Blessing Chebundo
Member of Parliament Kwekwe Constituency
Assumed office
2000
Preceded byEmmerson Mnangagwa
ConstituencyKwekwe
Secretary MDC Secretary for Health
In office
2001–2005
Member National Executive Committee of the African National Congress
Assumed office
2006
Personal details
Born (1958-10-08) 8 October 1958 (age 65)
 Rhodesia
Political partyMovement for Democratic Change
ResidenceKwekwe
Websitehttp://www.mdc.co.zw
He belongs to the 'Tsvangirai MDC Faction'

Blessing Chebundo (born 8 October 1958) is a Zimbabwean politician, a member of parliament and a leading figure in the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC).[1] He rose to fame by defeating Emmerson Mnangagwa in a contest to represent Kwekwe constituency in the parliament of Zimbabwe in the 2000 parliamentary election.[2][3] Mnangagwa, a heavyweight in ZANU-PF, was predicted to easily win the constituency, but Chebundo won the seat despite threats to his life.[4] As an incumbent, he again defeated Mnangagwa and was re-elected in the March 2005 parliamentary election.[2]

Background

Chebundo is a founder member of the Movement for Democratic Change, a political party that was formed in September 1999. He has represented Kwekwe constituency in the Parliament of Zimbabwe since the watershed elections of 2000. Before the formation of the MDC, Chebundo had been the vice-chairman of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) for the Central Region; he was also national treasurer of the Zimbabwe Chemical & Allied Workers Union from 1990 to 2000. He served as the MDC's secretary of health from 2001 to 2005 and has been a member of its National Executive Committee since 2006.[1]

MDC split

Chebundo initially joined the 'rebels', led by Welshman Ncube, that broke away from the MDC. However, Chebundo eventually rejoined the main MDC, citing the wishes of the members of his constituency in Kwekwe.[5]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Profile at MDC website Archived 21 January 2008 at the Wayback Machine.
  2. ^ a b Lebo Nkatazo, "After 2 defeats, Mnangagwa opts for rural constituency""After 2 defeats, Mnangagwa opts for rural constituency". Archived from the original on 8 February 2008. Retrieved 8 February 2008.(Retrieved 11 February 2008)
  3. ^ Mugabe Cabinet Crisis "Zimbabwe news". Archived from the original on 11 June 2008. Retrieved 12 February 2008.(Retrieved 11 February 2008)
  4. ^ Terror Tactics "Zimbabwe: Terror tactics in the run-up to parliamentary elections, June 2000 – Amnesty International". Archived from the original on 10 December 2008. Retrieved 12 February 2008.(Retrieved 11 February 2008)
  5. ^ Mutambara Faction hit by defections [1](Retrieved 11 February 2008)


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