Prime Minister of Zimbabwe Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Prime Minister of the Republic of Zimbabwe
Coat of arms of Zimbabwe
Residence	Zimbabwe House, Harare
Appointer	President of Zimbabwe
Formation	18 April 1980 11 February 2009
First holder	Robert Mugabe
Final holder	Morgan Tsvangirai
Abolished	31 December 1987 11 September 2013

The prime minister of Zimbabwe was an important political job in the government of Zimbabwe. This position existed at two different times. The first person to be prime minister was Robert Mugabe. He held the job from 1980 to 1987. This was right after Zimbabwe became independent from the United Kingdom.

Mugabe became prime minister when Southern Rhodesia officially became the Republic of Zimbabwe on April 18, 1980. The job of prime minister was later removed from the constitution in 1987. At that time, Mugabe became the president of Zimbabwe. He took over from Canaan Banana as the country's leader.

The prime minister's job was brought back in 2009. Morgan Tsvangirai held this position. However, the job was removed again by the 2013 Constitution of Zimbabwe.

History of the Prime Minister's Job
- How the Job Started
- The Job Returns
Prime Ministers of Zimbabwe (1980–1987; 2009–2013)
Time in Office Ranking
Former Prime Ministers Still Alive
Images for kids
See also

History of the Prime Minister's Job

How the Job Started

Zimbabwe's prime minister job has roots in the country's past. The first prime minister of Southern Rhodesia was George Mitchell in 1933. This role continued through different governments. For example, Abel Muzorewa was prime minister of Zimbabwe Rhodesia in 1979.

The Lancaster House Agreement led to Zimbabwe's independence. This agreement created a system where a president was the head of state. The prime minister was the head of government. The president's role was mostly ceremonial. The prime minister held most of the real power.

In the 1980 election, Robert Mugabe's party, ZANU–PF, won. Robert Mugabe became prime minister. Canaan Banana became president. They were both re-elected in the 1985 election.

However, in 1987, the government changed the constitution. The president's job became much more powerful. The prime minister's job was removed. Its duties were combined with those of the president. Robert Mugabe then became the president.

The Job Returns

The prime minister's job was brought back in 2009. This happened because of a power-sharing agreement. It was made in September 2008 between Mugabe's ZANU–PF and Morgan Tsvangirai's party, MDC–T. This agreement followed the 2008 presidential election.

Mugabe stayed as president. Tsvangirai was sworn in as prime minister on February 11, 2009. Power was shared between the president, the prime minister, and the cabinet. ZANU–PF and MDC–T shared the government ministries.

The prime minister's role was to lead the council of ministers. They also acted as the deputy leader of the Cabinet. The prime minister helped create government policies. They were also part of the National Security Council. This council was led by the president.

The prime minister's job in 2009 was not as powerful as it was in the 1980s. The president remained the main leader of the cabinet. In 2012, Tsvangirai said that the power-sharing agreement was not being followed. He felt the president was not asking for his advice on some decisions.

In March 2013, the government held a vote to approve a new constitution. As a result, the prime minister's job was removed again on September 11, 2013. Both Tsvangirai and Mugabe ran for the single job of president in the general election in July 2013. Mugabe was elected president.

Prime Ministers of Zimbabwe (1980–1987; 2009–2013)

No.	Prime Minister	Took office	Left office	Time in office	Party	Election	President(s)
1	Mugabe, RobertRobert Mugabe (1924–2019)	18 April 1980	31 December 1987	7 years, 257 days	ZANU	1980 1985	Canaan Banana
Job removed (December 31, 1987 – February 11, 2009)
2	Tsvangirai, MorganMorgan Tsvangirai (1952–2018)	11 February 2009	11 September 2013	4 years, 212 days	MDC–T	2008	Robert Mugabe
Job removed (September 11, 2013 – present)