Quick Facts
Biography
Gibson Mashingaidze is a serving army general and head of Zimbabwean sports.
History
He was born in Bikita District 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) from Nyika Growth Point in Masvingo province in 1949 in Ushe Village. He went to Ushe primary school and then to Mashoko Primary School. When his father passed on, his mother sold traditional beer for him to go through secondary education. He joined the liberation war in the 70s. He adopted a war name called Comrade Tangaimaona Povo. He rose through the ranks of ZANLA, a guerrilla movement waging a war against the Ian Smith Regime. By the end of the liberation war in 1979 he had risen to become the Political commissar of Manica province (Second in command to Gen Paradzai Zimondi who was the provincial commander then Known as Comrade Tonderai Nyika)
in 1981 he was attested into the Zimbabwe National Army as a Colonel alongside the like of Chief Air Martial Perence Shiri (Rtd), Air Martial Henry muchena (rtd), Lt General Edzai Chimonyo (Commander of the Zimbabwe National Army), Agripa Mutambara (ambassador to Mozambique) and General Philip Sibanda (Commander of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces) and Paradzai Zimondi (prison head). He worked in various capacities in the ZNA one of which was Commander 4 Brigade in Masvingo province.
In 1996 he was involved in a controversial issue when he lambasted the government for neglecting a war veteran called Comrade Musa Mpofu who had died a pauper while he was celebrated guerrilla during the liberation war. It is believed that he was punished by authorities for that.
He participated in the 27 June 2008 presidential campaign together with Major General Rugeje which they heading the Masvingo Province campaign Team.He was put on European sanction list which prevented some ZANU (PF) personalities from visiting the USA and Europe.
He was given a farm in Chiredzi under the land reform program.He has retired as a soldier and is now a farmer. He has been appointed into several boards in The Sports Commission and Zimbabwe Broadcasting Holdings Board.
