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Sibusiso Moyo

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Rtd. Lieutenant General
Sibusiso Moyo
Moyo in 2018
Minister of Foreign Affairs
In office
30 November 2017 – 20 January 2021
PresidentEmmerson Mnangagwa
Preceded byWalter Mzembi
Succeeded byFrederick Shava
Minister for International Trade
In office
30 November 2017 – 20 January 2021
PresidentEmmerson Mnangagwa
Preceded byWalter Mzembi
Succeeded byFrederick Shava
Personal details
Born1960 (1960)
Mberengwa, Southern Rhodesia, Rhodesia and Nyasaland
Died20 January 2021(2021-01-20) (aged 60–61)
Harare, Zimbabwe
Alma materUniversity of Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe Open University
Military service
AllegianceZimbabwe Zimbabwe
Branch/serviceZimbabwe People's Revolutionary Army (1977-1980)
Zimbabwe National Army (1980-2017)
Years of service1977–2017
RankLieutenant General
Battles/warsRhodesian Bush War

Sibusiso Busi Moyo (SB Moyo) (1960 – 20 January 2021) was a Zimbabwean politician and army Lieutenant general. He was noted for announcing the ousting of Robert Mugabe on national television during the 2017 Zimbabwean coup d'état. He went on to serve as Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade in the cabinet of Emmerson Mnangagwa from November 2017 until his death.[1]

Early life

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Moyo was born at Mnene Mission Hospital in Mberengwa in 1960. He was the third of eight children.[2] While studying at Manama Secondary School, he joined the liberation struggle in 1977.[2] He earned a Masters in International Relations and a PhD in International Relations from the University of Zimbabwe, as well as a Masters in Business Administration from the Zimbabwe Open University.[3]

Career

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SB Moyo served as a major general in the Zimbabwe National Army, before being promoted to lieutenant general on retirement in December 2017.[4] He was promoted from brigadier general to major general by former President Robert Mugabe in January 2016.[5][6]

Moyo gave a statement to state broadcaster Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation on 15 November 2017, one day after the house arrest of Mugabe.[4] He denied that a coup had taken place, stating that "the president … and his family are safe and sound and their security is guaranteed", and that the military were "only targeting criminals around [Mugabe] who are committing crimes... that are causing social and economic suffering in the country".[4] Moyo went on to confirm that "[a]s soon as we have accomplished our mission, we expect that the situation will return to normalcy."[7] Three days later, Moyo gave a vote of thanks to all Zimbabweans that marched in solidarity to remove Mugabe outside State House.[4] The announcement role he played in the army stepping in to remove Robert Mugabe as the president of Zimbabwe, coupled with his youthful appearance, earned him the sobriquet "General Bae".[2][8]

Moyo was appointed as Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade on 30 November 2017 by Emmerson Mnangagwa, who replaced Mugabe as President of Zimbabwe.[9] He was one of three members of Mnangagwa's cabinet who was not a member of parliament (the others being Perrance Shiri and Kirsty Coventry).[10] Because of Moyo's public role in ending the Mugabe regime, there was speculation in the Zimbabwean press that Moyo was tapped by Mnangagwa as his successor.[11] Moyo was in attendance at the 2018 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in London.[12]

Personal life

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Moyo was married to Loice Matanda, a judge who also served as ZACC chairperson.[13] Together, they had two sons and 3 daughters.[14]

Moyo died of COVID-19 on 20 January 2021, at a local hospital in Harare.[15][16] He was aged either 60 or 61.[17][18] He was buried in the National Heroes' Acre.[19]

References

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  1. ^ Dzirutwe, MacDonald (20 January 2021). "Zimbabwe's foreign minister dies after contracting COVID-19". Yahoo! News. Retrieved 20 January 2021.
  2. ^ a b c Mugabe, Tendai (21 April 2018). "Meet Sibusiso B. Moyo…The man who read Mugabe the riot act". The Herald. Harare. Retrieved 20 January 2021.
  3. ^ "Nation in shock as Minister SB Moyo dies". The Sunday Mail. Harare. 20 January 2021. Retrieved 20 January 2021.
  4. ^ a b c d "Zimbabwe crisis: Army takes over, says Mugabe is safe". BBC News. 15 November 2017.
  5. ^ Zimbabwe's Foreign Minister & Retired Army Major General Sibusiso Busi Moyo Is Dead
  6. ^ "Mugabe promotes 22 high ranking military officials, several linked to 2008 violence". New Zimbabwe Vision. 8 January 2016.
  7. ^ "Zimbabwe military's statement after seizing power". Reuters. 14 November 2017. Retrieved 20 January 2021.
  8. ^ "Face of 2017 Zimbabwe Military 'Coup' Minister Sibusiso Moyo to Undergo 'Minor Medical Procedure'". VOA Zimbabwe. Voice of America. 20 September 2018. Retrieved 20 January 2021.
  9. ^ "Zimbabwe's Mnangagwa gives key cabinet jobs to military figures". BBC News. 1 December 2017.
  10. ^ "Zimbabwe's president swears in first post-Mugabe cabinet". Associated Press News. 4 December 2017. Retrieved 20 January 2021.
  11. ^ Chan, Stephen (3 May 2018). "Mnangagwa's Zimbabwe inches forward – but where is it headed?". News24. Retrieved 20 January 2021.
  12. ^ "UK, African ministers set to discuss Zimbabwe's possible readmittance to Commonwealth". Reuters. 19 April 2018. Retrieved 20 January 2021.
  13. ^ "Zimbabwe vice president's wife arrested for suspected fraud, money laundering". Reuters. 15 December 2019. Retrieved 20 January 2021.
  14. ^ Chikwati, Elita (20 January 2021). "President mourns SB Moyo". The Herald. Harare. Retrieved 20 January 2021.
  15. ^ "Zimbabwe's foreign minister dies of COVID-19". Al Jazeera. 20 January 2021. Retrieved 20 January 2021.
  16. ^ "Sibusiso Moyo: Zimbabwe foreign minister dies from Covid-19". BBC News. 20 January 2021. Retrieved 20 January 2021.
  17. ^ Mutsaka, Farai (20 January 2021). "Zimbabwe's foreign minister dies of COVID-19 amid resurgence". Associated Press News. Retrieved 20 January 2021.
  18. ^ "Zimbabwe's foreign minister dies after contracting COVID-19". Reuters. 20 January 2021. Retrieved 20 January 2021.
  19. ^ Mahlahla, Justin (27 January 2021). "We will conquer covid-19, says Acting President Chiwenga at historic heroes' triple burial". ZBC News (Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation). Archived from the original on 27 January 2021.
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