Joice Mujuru

Joice Mujuru
Mujuru in 2012
First Vice-President of Zimbabwe
In office
6 December 2004 (2004-12-06) – 8 December 2014 (2014-12-08)
PresidentRobert Mugabe
Preceded bySimon Muzenda
Succeeded byEmmerson Mnangagwa
Founder of the National People's Party
President of the National People's Party
Assumed office
since 2017
Preceded byParty founded
Vice-President and Second Secretary of ZANU-PF
In office
6 December 2004 – 8 December 2014
Serving with Joseph Msika
(1999-2009); John Nkomo
(2009-2013); Phelekezela Mphoko
(2014-2017)
PresidentRobert Mugabe
Preceded bySimon Muzenda
Succeeded byEmmerson Mnangagwa
Secretary of the ZANU–PF Women's League
In office
1981–1988
Preceded bySally Mugabe
Succeeded byTsungirirai Hungwe
Personal details
Born
Runaida Mugari

(1955-04-15) 15 April 1955 (age 69)
Mount Darwin, Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe)
Political partyNational People's Party (since 2017)
Zimbabwe People First (2016–17)
ZANU–PF (until 2015)
Spouse
(m. 1977; died 2011)
Children4
Alma materWomen's University in Africa
NicknameTeurai Ropa
Military service
AllegianceZimbabwe African National Liberation Army
Years of service1972–1979
RankCommissar
CommandsSecond-in-Command of Zhunta Camp
Battles/warsRhodesian Bush War

Joice Runaida Mujuru (née Mugari; born 15 April 1955), also known by her nom-de-guerre Teurai Ropa Nhongo, is a Zimbabwean revolutionary and politician who served as Vice-President of Zimbabwe from 2004 to 2014. Previously she had served as a government minister. She also served as Vice-President of ZANU–PF. She was married to Solomon Mujuru until his death in 2011 and was long considered a potential successor to President Robert Mugabe, but in 2014 she was denounced for allegedly plotting against Mugabe. As a result of the accusations against her, Mujuru lost both her post as Vice-President and her position in the party leadership. She was expelled from the party a few months later, after which she formed the new Zimbabwe People First party.