Famous Zimbabwean People
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Birthdate: October 22, 1919
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Kermanshah
Died: November 17, 2013
Birthdate: February 14, 1978
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Grinnell
Danai Gurira is best known as Michonne from The Walking Dead and as Okoye from the Marvel films Black Panther, Avengers: Infinity War, and Avengers: Endgame. She earned a Tony nomination for writing the Broadway play Eclipsed. She has been a UN Goodwill Ambassador and promotes arts and women empowerment.
Birthdate: September 15, 1942
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Zvishavane
Nicknamed The Crocodile, the current Zimbabwean president, Emmerson Mnangagwa, has been one of the harshest rulers his country has seen. Roughly 20,000 people lost their lives during his tenure as the security minister in the 1980s. Once Mugabe’s right hand, he later fell out with him and launched a coup.
4
Nick Price
(Former Zimbabwean Professional Golfer)
Birthdate: January 28, 1957
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Durban
Nick Price is a Zimbabwean golfer who was considered the best player in the world in the mid-1990s; he was ranked number one as per the Official World Golf Ranking. He has won three major championships including two PGA Championships. In 2003, Nick Price was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame.
5
Tendai Mtawarira
(Rugby union player)
Birthdate: August 1, 1985
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Harare
Height: 6'1" (185 cm)
6
Rick Cosnett
(Actor, Producer)
Birthdate: April 6, 1983
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Chegutu
Birthdate: March 5, 1936
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Esigodini
Died: November 10, 2003
Canaan Banana was a Zimbabwean politician, theologian, and Methodist minister. In 1980, Banana became the first president of Zimbabwe, a position which he held until 1987. Ten years later, he made the headlines when he was involved in a highly publicized trial after being accused of being a homosexual. He served six months in prison after being convicted of sodomy.
8
Bruce Grobbelaar
(Association football player, Association football manager)
Birthdate: October 6, 1957
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Durban
Height: 6'1" (185 cm)
9
Alexander McCall Smith(British Writer Known for the Series of Novels ‘The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency’)
Birthdate: August 24, 1948
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Bulawayo
Alexander McCall Smith is a British-Zimbabwean writer best known for his The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series of novels. A lawyer by qualification, he is a respected expert on medical law and bioethics. His books have sold over 40 million copies worldwide and have been translated into 46 languages. Also an amateur bassoonist, he co-founded The Really Terrible Orchestra.
10
Kirsty Coventry
(Zimbabwean Politician and Professional Swimmer)
Birthdate: September 16, 1983
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Harare
Kirsty Coventry is a Zimbabwean politician and professional swimmer. She is the current Minister of Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation in Zimbabwe. A former Olympic swimmer, Kirsty Coventry is best known for winning a gold medal each at the 2004 and 2008 Summer Olympics in Athens and Beijing respectively. Kirsty Coventry is one of the most decorated Olympians from Africa.
11
Joshua Nkomo
(Zimbabwean Revolutionary and Matabeleland Politician)
Birthdate: June 19, 1917
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Semokwe
Died: July 1, 1999
Zimbabwean politician Joshua Nkomo was founder and leader of ZAPU. He was incarcerated for a decade by white minority government of Rhodesia and following his release, ZAPU along with Robert Mugabe's ZANU contributed to the fall of that government. The two parties later merged to become ZANU–PF. Nkomo served as first Second Vice-President of Zimbabwe with Mugabe as President.
12
Strive Masiyiwa
(businessperson)
Birthdate: January 29, 1961
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Zimbabwe
Birthdate: April 8, 1919
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Shurugwi
Died: November 20, 2007
Ian Smith was a politician who served as the prime minister of Rhodesia (today known as Zimbabwe) from 1964 to 1979. Born to British immigrants in the Southern Rhodesian Midlands, he was a controversial figure who personified “White Rhodesia.” While his detractors denounced him as "an unrepentant racist," his supporters hailed him as "a political visionary.”
Birthdate: August 17, 1977
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Dar es Salaam
Birthdate: June 13, 1994
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Mutare
Birthdate: August 8, 1981
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Harare
Birthdate: 1982 AD
Birthplace: Zimbabwe
18
Abel Muzorewa
(Former Prime Minister of Zimbabwe)
Birthdate: April 14, 1925
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Mutare
Died: April 8, 2010
Abel Tendekayi Muzorewa was a Zimbabwean politician best remembered for his service as the Prime Minister of Zimbabwe Rhodesia from 1 June 1979 to 18 April 1980. He also served as a bishop at the United Methodist Church (UMC).
19
Cara Black
(Zimbabwean Former Professional Tennis Player)
Birthdate: February 17, 1979
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Harare
Height: 5'6" (168 cm)
20
Blessing Chitapa
(Zimbabwean Singer)
Birthdate: July 3, 1945
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Marondera
22
Ndabaningi Sithole
(Zimbabwean Political Leader & Founder of a Militant Organization Called Zimbabwe African National Union)
Birthdate: July 21, 1920
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Nyamandhlovu
Died: December 12, 2000
Ndabaningi Sithole was a Zimbabwean political leader best remembered for founding a militant organization called the Zimbabwe African National Union, which fought against the government of Rhodesia during the 1960s and 1970s. Ndabaningi Sithole was also one of the most prolific authors in Rhodesia; he published 12 books including a novel titled The Polygamist.
Birthdate: May 14, 1983
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Harare
Height: 5'5" (165 cm)
Birthdate: February 6, 1959
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Zimbabwe
Died: April 9, 1996
25
Auxillia Mnangagwa
(Zimbabwean Political Figure)
Birthdate: March 3, 1963
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Mazowe
Auxillia Mnangagwa is a Zimbabwean politician best known for her service in the Ministry of Manpower and Development. She achieved popularity when she became the Second Lady of Zimbabwe in 2014. Auxillia Mnangagwa is currently serving as the First Lady of her country.
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Tsitsi Dangarembga
(Novelist)
Birthdate: February 4, 1959
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Mutoko
27
Gary Hocking
(Motorcycle Racer)
Birthdate: September 30, 1937
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Caerleon
Died: December 21, 1962
28
Takudzwa Ngwenya
(Zimbabwean Former Rugby Union Player Who Played On The Wing)
Birthdate: July 22, 1985
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Harare
Height: 5'10" (178 cm)
29
Andy Flower
(Former Zimbabwe's Wicket-keeper and Batsmen)
Birthdate: April 28, 1968
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Cape Town
Height: 5'10" (178 cm)
30
Chelsy Davy
(Zimbabwean Instagram Star)
Birthdate: October 13, 1985
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Zimbabwe
Birthdate: February 21, 1924
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Harare
Died: September 6, 2019
Robert Mugabe was a Zimbabwean revolutionary. He played a major role in the Rhodesian Bush War, which eventually led to the Lancaster House Agreement, resulting in the creation of the Republic of Zimbabwe. Subsequently, Mugabe served as the first prime minister of Zimbabwe and later as its president. A controversial figure, Mugabe is also often criticized for his tyrannical ways.
32
Colleen Madamombe
(Sculptor)
Birthdate: 1964 AD
Birthplace: Harare
Died: May 31, 2009
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Byron Black
(Former Zimbabwean Touring Professional Tennis and Davis Cup Player)
Birthdate: October 6, 1969
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Harare
Height: 5'9" (175 cm)
34
Mark McNulty
(Zimbabwean-Irish Professional Golfer)
Birthdate: March 24, 1953
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Bindura
Height: 5'10" (178 cm)
35
Dambudzo Marechera
(Novelist)
Birthdate: June 4, 1952
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Rusape
Died: August 18, 1987
36
Jim Redman
(Motorcycle Racer)
Birthdate: November 8, 1931
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: London
Birthdate: March 10, 1952
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Gutu
A long-time opponent of Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe, Morgan Tsvangirai was a trade union activist who later also served as the Zimbabwean prime minister, sharing power with Mugabe. He lost his wife in a deadly car crash, in which he was himself injured. He later died of cancer.
38
Wayne Black
(Former Zimbabwean Professional Tennis Player)
Birthdate: November 14, 1973
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Harare
Height: 5'7" (170 cm)
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Scott Vincent
(Zimbabwean Professional Golfer)
Birthdate: May 20, 1992
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Harare
Height: 5'10" (178 cm)
40
Sibongile Mlambo
(Actress)
Birthdate: June 25, 1990
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Zimbabwe
41
Garfield Todd
(Prime Minister of Southern Rhodesia (1953 to 1958))
Birthdate: July 13, 1908
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Invercargill
Died: October 13, 2002
Liberal Rhodesian politician Garfield Todd served as the prime minister of Southern Rhodesia. Born in New Zealand, he later moved to Southern Rhodesia as a Protestant missionary and also opened a clinic there. He lost his political power after his ministers opposed his policy of appeasing Black voters.
Birthdate: February 26, 1914
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Shangani
Died: September 7, 1940
43
Sally Hayfron
(Former First Lady of Zimbabwe)
Birthdate: June 6, 1931
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Ghana
Died: January 27, 1992
Sally Hayfron was the First Lady of Zimbabwe from 31 December 1987 to 27 January 1992. Commonly referred to as Amai (Mother) in Zimbabwe, Mugabe was the wife of Robert Mugabe, a revolutionary and one of the most influential politicians in the history of Zimbabwe. A trained teacher, Sally Hayfron established herself as a campaigner and political activist.
Birthdate: 1951 AD
Birthplace: Belfast
Died: November 10, 2003
A well-known South African socialite and businesswoman, Hazel Crane once smuggled diamonds and worked at a strip club. She had also been a nurse. She was gunned down while traveling in her car to testify against Israeli mafia boss Lior Saat. Her interesting life later became public through her post-humous memoir.
Birthdate: July 10, 1976
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Zimbabwe
46
Michael Mahendere
(Musician)
Birthdate: May 28, 1983
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Zimbabwe
Birthdate: 1845 AD
Birthplace: Matabeleland
Died: January 23, 1894
48
Leonard Zhakata
(Musician)
Birthdate: June 25, 1968
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Zimbabwe
49
Kwayedza Kureya
(British-Zimbabwean Singer)
50
Stella Chiweshe
(Musician)
Birthdate: July 8, 1946
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Mujumi Village
Politics apart, Zimbabwe has been home to distinguished writers, such as Jacob Chikuhwa, John Eppel, Wilbur Smith, notable businessmen like David Hatendi, Strive Masiyiwa, sporting legends as Byron Black, Henry Olonga, Benjani Mwaruwari, gifted musicians such as Brian Chikwava, John Edmond, Jonah Sithole, Simon Chimbetu and so on. Read this section to know more about the life and works of famous Zimbabweans.