Josiah Zion Gumede

The Honourable Josiah Zion Gumede GCLM MBE
Josiah Zion Gumede
President of Zimbabwe Rhodesia
In office 1 June 1979 – 12 December 1979
Monarch	Elizabeth II (Rhodesia was recognised as a British colony until 1980)
Prime Minister	Abel Muzorewa
Preceded by	Henry Everard (as President of Rhodesia)
Succeeded by	Canaan Banana (as President of Zimbabwe)
Personal details
Born	19 September 1919 Bembesi, Southern Rhodesia
Died	28 March 1989(1989-03-28) (aged 69) Zimbabwe
Nationality	Zimbabwean
Spouse	Esther Gumede
Relations	Natalie Gumede (grandchild)
Children	4
Residence(s)	Bulawayo, Manxeleni
Occupation	School teacher, Politician, Diplomat
Awards

Josiah Zion Gumede GCLM MBE (19 September 1919 – 28 March 1989) was the first and only president of the self-proclaimed, and internationally unrecognised, state of Zimbabwe Rhodesia during 1979, before Rhodesia briefly reverted to British rule until the country's independence as Zimbabwe in 1980.

Biography

Josiah Gumede was born in Bembesi, in the Bubi District (now in Matabeleland North) of Southern Rhodesia. He was educated at the David Livingstone Memorial Mission and Matopo Mission before matriculating in the Cape Province (South Africa) in 1946. He taught at various mission and government schools and ended his teaching career as a headmaster. He was the assistant information and education attache for the Government of Rhodesia and Nyasaland at Rhodesia House in London between 1960 and 1962, before being appointed First Secretary in the office of the Commissioner for Rhodesia and Nyasaland in Nairobi. He then joined the Ministry of External Affairs (1963–1965).

He was at one time general secretary for the then African Teachers' Association of Rhodesia; a member of the Wankie Disaster Relief Fund's Board of Trustees; a director of the Tribal Trust Land Development Corporation; and a board member of the National Free Library of Rhodesia. He was also an ordained elder of the Presbyterian Church of South Africa.

Gumede was the grandfather of British television actress, Natalie Gumede.

Awards

• Legion of Merit (Grand Commander - Civilian) (GCLM)
• Order of the British Empire (Member) (MBE)

References

• Newitt, Louise (ed). Prominent Rhodesian Personalities (Cover Publicity Services, Salisbury, 1977).