Jason Ziyaphapha Moyo (1927–1977) was the founder of the Zimbabwe People's Revolutionary Army (ZIPRA).
Moyo was born in Plumtree to a Kalanga family. Having trained as a builder, he became interested in trade unionism in Bulawayo in the early 1950s and became general secretary of the African Artisans’ Union. He joined the Bulawayo branch of the African National Congress (ANC) and became successively its secretary and its chairman.
The JZ Moyo High School was named after him. A major road in Harare, Zimbabwe, Jason Moyo Avenue, is named after him.
Death
Moyo was killed on 22 January 1977 by a parcel bomb which he handled at the Lusaka offices of the ANC. The parcel appeared to have been sent by a woman known to Moyo, living in Botswana. However in an enquiry sponsored by Joshua Nkomo and carried out by Gibson Mayisa, she was cleared as the parcel had not come from there.
References
- ^ "Jason Ziyaphapha Moyo". African Nationalist Leaders in Rhodesia.
- Tshuma, Nduduzo (2020). "Inquiry into Jason Ziyaphapha Moyo's death threatened Zapu's existence". The Chronicle. No. 27 MAR, 2020. Retrieved 26 October 2020.