This is a list of notable Zimbabweans. This list includes people born in Zimbabwe, notably of Zimbabwean descent, or otherwise strongly associated to Zimbabwe.

Contents

• Academics
• Actors
• Artists
• Businesspeople
• Military personnel
• Musicians
• Politicians
• Sportspeople
• Cricketers
• Footballers
• Others
• Writers
• Others 2
• References

Academics

• Gordon Chavunduka (1931–2013), sociologist and traditional healer, Vice Chancellor of the University of Zimbabwe
• Tonderai Kasu, medical doctor and Substantive Director of Health and Environmental Services for Chitungwiza
• Joseph Landsberg (born 1938), forestry scientist, author, science administrator and consultant, awarded 2020 Marcus Wallenberg Prize
• Fadzayi Mahere (born 1985), lawyer and critic of the government, independent candidate in Zimbabwean general election, 2018
• Collen Masimirembwa, professor of clinical pharmacology
• Mufti Ismail ibn Musa Menk (born 1975), Muslim cleric (Ulama), Islamic proselytiser, motivational speaker

Actors

• Steven Chigorimbo (born 1951), actor, producer, and director

• Kudzai Chimbaira, actress

• Danai Gurira, actress

• Charmaine Mujeri, actress
• Jesesi Mungoshi, actress

• Sandra Ndebele, dancer and actress

• Memry Savanhu, Nollywood actress

Artists

• Coster Balakasi (born 1972), sculptor
• Dominic Benhura (born 1968), sculptor
• Richard Chiwasa (born 1947), sculptor
• Pfungwa Dziike (born 1972), sculptor
• Charles Fernando (1941–1995), artist
• Bronson Gengezha (born 1981), sculptor
• Tawanda Kanhema (born 1981/1982), technologist, photographer
• Onias Mupumha, sculptor
• Thakor Patel, painter
• Anthony Sabuneti (born 1974), sculptor
• Ronika Tandi (born 1975), sculptor
• Brian Watyoka, sculptor

Businesspeople

• John Bredenkamp (born 1940), founder of the Casalee Group
• Phillip Chiyangwa (born 1959), founder of the Affirmative Action Group; chair of Native Africa Investments Ltd
• Hazel Crane (1951-2003)
• Codilia Gapare, entrepreneur and magistrate ^[1]
• David Hatendi (1953–2012), former CEO of MBCA Bank Ltd and NMB Bank Ltd, founder of Hatendi Private Equity Advisers
• Strive Masiyiwa (born 1961), founder of telecommunications firm Econet Wireless and Botswana's Mascom Wireless
• Mutumwa Mawere (born 1960), multi-industrialist
• Paul Tangi Mhova Mkondo (1945–2013), insurance guru, property magnate
• Tendai Moyo, founder of Ruka Hair in the UK
• Prag Lalloo Naran (1926–1981), multi-industrialist
• Trevor Ncube (born 1962), newspaper owner
• Divine Ndhlukula, founder of SECURICO

Military personnel

• Happyton Bonyongwe (born 1960), retired major general of the Zimbabwe National Army
• Dumiso Dabengwa (1939–2019), former head of Zimbabwe People's Revolutionary Army (ZIPRA) intelligence
• Azim Daudpota (1933–2017), Pakistani commander of the Air Force of Zimbabwe
• Ken Flower (died 1987), head of the Central Intelligence Organisation
• Ambrose Gunda (died 2007), former brigadier general
• Chenjerai Hunzvi (1949–2001), chairman of the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association
• Alfred Nikita Mangena (1943–1978), commander of ZIPRA
• Elson Moyo, former deputy commander of the Air Force of Zimbabwe and key figure in the 2017 Zimbabwean coup d'état
• Solomon Mujuru (1945–2011), commander of the Zimbabwe National Army
• Perrance Shiri (1955–2020), retired Air Chief Marshal of the Air Force of Zimbabwe
• Jabulani Sibanda, former ZIPRA soldier, president of the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association
• Josiah Tongogara (1938–1979), commander of Zimbabwe African National Liberation Army (ZANLA)
• Vitalis Zvinavashe (1943–2009), first commander of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces

Musicians

Politicians

Sportspeople

Writers

• M. K. Asante (born ca. 1982), Zimbabwe-born American author of Buck: A Memoir
• Catherine Buckle (born 1957), author of children's books shush autobiographical non-fiction
• NoViolet Bulawayo (born 1981), author of We Need New Names , shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize
• Jacob Chikuhwa (born 1940)
• Brian Chikwava (born 1972), writer and musician
• Shimmer Chinodya (born 1957), novelist
• Judy Croome (born 1958), writer
• Tsitsi Dangarembga (born 1959), author and filmmaker
• John Eppel (born 1947), writer
• Petina Gappah (born 1971), writer and lawyer
• Peter Godwin (born 1957), author, journalist, and documentary filmmaker
• Chenjerai Hove (1956–2015), writer
• Wiseman Magwa (born 1962), playwright
• Morgan Mahanya (born 1948), writer
• Onesimo Makani Kabweza (1939–1993), journalist and magazine editor
• J. Nozipo Maraire (born 1966), writer, entrepreneur, and doctor
• Dambudzo Marechera (1952–1987), actor
• Alexander McCall Smith (born 1948), Zimbabwe-born British author of The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series
• Cont Mhlanga, playwright and theatre director
• Charles Mungoshi (1947–2019), writer
• Togara Muzanenhamo (born 1975), poet
• Angus Shaw (born 1949), journalist
• George Shire, scholar, political analyst, and cultural critic
• Wilbur Smith (1933–2021), author of historical fiction
• Yvonne Vera (1964–2005), writer

Others

• Moud Goba, LGBTIQ+ human rights activist
• Chido Govera (born 1986), campaigner for sustainable farming
• Robert Martin Gumbura, former pastor and convicted criminal
• Mavis Moyo, Radio Zimbabwe (ZBC Radio 4) broadcaster

References