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The '''Constitution of Rwizikuru, 1946''' ({{wp|Shona language|weRwizi}}: ''Bumbiro reRwizikuru'') was the {{wp|governing government}} of the [[Rwizikuru#Republic|Republic of Rwizikuru]] during its existence from 1946 to 1964, when the republic was abolished by [[President of Rwizikuru|President]] [[Izibongo Ngonidzashe]] and replaced with the current [[Monarchy of Rwizikuru|monarchy]], with the constitution itself replaced by the ''[[Basic Law of Rwizikuru]]''.
{{Infobox officeholder
|honorific-prefix  = His Excellency
|name        = Samhuri Ngonidzashe
|image        = Léon_M'ba_1964.jpg
|imagesize    = 250px
|caption      = Samhuri Ngonidzashe in 1952
|office      = [[President of Rwizikuru]]
|term_start  = 2 July, 1946
|term_end    = 2 July, 1954
|vicepresident = [[Shungudzemwoyo Nhema]] (1946-1950)<br>[[Vudzijena Nhema]] (1950-1954)
|predecessor = [[Shungudzemwoyo Nhema]] as [[Premier of Riziland]]
|successor = [[Izibongo Ngonidzashe]]
|birthname    = Daniel Samhuri Ngonidzashe
|birth_date  = {{circa|1899}}
|birth_place  = [[Vongai]], [[Rwizikuru|Riziland]]
|death_date  = 2 July, 1961 (age 61-62)
|death_place  = [[Port Fitzhubert]], [[Rwizikuru]]
|alma_mater  =
|nationality  = [[Estmere|Estmerish]] (1899-1946)<br>[[Rwizikuru|Rwizikuran]] (1946-1961)
|profession  =
|party        = [[Mubatanidzwa weRusununguko rweRwizikuru|Rwizikuran National Movement]] (1927-1946)<br>[[Mubatanidzwa weRusununguko rweRwizikuru]] (1946-1959)
|religion    = {{wp|Methodism|High Estmerish}}
|spouse      = [[Kugarakunzwana Ngonidzashe]]
|children    = 9, including [[Izibongo Ngonidzashe]]
<!--Military service-->
| nickname          =
| allegiance        = [[File:Rwizicolonialflaga.png|22px]] [[Rwizikuru|Riziland]]
| branch            = Colonial Militia
| serviceyears      = 1926-1936
| rank              = Warrant officer
| unit              =
| commands          =
| battles            =
| awards            =
| military_blank1    =
| military_data1    =
| military_blank2    =
| military_data2    =
| military_blank3    =
| military_data3    =
| military_blank4    =
| military_data4    =
| military_blank5    =
| military_data5    =
}}


==Constitution (original text, 1946)==
'''Samhuri Ngonidzashe''' (c. 1899 - 2 July, 1961) was an anti-colonial activist who organized the [[Mubatanidzwa weRusununguko rweRwizikuru|Rwizikuran National Movement]], which helped end [[Estmere|Estmerish]] rule over [[Rwizikuru]]. Following its independence in 1946, he was sworn as the first [[President of Rwizikuru]], as per the [[Constitution of Rwizikuru, 1946|constitution of Rwizikuru]].
===Preamble===
:''For over three hundred years, we have been exploited by [[Euclea|Eucleans]], whether they came in the form of [[Estmere|Estmerish]] slavers, [[Gaullica|Gaullican]] settlers, or many others''
:''For over three hundred years, we were mistreated, abused, and looked down upon by Eucleans, and saw our countrymen and our resources sold abroad, with little of the proceeds coming back to us''
:''Despite all the hardships that we have endured for over three hundred years, we have persevered through the hardships, and triumphed over all our enemies''
:''Now, we have received our promised reward: to proclaim the establishment of the Republic of Rwizikuru as a free, independent, and sovereign country!''


===Chapter 1: Governance===
(TBC)
====Article 1: Presidency====
*'''§1''' The head of state shall be the [[President of Rwizikuru|President]]
**'''§1a''' He shall be elected every four years by all citizens over the age of twenty-one (21) years, and may be re-elected exactly once
**'''§1b''' The President must be a citizen over the age of twenty-one (21) years
*'''§2''' He shall serve as the:
**'''§2a''' {{wp|Head of state}} of the Republic
**'''§2b''' {{wp|Head of government}} of the Republic
**'''§2c''' {{wp|Commander-in-chief}} of the [[Royal Rwizikuran Armed Forces|Armed Forces]]
**'''§2d''' Thus, he will have all the duties and responsibilities of these three roles, depending on the situation at hand
 
====Article 2: National Assembly====
*'''§1''' The national legislature of the Republic shall be designated as the [[National Assembly (Rwizikuru)|National Assembly]]
**'''§1a''' The National Assembly shall have 150 legislators, with their distributions subject to change after every decennial census
***'''''i)''''' The seat distribution for the first and second national assemblies, elected both this year, and in 1950, shall be listed in [[#Seat distributions]]
***'''''ii)''''' There shall be 150 districts, with each legislator representing one district
**'''§1b''' The National Assembly shall be elected every four years by all citizens over the age of twenty-one (21), and all candidates must be citizens over the age of twenty-one (21)
***'''''i)''''' Legislative elections shall be held concurrently with the Presidential elections
*'''§2''' The National Assembly is empowered to pass any legislation, providing that it does not conflict with this constitution
*'''§3''' The National Assembly must meet at least once every twelve (12) months


====Article 3: Judiciary====
==Early life==
*'''§1''' The legal system of the Republic of Rwizikuru shall be {{wp|common law}}
Samhuri Ngonidzashe was born sometime in 1899 in [[Vongai]] to [[Mutupo Ngonidzashe]], and Chivaraidzo Ngonidzashe, as the seventh child, and the second son.
**'''§1a''' All laws passed by the Estmerish authorities shall remain in effect until otherwise repealed
*'''§2''' The court system shall be organized as such:
**'''§2a''' {{wp|Magistrates' courts}}, empowered to hear cases involving {{wp|summary offences}}, or any instance of juvenile delinquency
**'''§2b''' {{wp|County Court (England and Wales)|District courts}}, empowered to hear cases involving civil and family law
**'''§2c''' {{wp|Assizes|Courts of the Assizes}}, empowered to hear cases involving {{wp|indictable offences}}, and appeals from both the magistrates' courts and the district courts
**'''§2d''' {{wp|High Court of Justice|High Court}}, empowered to hear appeals from the Assizes
**'''§2e''' {{wp|Military courts}}, empowered to hear cases committed in the [[Royal Rwizikuran Armed Forces|armed forces]], regardless of whether it is a summary or indictable offence
**'''§2f''' {{wp|Court of Appeals}}, empowered to hear appeals from all lower courts
**'''§2g''' [[Supreme Court of Rwizikuru]], the {{wp|court of last resort}}, and hearing appeals from the Court of Appeals
***'''''i)''''' The Supreme Court shall comprise of nine members, appointed by the [[President of Rwizikuru|President]] on the advice of his cabinet, and approved by the [[National Assembly (Rwizikuru)|National Assembly]] with a three-fifths (3/5ths) majority
***'''''ii)''''' The Supreme Court shall be empowered to conduct {{wp|judicial review}} in the event it is unclear that the law conflicts with the constitution


====Article 4: Administrative divisions====
In 1904, he entered the mission school in Vongai, where he was baptized as a {{wp|Methodism|High Estmerian}}, and took the name of Daniel. At the mission school, he was described as having "excellent potential" to be a High Estmerian minister, due to his "quick absorption and application" of the concepts he learned in school. He was seen as being incredibly learned by his teachers.
*'''§1''' The Republic of Rwizikuru shall be divided into twelve (12) districts, with the borders standing as they were prior to independence
**'''§1a''' The government has the right to rename the districts to their native names without altering the constitution
*'''§2''' The powers of the districts shall be any power that the government deems fit to delegate to the districts via law
*'''§3''' Chiefs of the districts shall be appointed by the President, with consultation from the cabinet, although with a 2/3rds majority, the National Assembly may overrule the candidate


===Chapter 2: Rights and freedoms===
While Samhuri Ngonidzashe wanted to continue his studies after he finished compulsory education in 1912, his family's poverty prevented him from continuing his studies. Thus, he was forced to work at his family's farm.
====Article 1: Languages====
*'''§1''' The official languages of the Republic of Rwizikuru are {{wp|Shona language|weRwizi}} and {{wp|English language|Estmerish}}
*'''§2''' All citizens have the right to receive governmental services, information, and to be educated in their official language, and that no person shall be discriminated based on which official language they speak


====Article 2: Religion====
His fortunes started to change when in 1916, he made his first trip to [[Port Fitzhubert]] to find work. There, he found a job as a servant with a white family, and met [[Shungudzemwoyo Ngonidzashe]] there. At his job, he admitted that:
*'''§1''' In light of the existence of {{wp|Christian|Sotirian}} and [[Irfan|Irfanic]] communities, with varying sects among both of them, the Republic of Rwizikuru declares that all people have the right to practice their faith in a legal manner


====Article 3: Democratic rights====
<blockquote>"''While the Fulkers [the family Samhuri and Shungudzemwoyo worked for] paid well, and the work itself was not stressful, the attitudes of the family towards us were counter to the values I had held so dearly: they saw us as lower than them because of our skin, while I believed that we are brothers in {{wp|Jesus Christ|Sotiras}}.''"</blockquote>
*'''§1''' All citizens who are over the age of 21 have the right to vote and run for office, unless convicted of {{wp|treason}} or {{wp|sedition}}


====Article 4: Legal rights====
In 1918, after receiving news that he was to marry [[Kugarakunzwana Ngonidzashe|Kugarakunzwana Mbangwa]], he quit his job and returned to Vongai, where he married her. With his savings, he was able to find a "better life" in Vongai than that of his parents, with him getting a job as a {{wp|lay preacher}} at his old mission school.
*'''§1''' All people in the Republic of Rwizikuru have the right to life, liberty, and security
*'''§2''' All people in the Republic shall have the right to be protected from {{wp|unreasonable search and seizure}}
*'''§3''' No person in the Republic may be detained arbitrarily
*'''§4''' All people in the Republic shall have the right to {{wp|legal counsel}} and to be guaranteed {{wp|habeas corpus}}
*'''§5''' All people in the Republic shall be {{wp|presumed innocent until proven guilty}} in a court of law
*'''§6''' All people in the Republic shall be protected from {{wp|cruel and unusual punishment}} and from {{wp|self-incrimination|incriminating themselves}}
*'''§7''' All people in the Republic shall be treated equally in a court of law


====Article 5: Fundamental freedoms====
However, in 1923, realizing that Gamuchirai would be entering school the following year, he realized that if he stayed in Vongai, his children would not receive an opportunity to better themselves. Thus, he and his wife moved back to Port Fitzhubert, and their home was sold to some white settlers.
*'''§1''' All people in the Republic of Rwizikuru have the right to the {{wp|freedoms of speech}}, {{wp|freedom of thought|of thought}}, and {{wp|freedom of expression|of expression}}
*'''§2''' All people in the Republic shall have {{wp|freedom of the press}} to report on pressing issues unmolested by government or by any private citizen
*'''§3''' All people in the Republic shall have the right to engage in {{wp|freedom of association|free association}} and {{wp|freedom of assembly|assemble}} in public spaces


===Chapter 3: Amendments and limitations===
With the proceeds of the sale of their home in Vongai, they were able to buy a "well-off" home close to the Euclean core of town, and had enough left over to get [[Gamuchirai Mumbengegwi|Gamuchirai]] and [[Izibongo Ngonidzashe|Izibongo]] to attend the [[Charles Fitzhubert School]], as well as find a new job as a lay preacher at a nearby church. He soon made contact again with Shungudzemwoyo Nhema, where he discovered that the Fulker's fired him in 1922 after having spoken up against the Fulker's increasing mistreatment of their Bahian servants.
====Article 1: Amendments====
*'''§1''' Any amendment must first be proposed in the [[National Assembly (Rwizikuru)|National Assembly]]
*'''§2''' Amendments require:
**'''§2a''' a three-fifths (3/5s) majority to alter any article in the first chapter of this constitution, excluding the fourth article of the first chapter, as well as the fourth chapter, and any amendment
**'''§2b''' a two-thirds (2/3rds) majority to alter the fourth article of the first chapter of this constitution
**'''§2c''' a three-quarters (3/4s) majority to alter any article in the second chapter of this constitution
**'''§2d''' a four-fifths (4/5ths) majority to alter any article in this chapter of this constitution
*'''§3''' The President has the discretion to approve the amendment, or not:
**'''§3a''' If the President grants assent, it shall enter into force immediately
**'''§3b''' Else, it returns to the assembly, where the National Assembly has to override the veto with three-quarters (3/4s) of the members voting: if they fail to do so, the amendment fails


====Article 2: Limitation clause====
He noted that the conversation with Nhema:
*'''§1''' In the event that passed legislation violates the constitution, and it is declared unconstitutional by the [[Supreme Court of Rwizikuru|Supreme Court]], it must review whether the legislation can still remain in effect
*'''§2''' The government has the duty to prove during the review that the benefits of the offending legislation outweigh any substantial risks
*'''§3''' Should the Supreme Court accept the government's arguments, the legislation will stay in effect, even if it is declared unconstitutional


====Article 3: State of emergency====
<blockquote>"...''caused my blood to boil in pure and unbridled anger. As we recounted our experiences of racism in our adulthood in Port Fitzhubert, compared to the values that we were taught'' [in school], ''I realized that there is something wrong, something unnatural with [[Estmere|Estmerish]] rule over this land. I couldn't quite place what, but I knew it had to be there.''"</blockquote>
*'''§1''' In the event of insurrection or a natural disaster, the government has the power to declare a {{wp|state of emergency}}
**'''§1a''' The state of emergency can last up to one hundred and eighty (180) days, before it has to be renewed by the [[National Assembly (Rwizikuru)|National Assembly]], though it may be renewed as many times as necessary to deal with the situation
*'''§2''' During a state of emergency, the government has the power to suspend any part of the constitution, and to implement {{wp|martial law}}


===Chapter 4: Technical details===
Over the next few years, many at his church talked to him about the racism that they have faced by colonial officials and by Eucleans who have come to Riziland, and combined with his experiences in dealing with racism directed at him, he began to feel that Estmerish rule was inherently unjust.
====Article 1: Language====
*'''§1''' This constitution shall be valid in any official language
*'''§2''' In the event of a dispute as a result of translation, the {{wp|English language|Estmerish}} version takes priority over the {{wp|Shona language|weRwizi}} version


====Article 2: Citation====
==Military service==
*'''§1''' This document may be cited as the ''Constitution of Rwizikuru'', or the ''Constitution of Rwizikuru, 1946''
By the time the [[Great War (Kylaris)|Great War]] begun in earnest in June 1926, despite his beliefs that Estmerish rule over [[Rwizikuru|Riziland]] was unjust, he enlisted in the colonial militia, saying that "it is better for us natives to deal with the devil we know as opposed to gamble with the devil we don't know."


==Amendments==
After training, he was deployed in October to [[Port Graham]], where he would live for the next five years. In Port Graham, he was assigned to defend the city from Gaullican attack by both sea and land, as Port Graham was the end of the rail line to [[Port Fitzhubert]]. While Port Graham was subject to several bombardments by the Gaullicans during his time in Port Graham, from both sea and air, he never faced a serious attempt by the Gaullicans or their colonial troops in [[Quigomba]] to attack Port Graham. By 1928, he had risen to the rank of Sergeant, and by 1930, to that of warrant officer.
===Additional articles (July 1946)===
====Article 1: Seat distributions====
:''Pursuant to [[#Article 2: National Assembly|the second article of the first chapter]], the seats shall be distributed among the [[Rwizikuru#Administrative divisions|districts]] proportional to their populations in the 1941 census''


*[[Parunoguma|Fitzhubert]] shall receive thirty-seven seats
By 1931, he had been redeployed from Port Graham to [[Rusere]], where he noted that the conditions there were significantly harsher than in Port Graham. In 1933, he fell seriously ill with {{wp|malaria}}, and nearly died from it. However, "divine providence," combined with treatment in [[Port Fitzhubert]] helped him recover from the illness, and he returned to service in 1934, although he was reassigned to Port Fitzhubert as a sentry to guard an armoury.
*[[Yekumavirira|Olongaland]] shall receive thirty seats
*[[Dzakakwirira|Plateau]] shall receive eighteen seats
*[[Zvakawanda|Zakawanda]] shall receive seventeen seats
*[[Ndarira|Graham]] shall receive thirteen seats
*[[Chekumabvazuva (district)|Chekumabazuva]] shall receive eleven seats
*[[Hunidzakafa|Hunizakafa]] shall receive eight seats
*[[Tsungirirai|Sungirai]] shall receive five seats
*[[Sangoguru kumaodzanyemba|South Sangoguru]] shall receive four seats
*[[Mumbengegwi|Mumbengewi]] shall receive four seats
*[[Sangoguru kuchamhembe|North Sangoguru]] shall receive two seats
*[[Nyikaitsva]] shall receive one seat


====Article 2: National symbols====
After the end of the Great War in February 1935, he maintained his position as sentry, while the military downsized, with the threat from Gaullica having passed. In March 1936, he was given a {{wp|Military discharge|honourable discharge}}, allowing him to leave the colonial militia.
*'''§1''' The flag of the Republic of Rwizikuru shall comprise of:
**'''§1a''' Three horizontal stripes of black, red, and green
***'''''i)''''' Black shall represent the subcontinent of [[Bahia]], the {{wp|Africans|Bahians}}, and the soil of the [[Rwizi River]]
***'''''ii)''''' Red shall represent the blood shed by Rwizikurans during the [[Great War (Kylaris)|Great War]], as well as in their struggle for independence from [[Estmere]]
***'''''iii)''''' Green shall represent the nature of Rwizikuru, and the fertility of the nation
**'''§1b''' There shall be two red stars at the corners of the flag, representing {{wp|African socialism|our socialist goals}}
***'''''i)''''' The upper left star shall represent {{wp|anti-imperialism}} and the efforts of the [[Mubatanidzwa weRusununguko rweRwizikuru|Rwizikuran National Movement]] to end colonial rule
***'''''ii)''''' The lower right star shall represent {{wp|socialism}}, and our desire to be part of the socialist community of nations, while adapting it to conditions in Bahia
*'''§2''' The official seal of the Republic of Rwizikuru shall depict a right-facing silver elephant head on a green shield, with no crown or supporters
*'''§3''' The national anthem of the Republic of Rwizikuru shall be ''[[Pasi pemureza wenyika yedu]]''


====Article 3: Citizenship====
==Early political career==
*'''§1''' A citizen of Rwizikuru shall be defined as being:
With the end of the war, he and [[Shungudzemwoyo Nhema]] decided to establish the [[Rwizikuran National Movement]] in 1937. (TBC)
**'''§1a''' Any person who is an Estmerish national by virtue of their connection to the colony of Riziland, and their descendants
**'''§1b''' Any Estmerish citizen who has expressed their intention to stay in Rwizikuru following its independence from Estmere on 2 July, 1946, and their descendants
**'''§1c''' Any person present in the territory of Rwizikuru on 2 July, 1946, who lacked any other nationality


(TBC)
==Personal life==
Samhuri Ngonidzashe married the 18-year old [[Kugarakunzwana Ngonidzashe]] in 1918 in a marriage arranged by their parents. According to Samhuri, their marriage was "fruitful and happy," with the marriage lasting until his death in 1961. Kugarakunzwana Ngonidzashe died in 2014 at the age of 113: at the time of her death, she was the oldest person living in [[Rwizikuru]].


===First Amendment (November 1946)===
Together, they had four sons: [[Izibongo Ngonidzashe]], who was born in 1921 and died in 1979, [[Ingwe Ngonidzashe]], who was born in 1925 and is still living, [[Fred Ngonidzashe]], who was born in 1928, and was executed in 1981 for an [[Port Fitzhubert putsch, 1981|attempted coup]] against the [[Monarchy of Rwizikuru|monarchy]], and [[Shungudzemwoyo Ngonidzashe]], who was born in 1932.
:''Wishing to reflect the reality of a sovereign nation, with a sovereign language, we declare that:''


*'''§1''' The second section of the first article of the fourth chapter shall be revised, so that the {{wp|Shona language|weRwizi}} text shall take precedence over the {{wp|English language|Estmerish}} text
They also had five daughters: [[Gamuchirai Mumbengegwi]], who was born in 1919, and died in 2015 at the age of 91, Tariro Ngonidzashe, who was born in 1923, and died in 1927 from {{wp|smallpox}}, Vimbainashe Ngonidzashe, who was born in 1926, and died in 2016 at the age of 89, and twin sisters [[Tinotendaisheanesu Chimusasa]] and [[Yemurai Kyagumbo]], who were born in 1931.


(TBC)
Samhuri Ngonidzashe was a devout {{wp|Methodist|High Estmerian}}, with his noted propensity for {{wp|plain dress}}, fasting on Sundays, and was a {{wp|teetotaler}}, refusing to drink any alcohol, and his strict adherence to the High Estmerian concept of {{wp|outward holiness}}. He was also noted to be a {{wp|lay preacher}}, often preaching at churches, even during his tenure as [[President of Rwizikuru|President]].

Revision as of 02:08, 15 September 2019

His Excellency
Samhuri Ngonidzashe
Léon M'ba 1964.jpg
Samhuri Ngonidzashe in 1952
President of Rwizikuru
In office
2 July, 1946 – 2 July, 1954
Vice PresidentShungudzemwoyo Nhema (1946-1950)
Vudzijena Nhema (1950-1954)
Preceded byShungudzemwoyo Nhema as Premier of Riziland
Succeeded byIzibongo Ngonidzashe
Personal details
Born
Daniel Samhuri Ngonidzashe

c. 1899
Vongai, Riziland
Died2 July, 1961 (age 61-62)
Port Fitzhubert, Rwizikuru
NationalityEstmerish (1899-1946)
Rwizikuran (1946-1961)
Political partyRwizikuran National Movement (1927-1946)
Mubatanidzwa weRusununguko rweRwizikuru (1946-1959)
SpouseKugarakunzwana Ngonidzashe
Children9, including Izibongo Ngonidzashe
Military service
AllegianceFile:Rwizicolonialflaga.png Riziland
Branch/serviceColonial Militia
Years of service1926-1936
RankWarrant officer

Samhuri Ngonidzashe (c. 1899 - 2 July, 1961) was an anti-colonial activist who organized the Rwizikuran National Movement, which helped end Estmerish rule over Rwizikuru. Following its independence in 1946, he was sworn as the first President of Rwizikuru, as per the constitution of Rwizikuru.

(TBC)

Early life

Samhuri Ngonidzashe was born sometime in 1899 in Vongai to Mutupo Ngonidzashe, and Chivaraidzo Ngonidzashe, as the seventh child, and the second son.

In 1904, he entered the mission school in Vongai, where he was baptized as a High Estmerian, and took the name of Daniel. At the mission school, he was described as having "excellent potential" to be a High Estmerian minister, due to his "quick absorption and application" of the concepts he learned in school. He was seen as being incredibly learned by his teachers.

While Samhuri Ngonidzashe wanted to continue his studies after he finished compulsory education in 1912, his family's poverty prevented him from continuing his studies. Thus, he was forced to work at his family's farm.

His fortunes started to change when in 1916, he made his first trip to Port Fitzhubert to find work. There, he found a job as a servant with a white family, and met Shungudzemwoyo Ngonidzashe there. At his job, he admitted that:

"While the Fulkers [the family Samhuri and Shungudzemwoyo worked for] paid well, and the work itself was not stressful, the attitudes of the family towards us were counter to the values I had held so dearly: they saw us as lower than them because of our skin, while I believed that we are brothers in Sotiras."

In 1918, after receiving news that he was to marry Kugarakunzwana Mbangwa, he quit his job and returned to Vongai, where he married her. With his savings, he was able to find a "better life" in Vongai than that of his parents, with him getting a job as a lay preacher at his old mission school.

However, in 1923, realizing that Gamuchirai would be entering school the following year, he realized that if he stayed in Vongai, his children would not receive an opportunity to better themselves. Thus, he and his wife moved back to Port Fitzhubert, and their home was sold to some white settlers.

With the proceeds of the sale of their home in Vongai, they were able to buy a "well-off" home close to the Euclean core of town, and had enough left over to get Gamuchirai and Izibongo to attend the Charles Fitzhubert School, as well as find a new job as a lay preacher at a nearby church. He soon made contact again with Shungudzemwoyo Nhema, where he discovered that the Fulker's fired him in 1922 after having spoken up against the Fulker's increasing mistreatment of their Bahian servants.

He noted that the conversation with Nhema:

"...caused my blood to boil in pure and unbridled anger. As we recounted our experiences of racism in our adulthood in Port Fitzhubert, compared to the values that we were taught [in school], I realized that there is something wrong, something unnatural with Estmerish rule over this land. I couldn't quite place what, but I knew it had to be there."

Over the next few years, many at his church talked to him about the racism that they have faced by colonial officials and by Eucleans who have come to Riziland, and combined with his experiences in dealing with racism directed at him, he began to feel that Estmerish rule was inherently unjust.

Military service

By the time the Great War begun in earnest in June 1926, despite his beliefs that Estmerish rule over Riziland was unjust, he enlisted in the colonial militia, saying that "it is better for us natives to deal with the devil we know as opposed to gamble with the devil we don't know."

After training, he was deployed in October to Port Graham, where he would live for the next five years. In Port Graham, he was assigned to defend the city from Gaullican attack by both sea and land, as Port Graham was the end of the rail line to Port Fitzhubert. While Port Graham was subject to several bombardments by the Gaullicans during his time in Port Graham, from both sea and air, he never faced a serious attempt by the Gaullicans or their colonial troops in Quigomba to attack Port Graham. By 1928, he had risen to the rank of Sergeant, and by 1930, to that of warrant officer.

By 1931, he had been redeployed from Port Graham to Rusere, where he noted that the conditions there were significantly harsher than in Port Graham. In 1933, he fell seriously ill with malaria, and nearly died from it. However, "divine providence," combined with treatment in Port Fitzhubert helped him recover from the illness, and he returned to service in 1934, although he was reassigned to Port Fitzhubert as a sentry to guard an armoury.

After the end of the Great War in February 1935, he maintained his position as sentry, while the military downsized, with the threat from Gaullica having passed. In March 1936, he was given a honourable discharge, allowing him to leave the colonial militia.

Early political career

With the end of the war, he and Shungudzemwoyo Nhema decided to establish the Rwizikuran National Movement in 1937. (TBC)

Personal life

Samhuri Ngonidzashe married the 18-year old Kugarakunzwana Ngonidzashe in 1918 in a marriage arranged by their parents. According to Samhuri, their marriage was "fruitful and happy," with the marriage lasting until his death in 1961. Kugarakunzwana Ngonidzashe died in 2014 at the age of 113: at the time of her death, she was the oldest person living in Rwizikuru.

Together, they had four sons: Izibongo Ngonidzashe, who was born in 1921 and died in 1979, Ingwe Ngonidzashe, who was born in 1925 and is still living, Fred Ngonidzashe, who was born in 1928, and was executed in 1981 for an attempted coup against the monarchy, and Shungudzemwoyo Ngonidzashe, who was born in 1932.

They also had five daughters: Gamuchirai Mumbengegwi, who was born in 1919, and died in 2015 at the age of 91, Tariro Ngonidzashe, who was born in 1923, and died in 1927 from smallpox, Vimbainashe Ngonidzashe, who was born in 1926, and died in 2016 at the age of 89, and twin sisters Tinotendaisheanesu Chimusasa and Yemurai Kyagumbo, who were born in 1931.

Samhuri Ngonidzashe was a devout High Estmerian, with his noted propensity for plain dress, fasting on Sundays, and was a teetotaler, refusing to drink any alcohol, and his strict adherence to the High Estmerian concept of outward holiness. He was also noted to be a lay preacher, often preaching at churches, even during his tenure as President.