Oppah Chamu Zvipange Muchinguri-Kashiri is a prominent figure in Zimbabwe&#;s political landscape, currently serving as the nation&#;s Minister of Defence since Throughout her distinguished career, she has held several key ministerial roles, including leadership in the areas of higher education, gender development, and technology. A member of the Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF), Muchinguri-Kashiri has left an indelible mark on the political arena in Zimbabwe.
Born on December 14, , in what was then Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe), Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri grew up in Zongoro, a region in the Mutasa District of Manicaland Province. Her early education took place at St. James Zongoro, an Anglican school, and she later attended Hartzell High School for her secondary education.
Her academic journey continued overseas, where she earned a Bachelor of Science with Honours in International Relations and Economics from a U.S. university. She later obtained a Master of Science in Public Administration, also from the United States, and a second MSc in International Relations from the University of Zimbabwe.
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Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri&#;s entry into the political sphere began during Zimbabwe’s war of liberation. She underwent military training in Mozambique and joined the Zimbabwe African National Liberation Army (ZANLA) during the Second Chimurenga, the war that eventually led to Zimbabwe&#;s independence in
Following independence, Muchinguri-Kashiri was appointed as the Private Secretary to Zimbabwe’s first president. This role, which she held until , marked the beginning of a long and varied political career.
Throughout her political career, Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri has held a number of important government posts. In , she became Deputy Minister of State for External Affairs, where she served until Subsequently, she took on the role of Deputy Minister of Environment and Tourism from to Her first full ministerial appointment came in , when she was named Minister of State in the President’s Office, a position she retained until
In , Muchinguri-Kashiri was appointed Minister of Women’s Affairs, Gender and Community Development, a position she held until Later, in , she briefly served as the Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Science, and Technology Development before transitioning to the Ministry of Environment, Water, and Climate in
Since September , she has been serving as Zimbabwe’s Minister of Defence, where her responsibilities include overseeing national defence strategies and military policies.
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Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri&#;s influence within Zimbabwe’s political landscape is significant, particularly within ZANU-PF, the ruling party. She has held key positions in both the party’s Central Committee and Politburo, representing the Manicaland Province. On December 15, , she made history by becoming the first woman to serve as National Chairperson of ZANU-PF.
Muchinguri-Kashiri has faced challenges and controversies throughout her career. She contested in the parliamentary elections but lost to Trevor Saruwaka of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC-T). However, her political resilience was evident when she was reappointed to the cabinet in , following the dismissal of several key figures from the government.
She has also faced international scrutiny, being added to the U.S. sanctions list in In , her comments regarding the COVID pandemic—stating that it was a divine punishment against countries that had imposed sanctions on Zimbabwe—sparked widespread criticism. In , she again courted controversy by accusing China of conducting &#;botched experiments&#; that allegedly led to the global outbreak of the virus, a claim that was widely dismissed by health experts.
Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri&#;s personal life has seen its share of public attention. She was previously married to Tapiwa Rushesha, with whom she had two daughters, Natasha and Tanya. The couple eventually divorced in the s. In , Muchinguri-Kashiri married Bishop Anthony Kashiri, adding a new chapter to her personal life.
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