministers by country|Zimbabwe, Prime Minister of]]
[[Category:Heads of government of Zimbabwe|Prime Minister]]
[[Category:Heads of government of Zimbabwe|Prime Minister]]
[[Category:Lists of political office-holders in Zimbabwe|Prime Ministers]]
[[Category:Lists of political office-holders in Zimbabwe|Prime Ministers]]
[[Category:1980 establishments in Zimbabwe]]
[[Category:1987 disestablishments in Zimbabwe]]
[[Category:2009 establishments in Zimbabwe]]
[[Category:2013 disestablishments in Zimbabwe]]

Latest revision as of 05:35, 15 January 2024

Prime Minister of the
Republic of Zimbabwe
Coat of arms of Zimbabwe
ResidenceZimbabwe House, Harare
AppointerPresident of Zimbabwe
Formation18 April 1980
11 February 2009
First holderRobert Mugabe
Final holderMorgan Tsvangirai
Abolished31 December 1987
11 September 2013
Politics of Zimbabwe
Constitution
Government
Legislature
Judiciary
Elections
Administrative divisions
Foreign relations

The prime minister of Zimbabwe was a political office in the government of Zimbabwe that existed on two occasions. The first person to hold the position was Robert Mugabe from 1980 to 1987 following independence from the United Kingdom. He took office when Southern Rhodesia became the Republic of Zimbabwe on 18 April 1980. This position was abolished when the constitution was amended in 1987 and Mugabe became president of Zimbabwe, replacing Canaan Banana as the head of state while also remaining the head of government. The office of prime minister was restored in 2009 and held by Morgan Tsvangirai until the position was again abolished by the 2013 Constitution of Zimbabwe.[1]

History of the office

[edit]

Original office

[edit]

Zimbabwe's prime ministerial office owes its origins to the country's predecessor states. The position began with George Mitchell who became prime minister of Southern Rhodesia in 1933. All subsequent predecessor-states continued with the post until Abel Muzorewa who became prime minister of Zimbabwe Rhodesia in 1979 under the Internal Settlement. The Lancaster House Agreement brought an independence constitution which made provision for a parliamentary system, with a president as head of state and a prime minister as head of government. The presidency was mostly ceremonial; real power was vested with the prime minister.

The 1980 election resulted in a ZANU–PF victory with Robert Mugabe becoming prime minister and Canaan Banana president. Mugabe and Banana were returned to office in the 1985 election.

However, in 1987 the government revised the constitution and made the presidency an executive post. The prime minister's post was abolished, and its functions were effectively merged with those of the president. Mugabe ascended to the presidency.

Restored office

[edit]
Main article: 2008–2009 Zimbabwean political negotiations

The restoration of the office of prime minister in 2009 was a result of a power-sharing agreement made in September 2008 between Mugabe's ZANU–PF and rival candidate Morgan Tsvangirai's MDC–T after the 2008 presidential election and later run-off. Mugabe remained president while Tsvangirai was sworn into the office of prime minister on 11 February 2009. Executive authority was shared between the president, the prime minister and the cabinet, with ZANU–PF and the MDC–T sharing portfolio ministries. It was the prime minister's role to chair the council of ministers and act as the deputy chairperson of Cabinet and also oversee the formulation of government policies by the Cabinet. In addition, the prime minister was a member of the National Security Council, chaired by the president and sat alongside the heads of the armed forces, intelligence, prison services and police. According to section 20.1.8 of the 1980 Constitution of Zimbabwe (No. 19) Amendment, the prime minister, vice-presidents and deputy prime ministers became ex officio members of the House of Assembly without needing to represent parliamentary constituencies, and the party of a constituency-based MP who concurrently served in any of the above offices held the right to nominate non-constituency members to such offices. The post of prime minister did not hold the full executive powers it held during the 1980s and the president remained head of the cabinet. In 2012 Tsvangirai claimed that the power-sharing agreement was not being honoured and that he was not being consulted by the president over some appointments.[2] The government held a referendum in March 2013 to approve a new constitution. As a result, the post of prime minister was abolished from 11 September 2013. Tsvangirai and Mugabe both contested the general election in July 2013 for the single post of president. Mugabe was elected.

List

[edit]

Southern Rhodesia (1923–1970)

[edit]
Political Parties

  Rhodesia Party
  United Party / United Rhodesia Party / United Federal Party
  Rhodesian Front

# Portrait Name
(Birth–Death) 		Term of office Political Party Legislature
(Election) 		Monarch
(Reign)
1 Sir Charles Coghlan †
(1863–1927) 		• 1 October 1923 28 August 1927 Rhodesia Party 1st
(1924) 		George V

(1926–1936)
2 Howard Unwin Moffat
(1869–1951) 		• 2 September 1927 5 July 1933 Rhodesia Party 2nd
(1928)
3 George Mitchell
(1867–1937) 		• 5 July 1933 12 September 1933 Rhodesia Party
4 Viscount Godfrey Huggins
(1883–1971) 		1 12 September 1933 7 September 1953 United Party 3rd
(1933)
2 4th
(1934)
3 5th
(1939) 		George VI

(1936–1952)
4 6th
(1946)
5 7th
(1948)
5 Sir Garfield Todd
(1908–2002) 		• 7 September 1953 17 February 1958 United Rhodesia Party 8th
(1954) 		Elizabeth II

(1952–1970)
6 Sir Edgar Whitehead
(1905–1971) 		• 17 February 1958 17 December 1962 United Federal Party 9th
(1958)
7 Winston Field
(1904–1969) 		• 17 December 1962 13 April 1964 Rhodesian Front 10th
(1962)
8 Ian Smith
(1919–2007) 		1 13 April 1964 2 March 1970[4] Rhodesian Front 11th
(1965)
Notes
  • † Died in office

Prime Minister of Zimbabwe Rhodesia (1979)

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Parties

  United African National Council

No. Portrait Name
(Birth–Death) 		Term of office Political party Election Cabinet
Took office Left office Time in office
1
Abel Muzorewa
Abel Muzorewa
(1925–2010)
MP for Mashonaland East		1 June 197912 December 1979194 daysUANC1979Government

Prime ministers of Zimbabwe (1980–1987; 2009–2013)

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No. Portrait Prime Minister Took office Left office Time in office Party Election President(s)
1
Robert Mugabe
Mugabe, RobertRobert Mugabe
(1924–2019)		18 April 198031 December 19877 years, 257 daysZANU1980
1985		Canaan Banana
Post abolished (31 December 1987 – 11 February 2009)
2
Morgan Tsvangirai
Tsvangirai, MorganMorgan Tsvangirai
(1952–2018)		11 February 200911 September 20134 years, 212 daysMDC–T2008[a]Robert Mugabe
Post abolished (11 September 2013 – present)

Rank by time in office

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Rank President Time in office
1 Robert Mugabe 7 years, 257 days
2 Morgan Tsvangirai 4 years, 212 days

Living former prime ministers

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Following the death of Robert Mugabe on 6 September 2019, there are no living former prime ministers of Zimbabwe.

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ Appointed to the post of prime minister following the 2008–2009 political negotiations.

References

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  1. ^ Chinaka, Cris (10 September 2013). "Mugabe appoints ZANU-PF lawyer as Zimbabwe Finance Minister". Reuters. Retrieved 17 April 2022.
  2. ^ Green, Adam Robert (5 March 2012). "Morgan Tsvangirai, Prime Minister of Zimbabwe". This Is Africa Online. Archived from the original on 24 February 2014. Retrieved 19 February 2014.
  3. ^ Wood 2008, p. 471.
  4. ^ Smith's government continued to affirm allegiance to Elizabeth II as "Queen of Rhodesia" following its declaration of independence until 1970, but this was not acknowledged.[3]
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