Canaan Banana: Difference between revisions

{{Short description|1st President of Zimbabwe (from 1980-87) to 1987}}

Banana was born in [[Esigodini|Essexvale]] (today Esigodini), a village in [[Matabeleland]], [[Southern Rhodesia]], to an [[Northern Ndebele people|Ndebele]] mother and a [[Lesotho|Mosotho]] father. He was educated at a mission school before studying at [[Epworth Theological College]] in [[Harare|Salisbury]] (today Harare). [[Ordination|Ordained]] in 1962, he worked as a Methodist minister and a school administrator between 1963 and 1966. He was elected Chairman of the [[Bulawayo]] Council of Churches in 1969, holding that position until 1971. From 1971 to 1973, he worked for the [[All Africa Conference of Churches]] and was also a member of the Advisory Committee of the [[World Council of Churches]]. He became involved in anti-colonial politics, embracing [[Black theology|black]] [[liberation theology]] and criticising the [[Rhodesia]]n government under [[Ian Smith]], which had [[Rhodesia's Unilateral Declaration of Independence|declared the country independent]] under white-minority rule in 1965. He became Vice-President of the [[Southern Rhodesia African National Congress|African National Congress]], but soon was forced to flee Rhodesia. He first went to Japan, before moving to [[Washington, D.C.]], [[United States]], where he studied at [[Wesley Theological Seminary]].

In 1997, Banana was arrested in Zimbabwe on charges of [[sodomy]], following accusations made during the murder trial of his former bodyguard, who had killed another officer who had taunted him about being "Banana's homosexual wife". The charges related to allegations that Banana had misused his power while he was president to coerce numerous men into accepting sexual advances.<ref>[[Peter Godwin]] refers to this in his book [[When a Crocodile Eats the Sun]] - A Memoir of Africa.</ref> Though he denied the accusations, he was found guilty of eleven charges of sodomy, attempted sodomy and [[indecent assault]] in 1998. He served six months in prison, and was also [[defrocked]]. He died of cancer in 2003, with sources varying on his place of death.

Banana was born on 5 March 1936, near Essexvale (now [[Esigodini]]), [[Matabeleland]], [[Southern Rhodesia]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Canaan-Sodindo-Banana|title=Canaan Sodindo Banana {{!}} Zimbabwean theologian|work=Encyclopedia Britannica|access-date=18 July 2018|language=en}}</ref><ref name="Telegraph" /> His mother was an [[Northern Ndebele people|Ndebele]], and his father was an ethnic [[Sotho people|Basotho]] who had emigrated from [[Lesotho]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RwfKAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA2011|title=Heads of States and Governments Since 1945|last=Lentz|first=Harris M.|publisher=Routledge|year=2014|isbn=9781134264971|pages=2011|language=en}}</ref> He attended the local Mzinyati mission school, before completing his secondary education at [[Tegwani High School]] in [[Plumtree, Zimbabwe|Plumtree]].<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.pindula.co.zw/Canaan_Banana#cite_ref-nationalarchives_1-2|title=Canaan Banana – Pindula|website=www.pindula.co.zw|language=en|access-date=18 July 2018}}</ref> He later studied at a teacher training institute<ref

name="Bio">"Canaan Banana." Biography Resource Center Online. Gale, 2004.</ref> before earning a diploma in theology at [[Epworth Theological College]] in Salisbury (today [[Harare]]).<ref name=":1" /> He was ordained a [[United Methodist Church|United Methodist]] [[Minister (Christianity)|minister]] in 1962.<ref name="economist" /> Between 1962 and 1966, he worked as a minister, visiting chaplain, and school administrator in Wankie (today [[Hwange]]) and Plumtree.<ref name=":1" /> In 1969, he was elected Chairman of the Bulawayo Council of Churches, an office he held until 1971.<ref name=":1" /> Between 1970 and 1973, he chaired the Southern Africa Content Group, part of the [[All Africa Conference of Churches]]' urban-industrial ministry.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2">{{Cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/canaan-banana-37511.html|title=Canaan Banana|last=Hopkinson|first=Ben|date=24 November 2003|work=The Independent|access-date=18 July 2018|language=en-GB}}</ref> In that capacity, he worked with southern African churches as they adjusted to respond, theologically and practically, to [[Urbanization|urbanisation]] and [[industrialisation]].<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" /> During this time, he was also a member of the Advisory Committee of the [[World Council of Churches]].<ref name=":1" />

}}In the 1960s and 1970s, Banana became active in anti-colonial politics. From the pulpit, he began denouncing Rhodesia's white minority regime and preached a form of [[Black theology|black]] [[liberation theology]].<ref name=":3" /> He published a book entitled ''The Gospel According to the Ghetto'', which included a personalised version of the [[Lord's Prayer]] that began "Our Father who art in the [[Ghetto]]."<ref name=":3" /><ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/news/2003/nov/12/guardianobituaries.zimbabwe Obituary: The Rev Canaan Banana], ''[[The Guardian]]'', 12 November 2003</ref><ref name="janet">{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/the-rev-canaan-banana-730396.html|title=The Rev Canaan Banana|date=12 November 2003|work=The Independent|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101017080207/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/the-rev-canaan-banana-730396.html|archive-date=17 October 2010|url-status=bot: unknown|access-date=11 August 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=81nvZ6ns7zMC&pg=PA341|title=Streams Of Civilization: Cultures In Conflict Since The Reformation Until The Third Millennium After Christ|last=Moes|first=Garry J.|date=2003|publisher=Christian Liberty Press|isbn=9781930367463|pages=341|language=en}}</ref> He embraced a socialist Christian theology, and declared that "when I see a guerilla, I see Jesus Christ".<ref name=":3" />

Although Banana and the UANC were more moderate than ZANU or ZAPU, they still faced persecution from the government. When several other UANC leaders were arrested, he fled from Rhodesia with his wife and children.<ref name=":1" /> At first, he went to [[Botswana]], where he briefly stayed with a minister friend, Ben Hopkinson.<ref name=":2" /> Next, he went to [[Japan]], where he studied at [[Kansai University]] in [[Osaka]].<ref name=":0" /> Finally, he moved to the [[United States]], settling in [[Washington, D.C.]], from 1973 to 1975.<ref name=":0" /> There, he served as the UANC representative to the United States and the [[United Nations]], and studied at [[Wesley Theological Seminary]] from 1974 to 1975, obtained a [[Master of Theology]].<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" />

When many Council members were arrested in the late 1960s, Banana and his family fled to the United States and did not return until 1975. Banana was arrested on his return but was released a year later, kept under house arrest, and then allowed to participate in [[Abel Muzorewa]]'s plans for the country. However, he abandoned that effort and joined ZANU (led by [[Robert Mugabe]]), which was dedicated to overthrowing the Smith administration. Returning to Rhodesia in December 1976, Banana was arrested once more for his support of ZANU; upon the appointment of [[Christopher Soames, Baron Soames|Lord Soames]] as [[Governor of Southern Rhodesia]], he was released from prison.<ref name="Telegraph">{{cite news |title=Canaan Banana |work=The Daily Telegraph |publisher=Telegraph Media Group Limited |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/1446451/Canaan-Banana.html |date=11 November 2003 |access-date=26 June 2008 |location=London}}</ref>

Under the country's new constitution, Banana became the first president in 1980.<ref name="Bio"/> In 1982, a law was passed forbidding citizens from making jokes about his name.<ref name="Telegraph"/><ref name="economist">{{cite news |title=Canaan Banana, clergyman, politician and rapist, died on November 10th, aged 67 | worknewspaper=[[The Economist]]| url=http://www.economist.com/node/2246091 | date=27 November 2003 | access-date=27 June 2016 }}</ref> In 1987, his largely ceremonial<ref name="timessodomy">{{cite news |title=Zimbabwe's Ex-President Convicted of Sodomy | work=[[The New York Times]] (Archives) | url=https://www.nytimes.com/1998/11/27/world/zimbabwe-s-ex-president-convicted-of-sodomy.html | date=27 November 1998 | access-date=8 July 2007 | first=Donald G. | last=McNeil Jr}}</ref> post was taken over by Mugabe, who made himself executive president.<ref name="LATimes1987">[httphttps://articleswww.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1987-06-24/news/-mn-6348_1_white6348-seatsstory.html Zimbabwe Moves to Limit Whites' Role : Legislation Prepared to End a Guarantee of Parliament Seats], ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'', 24 June 1987</ref> Banana then became a diplomat for the [[Organisation of African Unity]] and head of the religious department at the [[University of Zimbabwe]]. He played a large role in bringing the two major groups of independence fighters, [[ZANU]] and [[ZAPU]], together to form the [[Zimbabwe African National Union - Patriotic Front]], a merger that took place in 1988.<ref>{{CitationCite news |last=Times |first=Special to the New York needed|date=July1988-01-01 2007|title=Mugabe Now President of a One-Party Zimbabwe |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1988/01/01/world/mugabe-now-president-of-a-one-party-zimbabwe.html |access-date=2023-05-17 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

In 1997, Banana was arrested in Zimbabwe on charges of [[sodomy]], following accusations made during the murder trial of his former bodyguard, Jefta Dube.<ref name=":3">{{cite webnews

|worknewspaper=[[The Irish Times]]

}}</ref> Dube, a policeman, had shot dead Patrick Mashiri,<ref>[https://books.google.co.ukcom/books?id=ZOtkAAAAMAAJ&q=%22Patrick+Mashiri%22&dq=%22Patrick+Mashiri%22&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiaifKyoJ_eAhUDI3wKHYUMB2cQ6AEIOTAD ''Essays in Honor of Bernth Lindfors''], Volume 2, Barbara Harlow, Africa World Press, 2002, page 210</ref> an officer who had taunted him about being "Banana's homosexual wife".<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20170123154808/https://mg.co.za/article/1997-02-28-zims-presidential-rape-scandal Zim's presidential rape scandal], Mail and Guardian, 28 February 1997</ref> The charges related to allegations from the state prosecutor that Banana had misused his power while he was president to coerce numerous men in positions of service (ranging from domestic staff to security guards, and even members of sports teams for whom he had acted as referee) into accepting sexual advances at [[State House (Zimbabwe)|State House]]. Banana was found guilty of eleven charges of sodomy, attempted sodomy and [[indecent assault]] in 1998. He denied all charges, saying that [[homosexuality]] is "deviant, abominable and wrong", and the allegations made against him were "pathological lies" intended to destroy his political career.<ref name="timessodomy"/> [[Janet Banana]] later discussed her husband's alleged homosexuality and confirmed it, even though she considered the charges against him to be politically motivated.<ref>Taylor, Rebecca. [https://www.theguardian.com/zimbabwe/article/0,2763,637796,00.html 'They say that power corrupts – and it does']. ''The Guardian''. 23 January 2002.</ref>

He fled to [[South Africa]] whilst released on bail before he could be imprisoned, apparently believing Mugabe was planning his death. He returned to Zimbabwe in December 1998, after a meeting with [[Nelson Mandela]], who convinced him to face the ruling. Banana was sentenced on 18 January 1999 to ten years in jail, nine years suspended, and was also [[defrocked]]. He actually served six months in an open prison before being released in January 2001. His wife sought [[political asylum]] in [[United Kingdom|Britain]] in October 2000, under a pre-existing accord.<ref name="Telegraph"/> His son Michael Thabo (died 17 November 2020)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.newzimbabwe.com/canaan-bananas-son-dies-mnangagwa-mourns/|title=Canaan Banana's Son Dies, Mnangagwa Mourns|work=New Zimbabwe|first=Idah|last=Mhetu|date=19 November 2020|access-date=4 November 2021}}</ref> and Michael's wife Caroline Banana were the subject of a 2013 BBC documentary ''Britain on the Fiddle'' investigating welfare benefit fraud in the United Kingdom.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b03hhvsy|title=BBC One – Britain on the Fiddle, Episode 1|publisher=BBC|access-date=23 July 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://nehandaradio.com/2013/02/11/banana-sons-lucky-wife-faces-uk-jail/|title=Banana son's 'lucky' wife faces UK jail – Nehanda Radio|work=Nehanda Radio|date=11 February 2013 |access-date=23 July 2015}}</ref>

On 10 November 2003, Banana died of cancer,<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/3258969.stm Canaan Banana of Zimbabwe dead]. BBC News. 10 November 2003. Retrieved 2008-07-24.</ref> in London, according to a report delivered by the [[Embassy of Zimbabwe, London|Zimbabwean High Commissioner]]. ''[[The Guardian]]'', a London-based newspaper, said Banana had travelled to South Africa, where he eventually died, to receive appropriate treatment for his cancer; however, this assertion relies upon uncorroborated testimonial evidence.<ref name="Bio"/> He was buried in Zimbabwe in late November 2003. President Robert Mugabe called him "a rare gift to the nation" in a radio address.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20090116073141/http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/ArticleNews/TPStory/LAC/20031112/OBBRF12-1 Zimbabwe's first black president, hit by scandal]. ''The Globe and Mail''. 12 November 2003. Retrieved 2008-07-24.</ref> Banana was buried without the full honours that are traditionally reserved for former heads of state. He had also not received the full benefits of a former president, such as a state pension.<ref name="Telegraph"/> The Politburo's Secretary for Information and Publicity, [[Nathan Shamuyarira]], told state radio that "they (the politburo) could not afford Banana hero status as a matter of principle."<ref>[http://www.zic.com.au/updates/2003/25november2003.htm Zimbabwe Information Centre Archives of November 2003] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080719181436/http://www.zic.com.au/updates/2003/25november2003.htm |date=19 July 2008 }}. Retrieved 1 July 2008.</ref>

[[Category:Academic staff of the University of Zimbabwe faculty]]