1. Solomon Mujuru was an influential figure in Zimbabwe's post-independence politics.
17 Facts About Solomon Mujuru
1. 2.
Solomon Mujuru was generally regarded as one of the most feared men in Zimbabwe.
3.
Solomon Mujuru was born Solomon Tapfumaneyi Mutusva Mujuru in Enkeldoorn, Southern Rhodesia.
4.
Solomon Mujuru was first arrested for his activism while a student at Zimuto High School and later joined the youth league of the Zimbabwe African People's Union.
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Solomon Mujuru was detained again by the Rhodesian authorities in 1966 and sentenced to two years' imprisonment.
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Mugabe, along with Edgar Tekere, subsequently slipped into Mozambique after their release, with assistance from chief Rekayi Tangwena, where Solomon Mujuru petitioned the insurgents to accept Mugabe as their leader.
7.
In 1976, Solomon Mujuru was appointed military chief of the Patriotic Front, a theoretical amalgamation of ZAPU and Mugabe's Zimbabwe African National Union.
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Solomon Mujuru was appointed chief of the army following the resignation of Lieutenant-General Peter Walls, and retired in 1992 to go into business.
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Solomon Mujuru was the only person believed to have had the stature to challenge Mugabe during party meetings.
10.
Newspaper reports claimed Solomon Mujuru had been under house arrest and 24-hour surveillance between 2007 and 2008 for his role in attempting to oust Mugabe.
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Solomon Mujuru was a successful businessman and commercial farmer, who both advocated and benefitted from indigenisation and black economic empowerment in Zimbabwe.
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Solomon Mujuru had diverse business ventures, which included mining, agriculture, transport, tourism and investment in the construction industry.
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Solomon Mujuru farmed with tobacco, maize and game at Alamein Farm.
14.
Solomon Mujuru died in a fire in the early hours of the night of 15 August 2011, at the homestead of Alamein Farm, in circumstances that many commentators suggest were suspicious.
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Solomon Mujuru had left groceries and his cell phone in his car, something he had never done before.
16.
The coroner investigating Solomon Mujuru's death concluded he had died of smoke inhalation, but Solomon Mujuru's family lacks confidence in the coroner's findings.
17.
Solomon Mujuru's remains are located at Heroes' Acre, a memorial in Zimbabwe.