Chief Jeremiah Sikireta Chirau,

ICD The International Classification of Diseases (ICD) is a globally used medical classification that is used in epidemiology, health management and clinical diagnostics, diagnosis. The ICD is maintained by the World Health Organization (WHO), which ...

(6 June 1923 – 27 January 1985) was a notable figure among

Rhodesia Rhodesia ( , ; ), officially the Republic of Rhodesia from 1970, was an unrecognised state, unrecognised state in Southern Africa that existed from 1965 to 1979. Rhodesia served as the ''de facto'' Succession of states, successor state to the ...

's chiefs, and during the

UDI Udi may refer to: Places * Udi, Enugu, a local government areas and city in Nigeria * Udi Hills, Enugu State, Nigeria * Udi, a place in the Etawah district of Uttar Pradesh, India People Given name * Udi Aloni (born 1959), Israeli-American film ...

he became the only leader of the

Zimbabwe United People's Organisation Zimbabwe United People's Organisation (ZUPO) was a political party in Zimbabwe file:Zimbabwe, relief map.jpg, upright=1.22, Zimbabwe, relief map Zimbabwe, officially the Republic of Zimbabwe, is a landlocked country in Southeast Africa, b ...

(ZUPO), a party largely comprising chiefs. Born near Makonde, he was awarded a medal for service in

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

. A staunch traditionalist, he was well versed in African customary law.. In 1961 he was appointed acting chief, and eventually rose to chiefship of the communal lands of the Chirau people. Elected to the Council of Chiefs, he became its president in 1973, a position he held until his death. He entered politics in 1970 when he was elected into the Senate. He formed ZUPO in 1976 and was a signatory to the

Internal Settlement The Internal Settlement (also called the Salisbury Agreement HC Deb 04 May 1978 vol 949 cc 455–592) was an agreement which was signed on 3 March 1978 between Prime Minister of Rhodesia Ian Smith and the moderate African nationalist leaders comp ...

. Secret Service contested the resulting elections but failed to win any seats and was subsequently disbanded.

References

Bibliography

*(1976). "Backgrounds of the Four Tribal Leaders." ''

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''. 29 April. *Darnton, John (1976). "Rhodesians Decry Naming of Chiefs." ''New York Times''. 5 May. *(1978). "Jeremiah Chirau." ''

The Globe and Mail ''The Globe and Mail'' is a Newspapers in Canada, Canadian newspaper printed in five cities in Western Canada, western and central Canada. With a weekly readership of more than 6 million in 2024, it is Canada's most widely read newspaper on week ...

''. 27 March. *Mungazi, Dickson (2000). ''In the Footsteps of the Masters: Desmond M. Tutu and Abel T. Muzorewa''. Westport: Praeger. *Ottoway, David (1978). "White Rule Ends Quietly in Rhodesia." ''

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''. 22 March. 1923 births 1985 deaths Rhodesian politicians People from Mashonaland West Province Members of the Senate of Zimbabwe Southern Rhodesian military personnel of World War II Zimbabwe United People's Organisation politicians {{Zimbabwe-politician-stub