16 Facts About Joseph Chinotimba

Joseph Chinotimba was born on 23 March 1958 and is a Zimbabwean political figure.

Joseph Chinotimba rose to prominence during the invasions of white-owned commercial farms that started after the 2000 constitutional referendum in Zimbabwe.

Joseph Chinotimba is widely regarded as a militant ZANU-PF cadre with unquestionable allegiance to the old guard of the ruling party.

Joseph Chinotimba is the national vice-chairman of the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association.

Joseph Chinotimba was demobilised from the army at Zimbabwe's independence in 1980 and joined the Harare City Council where he worked as a security guard for the Harare City Council before 2000.

Joseph Chinotimba joined the police section of the Municipal Council in 1982 and eventually became chief inspector.

Joseph Chinotimba is credited with spearheading the violent invasions of commercial farms in Zimbabwe, in collaboration with his mentor and ally, Dr Chenjerai Hunzvi.

In 2006 it was reported that Joseph Chinotimba 'allocated' himself a plot of land in the western suburb of Mabelreign along Clevering Road and built himself a house.

Joseph Chinotimba has led the Zimbabwe Federation of Trade Unions, a grouping that was formed to counter the influence of the restive Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions.

At one time, war veterans led by Joseph Chinotimba invaded the Supreme Court to influence decisions regarding the land question.

In late 2007, Joseph Chinotimba announced his intention to contest the Buhera South constituency, a seat that Kumbirai Kangai had held since 1980, in the March 2008 parliamentary election.

Joseph Chinotimba was successful in being nominated by ZANU-PF as its 2008 candidate for the Buhera South constituency.

On 20 May 2008, SW Radio Africa reported that Joseph Chinotimba led a militia group to murder Chokuse Mupango, popularly known as Nyoka, the election strategist for Nemadziva Naison, who was beaten and stabbed to death.

Joseph Chinotimba's car was used to ferry Nyoka to Mutiusinazita Clinic and then to Birchenough Bridge Mortuary where Joseph Chinotimba and his accomplices disguised Nyoka as a slain ZANU-PF supporter.

Joseph Chinotimba made sure that Nyoka's body was not collected and when it was later collected he made sure that no post-mortem was carried out on the body by first of all instilling fear into the hearts of some of Nyoka's militant sons.

Joseph Chinotimba resigned as chief inspector of the municipal police at the Harare City Council in July 2008 to concentrate on his work in politics and business.