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Remembering Jason Ziyaphapha Moyo
15 Aug 2014 at 18:50hrs | Views
Affectionately known as Cde JZ, Jason Ziyaphapha Moyo was born in Plumtree in 1927, near the border with Botswana.
He developed a keen interest in politics and African nationalism at a very tender age while he was doing his primary education at Mzingwane Government School in Esigodini.
Moyo joined trade unionism in Bulawayo in the early 1950s and became an outspoken critic of colonial labour laws that discriminated against Africans in the workplace.
As economic conditions stagnated in Rhodesia, workers became increasingly vocal and Cde Moyo as secretary and chairman of the ANC, organised highly successful national strikes.
A charismatic speaker, Cde JZ was often brutally assaulted, arrested and routinely labeled a 'terrorist'.
He was arrested on 26 February 1959 and detained for three months at Marandellas Prison.
The terms of his appointment gave him full powers to deal with military affairs as chairman of the ANC's external mission.
On 22 January 1977, Jason Moyo, riled by the ever growing colonial domination of Africans by the colonial government in the then Rhodesia, called for increased military aid from the OAU.
Moyo also advocated for unity between ZANLA and ZIPRA forces and helped set up the Patriotic Front which embraced ZANU and ZAPU.
Jason Ziyaphapha Moyo was tragically killed by a parcel bomb explosion at the ANC offices in Lusaka on January 22, 1977.
His remains were reburied at the National Heroes Acre in 1981.
Source - zbc
