This is the biography of George Charamba, the Deputy Chief Secretary-Presidential Communications in the Office of the President of Zimbabwe. He also served as the former Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Information of Zimbabwe. His position makes him the official spokesperson for President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
Early Life and Education
George Shondo Charamba was born on 4 April 1963 in Southern Rhodesia, now Zimbabwe. He attended Hartzell High School and later earned a degree in English from the University of Zimbabwe. He was also a recipient of the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office Chevening Scholarship, which enabled him to complete a Master’s degree in Journalism and Media Studies at Cardiff University.
George Charamba Career in Government
In 2000, Charamba entered the political arena when he was appointed to Robert Mugabe’s government. His role primarily involved serving as a government spokesperson and later as the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Information. During this period, he became a prominent figure in government media, advocating for the ruling party and dismissing opposition parties as Western-backed entities.
George Charamba Biography [Image: @jamwanda2/X]
Charamba’s tenure as government spokesperson was marked by robust defense of Mugabe’s administration. He staunchly supported the ruling party’s policies and actions, often using assertive language to counter Western criticism. His infamous declaration that the “West could go hang a thousand times” exemplified his unwavering loyalty to Mugabe’s regime.
George Charamba Departure from the Ministry of Information
Following Jonathan Moyo’s departure from the information ministry, Charamba’s prominence increased. He effectively became the de facto government spokesperson, advocating for Mugabe’s administration. However, in 2018, newly elected President Emmerson Mnangagwa appointed Nick Mangwana to replace Charamba as the Information and Broadcasting Services Permanent Secretary.
ALSO READ: Makanakaishe Charamba Biography | Parents, Age, Education, Career as a Sprinter
George Charamba Personal Life
Charamba has three children with his former wife, the late Dr Rudo Grace Gwata-Charamba. Two of the children are Komborero and Makanakaishe Charamba, the 2024 Paris Olympics Men’s 200m finalist.
George Charamba Biography [Image: @jamwanda2/X]
Charamba’s brother, Tinashe “Zvichemo” Charamba, passed away on October 2, 2021. Charamba also lost two wives: Idaishe Olivia Chengu, who died on May 14, 2017, from liver complications, and his first wife, Dr. Rudo Grace Gwata-Charamba, who passed on October 3, 2021.
In a significant controversy, Charamba was involved in a domestic violence incident on February 24, 2004, where he was accused of assaulting Dr Gwata-Charamba after she claimed he had infected her with HIV. Reports suggested that police arrested him, but the case was allegedly dropped following intervention by then-President Robert Mugabe.
References
- Zimbabwe president reshuffles top ranks of civil service – Reuters
- The day George Charamba bashed his wife – The Zimbabwean
- President Mnangagwa Appoints Nick Mangwana to Replace George Charamba as Information and Broadcasting Services Perm Sec – The Times
