# Joshua Nkomo

_Zimbabwean politician (1917-1999)_

Canonical: https://diginpl.com/people/joshua-nkomo
Last updated: 2026-10-31

> Joshua Mqabuko Nyongolo Nkomo (7 June 1917 – 1 July 1999) was a Zimbabwean revolutionary and socialist politician who served as Vice-President of Zimbabwe under Robert Mugabe from 1990 until his death in 1999. He founded and led the Zimbabwe African People's Union (ZAPU) from 1961 until, after an internal military crackdown (known as Gukurahundi) in western Zimbabwe (mostly targeting ethnic Ndebele ZAPU supporters), ZAPU merged in 1987 with Robert Mugabe's Zimbabwe African National Union (ZANU) to form ZANU–PF.

## Quick facts

- **Born:** 19 June 1917 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q470290#P569))
- **Place of birth:** Semokwe ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q470290#P19))
- **Died:** 1 July 1999 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q470290#P570))
- **Place of death:** Harare ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q470290#P20))
- **Citizenship:** Zimbabwe ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q470290#P27))
- **Occupation:** politician; trade unionist; minister; nationalist; secretary ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q470290#P106))
- **Political party:** Zimbabwe African People's Union ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q470290#P102))
- **Education:** Adams College; University of South Africa ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q470290#P69))
- **Positions held:** Second Vice President of Zimbabwe (31 December 1987 – 1 July 1999); prime minister ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q470290#P39))

## About

He was a leading trade union leader, who progressed on to become president of the banned National Democratic Party, and was jailed for ten years by Rhodesia's white minority government. After his release in 1974, ZAPU contributed to the fall of that government, along with the splinter rival ZANU, created in 1963.

In 1983, fearing for his life in the early stages of the Gukurahundi, Nkomo fled the country. Later in 1987, he controversially signed the Unity Accord allowing ZAPU to merge with ZANU to stop the genocide.

Nkomo earned many nicknames, including Umafukufuku in Ndebele, "Father Zimbabwe" in English, and Chibwechitedza ("the slippery rock") in Shona.

## Questions

**When was Joshua Nkomo born?**  
Joshua Nkomo was born on 19 June 1917 in Semokwe.

**What positions has Joshua Nkomo held?**  
Positions held by Joshua Nkomo include: Second Vice President of Zimbabwe (1987–1999); prime minister.

**Where did Joshua Nkomo study?**  
Joshua Nkomo was educated at Adams College, University of South Africa.

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## Sources

- [Wikipedia (English): Joshua Nkomo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joshua_Nkomo) — [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)
- [Wikidata item Q470290](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q470290) — [CC0 1.0](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
- [Image: Joshua Nkomo (1978).jpg by Rob Croes for Anefo (CC0)](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Joshua_Nkomo_(1978).jpg)

## Licence and attribution

Text from the Wikipedia article Joshua Nkomo, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. This page's text is shared under the same licence. Facts from Wikidata (CC0). Image: Joshua Nkomo (1978).jpg — Rob Croes for Anefo, CC0.

## Cite this page

"Joshua Nkomo". DigiNepal. Last updated 31 October 2026. https://diginpl.com/people/joshua-nkomo. Retrieved 6 November 2026.