List of ambassadors and high commissioners of Zimbabwe to the United Kingdom

Last updated

Ambassador of Zimbabwe to the United Kingdom
Coat of arms of Zimbabwe.svg
Incumbent
Colonel Christian Katsande
since 18 June 2018
Style His Excellency
Appointer Emmerson Mnangagwa
Inaugural holder Sir Francis James Newton
Formation1924 (Southern Rhodesia)
Website Embassy of Zimbabwe to the United Kingdom and Ireland

The ambassador of Zimbabwe to the United Kingdom is an officer of the Zimbabwean Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the head of the Embassy of the Republic of Zimbabwe to the United Kingdom in London. The position has the rank and status of an ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary and also serves as Zimbabwe's non-resident accredited Ambassador to Ireland.

Contents

The ambassador is currently Colonel Christian Katsande. Having been a High Commission since Zimbabwe's formal independence in 1980, on Zimbabwe's departure from the Commonwealth of Nations in 2003, the High Commission became an Embassy. Based in Zimbabwe House on the Strand, London, the embassy dates back to the establishment of the High Commission of Southern Rhodesia in 1924 after that colony was granted a limited form of self-government in 1923. The office later became the High Commission of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland from 1954 to 1963, the Southern Rhodesia High Commission from 1963 to 1965, and the Rhodesian Representative Office from 1965 to 1969. Between 2016 and 2018 the office was vacant, as the UK Government had rejected President Robert Mugabe's nominee, Ray Ndhlukula, for his role in the Mugabe government's land seizure program. [1]

Office-holders

Zimbabwe House (former Rhodesia House) at 429 The Strand. 429 Strand (geograph 5388357).jpg
Zimbabwe House (former Rhodesia House) at 429 The Strand.

High commissioners from Southern Rhodesia, 1924–53

IncumbentStart of termEnd of termNotes
Sir Francis James Newton 19241930
John Wallace Downie 19301935 [2]
Stephen Martin Lanigan O'Keeffe19351946 [3] [4]
Kenneth MacKenzie Goodenough19461953 [5] [6]

High commissioners from the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland, 1954–63

IncumbentStart of termEnd of termNotes
Sir Gilbert Rennie May 19541961 [7] [8]
Sir Albert Robinson 19611963 [9]

High commissioners from Southern Rhodesia, 1963–1965

IncumbentStart of termEnd of termNotes
Evan Campbell19631965
Andrew Skeen 22 July 196512 November 1965

Representative from Rhodesia, 1965–1969

IncumbentStart of termEnd of termNotes
Sydney Frederick Brice12 November 196515 July 1969 [10] [11] [12]

High commissioners from Zimbabwe, 1980–2003

IncumbentStart of termEnd of termNotes
Robert Tatira Zwinoira19801984
Herbert Murerwa 1 March 19841990
Stephen Chiketa19911993 [13]
Dr Ngoni Togarepi Chideya19931999 [14]
Simbarashe Mumbengegwi 19997 December 2003

Ambassadors from Zimbabwe, 2003–date

IncumbentStart of termEnd of termNotes
Simbarashe Mumbengegwi 7 December 20032005
Gabriel Machinga20052016
Vacant20162018 [1]
Christian Katsande 18 June 2018date [15] [16]

See also

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References

  1. 1 2 Thornycroft, Peta; Blair, David (6 April 2016). "Britain 'rejects' Robert Mugabe's choice for new Zimbabwe ambassador in London". The Daily Telegraph (London). Retrieved 18 March 2021.
  2. "PERSONAL PARAGRAPHS". The Herald. Victoria, Australia. 27 November 1936. p. 7. Retrieved 19 March 2021 via National Library of Australia.
  3. "Stephen Martin Lanigan O'Keeffe". National Portrait Gallery. Retrieved 18 March 2021.
  4. "No. 34166". The London Gazette (1st supplement). 3 June 1935. p. 3597.
  5. "No. 38628". The London Gazette (1st supplement). 3 June 1949. p. 2796.
  6. "No. 13322". The Edinburgh Gazette . 18 September 1918. p. 3390.
  7. "NEW HIGH COMMISSIONER IN LONDON". Cootamundra Herald. New South Wales, Australia. 18 May 1954. p. 1. Retrieved 18 March 2021 via National Library of Australia.
  8. "Sir Gilbert Rennie". The Times . 13 November 1981. p. 12.
  9. "Sir Albert Robinson". The Daily Telegraph (London). 12 March 2009. Retrieved 18 March 2021.
  10. "No. 43207". The London Gazette (1st supplement). 1 January 1964. p. 52.
  11. "UK severs diplomatic links with Rhodesia". The Canberra Times . Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 25 June 1969. p. 1. Retrieved 19 March 2021 via National Library of Australia.
  12. "Rhodesia quits mission". The Canberra Times. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 16 July 1969. p. 7. Retrieved 19 March 2021 via National Library of Australia.
  13. Mawonde, Abigail (5 August 2016). "Ambassador Chiketa dies". The Herald (Zimbabwe). Retrieved 18 March 2021.
  14. "Ambassador Chideya laid to rest". The Herald. 21 December 2011. Retrieved 18 March 2021.
  15. Chidza, Richard (29 March 2018). "Former soldier to represent Zim in UK". Zimbabwe Situation. Retrieved 18 March 2021.
  16. Chikwati, Elita (16 April 2018). "Katsande appointed Zim ambassador to UK". Zimbabwe Situation. Retrieved 18 March 2021.