This is the biography of Daniel Fortune Molokele, a Zimbabwean pro-democracy human rights lawyer and politician. He is the former Member of Parliament for Hwange Central and former national spokesperson of the Movement for Democratic Change Alliance (MDC-A).
Early Life and Education
Molokele was born in Wankie (now Hwange) on 31 January 1975. His father, Godfrey Majahana Mguni, was a trade unionist and a community leader. His mother, Jane Mpofu, was a preschool educator. Both of his parents were active members of the Zimbabwe African People’s Union (ZAPU).
Molokele attended St Ignatius primary school in Hwange from 1982 to 1988. He then went to boarding schools for his secondary education: John Tallach Secondary School in Ntabazinduna from 1989 to 1992 and Fletcher High School in Gweru from 1993 to 1994.
Daniel Molokele Biography [Image: @molokele/X]
In 1995, he enrolled at the University of Zimbabwe (UZ) law faculty, where he completed his Bachelor of Laws honours degree in 1999.
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Daniel Molokele Activism and Political Career
Molokele was an activist from the time he arrived at the UZ. He was involved in various campus platforms such as the Christian Union, the Matabeleland Development Society, and mainstream student politics. He became one of the most successful student leaders in the history of Zimbabwe, serving as the Secretary-General of the Student Representative Council (SRC) in 1997 and the President of the SRC in 1998.
After graduating from UZ, Molokele worked as a human rights lawyer and a civil society leader. He was the founding director of the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) from 2000 to 2003. He also worked for various regional and international organisations, such as the Southern Africa Regional Programme on Access to Medicines and Diagnostics (SARPAM) and AIDS Accountability International (AAI).
Daniel Molokele Biography [Image: Health Times]
Molokele joined the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) in 1999, and became one of its founding members. He was elected as the Member of Parliament for Hwange Central in the 2018 general elections, representing the MDC Alliance. He was also appointed as the national spokesperson of the MDC-A in 2019.
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In 2022, Molokele was recalled from Parliament by Douglas Mwonzora. In March that year, he contested under CCC in the by-elections and reclaimed the Hwange seat. The following year, he won the seat in the 2023 elections to become a legislator. In February 2024, Molokele quit Parliament following the resignation of Nelson Chamisa as CCC president, alleging contamination.
Daniel Molokele Personal Life
Molokele is married to Dr. Samukeliso Dube, a medical doctor. They have a daughter, Matilda-Jane, who was born in 2006. Molokele is a devout Christian and a soccer fan. He supports Highlanders Football Club and the English Premier League club, Liverpool FC.
References
- Molokele To Resign From Parliament – ZimEye
- MP Daniel Molokele Stands With Villagers In Hwange Chinese Exploration Row – New Zimbabwe
- MP Molokele launches law firm, fulfills his promise to Hwange residents – Nehanda Radio
