Jonathan Moyo facts for kids

Jonathan Nathaniel Mlevu Moyo (born 12 January 1957) is a politician from Zimbabwe. He served as a government minister in Zimbabwe. He was the Minister of Higher Education from 2015 to 2017. Before that, he was the Minister of Information and Publicity twice. His first time was from 2000 to 2005, and then again from 2013 to 2015. He was also elected to the House of Assembly of Zimbabwe as an independent candidate.

Early Life and Education

Jonathan Moyo was born on 12 January 1957. He grew up with his mother. His father, Melusi Job Mlevu, was a politician. Jonathan Moyo went to Mbiriya Primary School in Tsholotsho North. He then attended Mpopoma High School.

He later studied at the University of Zimbabwe. He also went to the University of Southern California. He earned a Bachelor's degree and a PhD in Public Policy. He also has a master's degree in Public Administration.

Early Career

Before becoming a minister, Jonathan Moyo worked in different roles. From 1988 to 1993, he was a lecturer at the University of Zimbabwe. He taught in the Department of Political and Administrative Studies.

He then worked for the Ford Foundation in Nairobi, Kenya, from 1993 to 1997. After that, he was a visiting professor at the University of Witwatersrand in South Africa. This was from January 1998 to July 2000.

He also served as a spokesman for the Constitutional Commission in Zimbabwe. This was from 1999 to 2000. In 2000, he was the campaign manager for the Zimbabwe African National Union–Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) party.

Political Career in Zimbabwe

Jonathan Moyo became a well-known figure in Zimbabwean politics. He was a member of the ZANU-PF party for many years. He also served as an independent Member of Parliament (MP).

Minister of Information (2000–2005)

Jonathan Moyo first became the Minister of Information and Publicity in July 2000. He held this position until February 2005. During this time, he helped create several important laws. These included the Broadcasting Services Act (BSA) and the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (AIPPA). He also helped with the Public Order and Security Act (POSA).

These laws were meant to control how information was shared. They also aimed to manage public gatherings. Some people criticized these laws. They felt the laws limited freedom of speech.

After leaving this role, Moyo said he was not the main person behind these laws. He also had many disagreements with the media during this period.

Independent Member of Parliament

After being expelled from ZANU-PF in 2005, Jonathan Moyo ran as an independent candidate. He won the parliamentary seat for Tsholotsho. This was a significant win for an independent candidate.

He was re-elected as an independent MP in 2008. He represented the Tsholotsho North constituency. He was the first independent candidate in Zimbabwe to win re-election.

Return to Cabinet (2013–2017)

Even after losing his seat in the 2013 elections, President Robert Mugabe appointed him as Minister of Information again. This was in September 2013.

In July 2015, he was given a new role. He became the Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development. He held this position until November 2017.

Political Changes in 2017

In November 2017, Jonathan Moyo was expelled from the ZANU-PF party. This happened during a time of major political changes in Zimbabwe. Many other politicians from a group called G40 were also removed from the party. After this, Moyo left the country.

Connection to Tsholotsho

Jonathan Moyo has a strong connection to Tsholotsho. This is his family's home area. He has supported the community through various programs. These include scholarship programs for students. He also supported sports activities for many years.

His support for the community was especially noticeable before elections. This made him a popular figure in the area. He won the parliamentary seat for Tsholotsho several times.

Appointments and Roles

• Lecturer at the University of Zimbabwe (1988–1993)
• Programme Officer for the Ford Foundation (1993–1997)
• Visiting Professor at the University of Witwatersrand (1998–2000)
• Spokesman for the Constitutional Commission (1999–2000)
• General Election Campaign Manager for Zimbabwe African National Union–Patriotic Front (2000)
• Minister of Information in the Government of Zimbabwe (2000–2005)
• Member of the Central Committee, Zimbabwe African National Union–Patriotic Front (2000–2004)
• Independent MP for Tsholotsho (2005–2011)
• Member of ZANU PF (2011–2017)
• Minister of Information in the Government of Zimbabwe (2013–2015)
• Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development (2015–2017)