John Nkomo facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
John Nkomo
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| Second Vice-President of Zimbabwe | |
| In office 13 December 2009 – 17 January 2013 |
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| President | Robert Mugabe |
| Preceded by | Joseph Msika |
| Succeeded by | Phelekezela Mphoko |
| Speaker of Parliament of Zimbabwe | |
| In office 1 April 2005 – 5 March 2008 |
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| President | Robert Mugabe |
| Preceded by | Emmerson Mnangagwa |
| Succeeded by | Lovemore Moyo |
| Deputy Leader of the ZANU–PF Party | |
| In office 1 December 2009 – 17 January 2013 |
|
| Preceded by | Joseph Msika |
| Chairman of the ZANU–PF Party | |
| In office 1 January 2006 – 26 August 2009 |
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| Preceded by | Joseph Msika |
| Succeeded by | Simon Khaya-Moyo & Oppah Muchinguri |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 22 August 1934 Southern Rhodesia |
| Died | 17 January 2013 (aged 78) St Anne's Hospital in Harare, Zimbabwe |
| Political party | ZANU–PF |
| Spouse | Georgina Ngwenya |
| Residences | Bulawayo, Zimbabwe |
John Landa Nkomo (born August 22, 1934 – died January 17, 2013) was an important politician in Zimbabwe. He served as the Vice-President of Zimbabwe from 2009 until his death in 2013. Before becoming Vice-President, he held many other important jobs in the government.
He was the Speaker of Parliament from 2005 to 2008. He also served as a minister in the government for many years. In 2008, he became a member of the Senate. In 2009, he was the Minister of State in the President's Office. John Nkomo was a very important person in the Zimbabwe African National Union – Patriotic Front (ZANU–PF) political party. He was the National Chairman of ZANU–PF until 2009. Then, he became the Vice President of the ZANU–PF party, which also made him the Vice President of Zimbabwe.
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Political Journey
John Nkomo started his political journey with Joshua Nkomo's Zimbabwe African People's Union (ZAPU) party. In 1987, ZAPU joined with Robert Mugabe's Zimbabwe African National Union (ZANU) to form the ZANU–PF party.
In May 1990, Nkomo was the Minister of Labour, Manpower Planning, and Social Welfare. Later, he served as the Minister of Home Affairs. In August 2002, he became the Minister of Special Affairs in the President's Office.
After the 2005 Zimbabwean parliamentary election in March 2005, John Nkomo was chosen to be the Speaker of Parliament in April 2005.
Presidential Election Plans
In November 2006, while he was still the Speaker of Parliament, John Nkomo said he wanted to run for president in the 2008 Zimbabwean presidential election. However, he did not end up seeking the nomination because President Robert Mugabe decided to run for re-election.
New Roles in Government
John Nkomo did not run in the 2008 Zimbabwean parliamentary election. But after the election, President Mugabe appointed him to the Senate on August 25, 2008.
In February 2009, a new national unity government was formed. In this government, John Nkomo became the Minister of State in the President's Office.
Many people saw Nkomo as a moderate voice within the ZANU–PF party leadership. On December 12, 2009, he was elected as the Vice President of ZANU–PF by a party meeting. He took over from Joseph Msika, who had passed away a few months earlier.
Two days later, on December 14, President Mugabe officially swore him in as the Vice President of Zimbabwe. There were two vice presidents: John Nkomo (representing the ZAPU side of the party) and Joyce Mujuru (representing the ZANU side). When he was sworn in, Nkomo said he was dedicated to making the national unity government successful. He promised to work hard to help it achieve its goals.
Later Life and Passing
John Nkomo passed away from cancer at St Anne's Hospital in Harare, Zimbabwe, on January 17, 2013. He was 78 years old. He had been a member of the Seventh-day Adventist Church for a long time.
