Phelekezela Mphoko

Phelekezela Mphoko

Mphoko presenting credentials to Vladimir Putin (2006)
Second Vice President of Zimbabwe
Assumed office
12 December 2014
President Robert Mugabe
Preceded by John Nkomo (2013)
Personal details
Born (1940-06-11) 11 June 1940
Gwizane, Southern Rhodesia
(now Zimbabwe)
Political party Zimbabwe African National
Union-Patriotic Front

Phelekezela Mphoko is a Zimbabwean politician, diplomat and former military commander who has served as Vice-President of Zimbabwe since 2014. Previously he served as Ambassador to Russia and Ambassador to South Africa.

Mphoko was the Zimbabwe People's Revolutionary Army commander in charge of logistics during the Rhodesian Bush War. Just before Zimbabwe obtained its independence, he was appointed as Zimbabwe African People's Union's Representative to Mozambique. He met and worked with Joe Modise, Jacob Zuma and other top African National Congress brass. He has also served as Zimbabwe's Ambassador to Botswana and Russia before being transferred to Pretoria as Ambassador to South Africa.[1][2][3] He was also part of the five man Zipa Command that was a joint operation between Zanla and Zipra.

On 10 December 2014, President Robert Mugabe appointed Mphoko as Vice-President of Zimbabwe, alongside Emmerson Mnangagwa, who would be the more senior of the two. As of December 22, 2014 Mphoko has been staying in a hotel in Harare despite being built a 3 million dollar Mansion.[4] Mugabe also assigned Mphoko the ministerial portfolio of national healing, peace and reconciliation.[5][6] He was sworn in as Vice-President on 12 December 2014.[7] On 6 July 2015, Mugabe assigned Mphoko responsibility for the coordination and implementation of policy.[8]

References

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