Joseph Msika

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Joseph Msika (6 December 1923 — ) has been vice-president of Zimbabwe since 23 December 1999.

He was originally a member of Joshua Nkomo's Zimbabwe African People's Union, but now serves under Robert Mugabe's Zimbabwe African National Union - Patriotic Front.

He was a member of the delegation to the Lancaster House Agreement, that forged independence for Zimbabwe.

On 5 March 2005, Msika was taken into hospital after collapsing at home, apparently having suffered a stroke and a blood clot in his head. ^[1]

At a rally in October 2006 in Bulawayo, Msika dismissed Mugabe's past apology for the 1987 Gukurahundi killings, condemned internationally for the violence it unleashed on mainly rural Ndebele. "When we asked him about the massacres he apologised, but I was not convinced about his sincerity," he said.

[edit] ZAPU

Msika further goaded Mugabe at the rally by claiming that ZANU-PF had been "lying" to the world about being the pioneers in the liberation struggle. "The true history of the liberation struggle should be told. I feel I have a duty to correct this blatant lie ... The struggle to liberate Zimbabwe started in Bulawayo at Stanley Hall, when we formed the African Youth Congress." ^[2]

"At one of the meetings of the youth congress which I chaired, we decided to invite people from Mashonaland to join us in the struggle. If there is anyone who doubts this, they should come forward and challenge me one-on-one," he said.

Cde Msika said four people were approached, namely Enock Dumbutshena, Samkange, Joshua Nkomo and Mwanaka.

"Samkange insulted us, saying he could not work with unschooled people. Dumbutshena also insulted us saying we were unemployable and violent people against the whites. Mwanaka never responded. But Nkomo said what we were planning to do, the road that we would walk, would be a thorny one and said if we were prepared to face it he would join us, which he did," said Cde Msika.

He said it was then that the late nationalist, Dr Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo, became the leader of the struggle.