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Institute of Commonwealth Studies

MANYONDA, Kenneth Vundukayi (b.1934)


IDENTITY STATEMENT

Reference code(s): GB 0101 ICS 108

Held at: Institute of Commonwealth Studies

Title: MANYONDA, Kenneth Vundukayi (b.1934)

Date(s): nd [c1975]

Level of description: Collection (Fonds)

Extent: 1 file

Name of creator(s): Manyonda | Kenneth Vundukayi | b 1934 | trade unionist and politician

CONTEXT

Administrative/Biographical history:

Kenneth Vundukayi Manyonda was born in 1934 in Buhero, in Southern Rhodesia. After completing his education he worked in various jobs in the industrial and commercial sector. He became a member of the African National Congress of Rhodesia not long after its formation, and then joined the National Democratic Party after the banning of the ANC, becoming the local branch secretary of the NDP in Gwelo. After a short period working in Livingstone, Northern Rhodesia, Manyonda returned to Gwelo in 1962, where he was asked to become chairman of the Gwelo branch of ZAPU. Also at this time, Manyonda first became involved in trade union activity. He obtained a post as an accounts clerk for Charles W Hall Ltd., a hosiery manufacturing company, and when workers at the factory decided to form themselves into a branch of the Textile Workers' Union of Rhodesia, Manyonda was elected their chairman. At a national meeting in Gatooma, the Union's name was changed to the United Textile Workers Union of Rhodesia, and Manyonda was elected President.
Following the split in ZAPU and the formation of ZANU in 1963, Manyonda joined the latter organisation. He became vice-chairman of the Gwelo branch, and was increasingly involved in both political and trade union activities. In 1966 he was arrested and began what turned out to be over two years of detention. On his release in 1968, he found himself unemployable in industry. Instead, he obtained a full-time position with his union, first resigning his presidency which had continued during his detention. Manyonda organised the publication of a union newspaper, which led to his election as Publicity Secretary for the African Trades Union Congress. However, he then made the decision to leave Rhodesia, having obtained a British Government grant to study industrial relations in the UK. He arrived in Britain in 1970, with his two young sons, and wrote the autobiographical account while there.
At some date after the writing of this account, Manyonda returned to Rhodesia and ultimately became involved in the Government of the independent Zimbabwe, latterly holding the position of Provincial Governor of Manicaland.

CONTENT

Scope and content/abstract:

Copy of autobiographical account by Kenneth Vundukayi Manyonda, of his trade union and political activities in Rhodesia between c1957-1970, particularly his association with United Textile Workers' Union of Rhodesia, the African Trades Union Congress, the Zimbabwe African Peoples Union (ZAPU) and the Zimbabwe African National Union (ZAPU).

ACCESS AND USE

Language/scripts of material: English

System of arrangement:

One document only.

Conditions governing access:

Open although advance notice should be given. Access to individual items may be restricted under the Data Protection Act or the Freedom of Information Act.

Conditions governing reproduction:

A photocopying service is available, at the discretion of the Library Staff. Copies are supplied solely for research or private study. Requests to publish, or to quote from, original material should be submitted to the Information Resources Manager.

Physical characteristics:

Photocopy of manuscript account

Finding aids:

None

Detailed catalogue

ARCHIVAL INFORMATION

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling information:

Accruals:

Archival history:

Immediate source of acquisition:

The account is presumed to have been donated to ICS by the author.

ALLIED MATERIALS

Existence and location of originals:

Existence and location of copies:

Related material:

ICS holds a number of collections containing material on Rhodesian politics including African National Congress (ICS 1), Ignatius Chigwendere (ICS 12), Canon Leslie Gready (ICS 25), Joe Kennedy (ICS 42), Tim Matthews (ICS 54), Anthony McAdam (ICS 50), Southern Rhodesia Legal Aid and Welfare Fund (ICS 107), D D E Mutasa (ICS 91), Miles Pedder (ICS 58), Rhodesia: UDI (ICS 83), Southern Rhodesia: Ministry of Justice and Southern Rhodesia: Ministry of Native Affairs.

Publication note:

DESCRIPTION NOTES

Note:

Archivist's note: Created 15/11/2000, revised by Alan Kucia as part of the RSLP AIM25 Project, Aug 2001.

Rules or conventions: Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal Place and Corporate Names 1997.

Date(s) of descriptions: Created 15/11/2000 ICS Archives 1, modified 15/11/2000


INDEX ENTRIES
Subjects
Nationalism | Political doctrines
Politics | Political science
Trade unions | Labour relations

Personal names
Manyonda | Kenneth Vundukayi | b 1934 | politician and trade unionist

Corporate names
African Trades Union Congress
ANC | African National Congress x African National Congress x South African Native National Congress
United Textile Workers' Union of Rhodesia
ZANU | Zimbabwe African National Union x Zimbabwe African National Union
ZAPU | Zimbabwe African Peoples Union x Zimbabwe African Peoples Union

Places
Zimbabwe | Southern Africa