Takakunda Kuda Kani
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The Honourable Takakunda Kuda Kani | |
|---|---|
 Takakunda in 1983 | |
| 1st President of Garambura | |
| In office 16 February 1969 – 14 May 1984 | |
| Preceded by | Position established |
| Succeeded by | Tapfuma Nkondo |
| Secretary-General of the Congress of Bahian States | |
| In office 20 June 1984 – 9 February 1989 | |
| Preceded by | Khulani Hluphizwe |
| Succeeded by | Getasew Merhawi |
| Leader of the East Riziland Liberation Front | |
| In office 18 March 1964 – 16 February 1969 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | March 17, 1928 Sainte-Germaine, Baséland, Gaullican Empire |
| Died | May 14, 2001 (aged 73) New Mina, Garambura |
| Resting place | Near Mambiza, Garambura (ashes scattered) |
| Political party | Républicains de l'Est (1947) East Riziland Liberation Front (1964–1969) Garamburan National Party (1969–1984) |
| Spouse(s) | Biria Mudzuri (m. 1957; his death 2001) |
| Children | 3 |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  ERLF Garambura |
| Branch/service | Army |
| Years of service | 1967–1968 1969 |
| Rank | General |
| Battles/wars | Garamburan War of Independence: |
| Awards |  Gamba reRudzi |
Takakunda Kuseka Zvinavashe Mutongo Kuda Kani (17 March 1928 – 14 May 2001; aged 73) was a Garamburan anti-colonial activist, Garamburan independence activist, statesman, politician and author who served as President of Garambura from the position's establishment following the conclusion of the Garamburan War of Independence to May 14, 1984, and Secretary-General of the Congress of Bahian States from 1984 to 1989. Takakunda's official tenure of 15 years makes him one of the longest serving democratic leaders in post-colonial Bahian history. He is also renowned for his number of re-elections, totaling three over his lifetime, with Garambura rating high on political freedom indexes throughout his tenure and into the modern day due to his influence.
Takakunda began his political activism in 1946, aged 18, when he made headlines in Estmere over his political stunt by standing on top of the Central Bank of Sainte-Germaine and waving a sign saying "Freedom for Bahia! Death to Imperialism!, a phrase that would later famously become attributed to him. He was arrested in 1947 after marching with a parade of independence activists through the streets of Sainte-Germaine, and imprisoned for two years for dissident behaviour. Released in 1949, Takakumba embarked on a course of starvation, only drinking water, until Rwizikuran police arrested and imprisoned him again, force feeding him in prison to keep him alive. Released yet again in 1954, the foundation of the United Bahian Republic saw Takakunda keep his public profile low, whilst still participating in assorted protests in Sainte-Germaine throughout the 1950s and 1960s. When Tabora seceded from the UBR in 1964, Takakunda again began campaigning for a similar Garamburan secession. When the UBR dissolved in 1968, Takakunda had already assembled large amounts of freedom fighters and guerrilla forces due to his publicity, seceding from Rwizikuru in 1969.
Successfully achieving Garamburan independence in April, Takakunda set about reforming the Garamburan economy and culture to "de-imperialise" the nation. The Garamburan denier was introduced as legal tender in 1970 and diplomatic relations were established with Mabifia and ex-UBR member Djedet. Takakunda was re-elected in 1974 after record economic growth - the highest in Bahia at the time - lifted many out of poverty in Mambiza. Following his re-election, he successfully negotiated with Kupakwashe Ngonidzashe in lifting the Rwizikuran veto on Garamburan accession to the Congress of Bahian States, which Garambura joined in the 1979, leading to further re-election in the same year. In the 1980s, Garambura established friendly ties with the Euclean Community and became an economic associate of COMSED, reaffirming Garamburan neutrality in world affairs and its "commitment for global peace". Under Takakunda, Garambura was subsequently modernised and Mambiza became one of Bahia's most influential economic hubs in Garambura, followed closely by New Mina, who Takakunda introduced policies to incite its growth into a modern Bahian city. Takakunda was supported by Estmere, Gaullica and Werania throughout his tenure as an influential non-communist figure in Bahia, particularly after revolutions in Tabora and Djedet. Takakunda announced his retirement from politics after losing the 1984 election to fellow party-member Tapfuma Mkondo. He subsequently served a five-year term as Secretary-General of the Congress of Bahian States between 1984 and 1989.
Takakunda's influence on the modern Garamburan state and Bahian democracy as a whole has led him to widely regarded as one of the greatest Bahian post-colonial leaders in history. Takakunda was cremated and had his ashes scattered into the Banfura Sea on the coast of Mambiza, and given a full state funeral, attended by many world leaders. A five-day mourning period was instated due to Takakunda's death, with a snap election being called after the mourning period, with fellow party member Chisi Ndlovu winning the presidency.
Background
Takakunda Kuseka Zvinavashe Mutongo Kuda Kani was born on March 17, 1928, in the city of Sainte-Germaine, then part of the functionalist-controlled Baséland colony, to veRwizi parents, both of whom were manual labourers for a nearby industrial firm. Takakunda's parents both earned minimal income and he, his parents, and his seven other siblings lived a life of extreme poverty that was amplified massively by the outbreak of the Great War in Bahia. Takakunda has stated he only has "vague memories" of the war, and it had ended by the time he had turned seven. Takakunda also details his parent's celebrations when the colony was transferred to Estmere in 1935, and the mass demonstrations in Sainte-Germaine, both positive for its liberation from Gaullica and negative for its lack of self-rule and independence, that followed.
When it became apparent that East Riziland was not going to gain its independence from the Riziland, Takakunda became a political activist and joined the mass protests in Sainte-Germaine in 1946, aged only eighteen. He joined the controversial Républicains de l'Est, group in 1947, after they had shot and killed four people in Port Fitzhubert just two months prior. He took part in one of their organised marches through Sainte-Germaine's main street, and was arrested during the march for association with the group and dissident behaviour. He was released in 1949 but would quickly gain notoriety with the Rwizikuran police as he was arrested again for disobedience and public indecency when he began to shout through the streets of Sainte-Germaine to promote his hunger strike. Only five days into the strike, he was detained and imprisoned against by Rwizikuran police, and sentenced to a further five years in prison, which he served in Port Fitzhubert. Takakunda details borderline torture and humiliation by Rwizikuran guards while in prison, and was force fed by the guards to keep him alive and end his hunger strike, which he described as a "backhanded way of silencing their opponents".
Takakunda was released in 1954 as scheduled, but did not re-enter a prominent activist role in fear of being imprisoned for a third time. He moved east to the city of Makumba, where he met and married his wife Biria Mudzuri, and had their first child in 1958. Takakunda would write a political book, titled L'échec du pan-baïenisme ("The Failure of Pan-Bahianism"), extensively detailing his experiences at the hands of the Rwizikuran justice system whilst it was a member of the United Bahian Republic. Takakunda did not publish the book until 1969, where it became a popular manifesto and autobiography, and one of the only to discuss persecution within the UBR. Takakunda re-entered the mainstream of calls for Garamburan independence when he formed the East Riziland Liberation Front in 1964, in lieu of Tabora's declaration of secession from the UBR. The ERLF began as a independence activist organisation but quickly began to pick up traction as a rebel paramilitary group as the Mabifian-Rwizikuran War over Yekumavirira continued in the east. Takakunda would serve as the only leader of the ERLF from 1964 until 1969.
On February 16, 1969, Takakunda would give his public address declaring an independent Garamburan state, issuing its unilateral declaration of independence the next day, triggering the Garamburan War of Independence. Takakunda would garner much support as nations from Euclea (such as Estmere and Gaullica), enemies of Rwizikuru (Mabifia) and other international powers (such as Senria and Valentir), as well as socialist nations who wished to transform Garambura into a socialist state (Djedet and Tabora). The overwhelming amount of support led to a quick breakthrough by the Garamburan forces as Rwizikuran morale dropped at the Battle of Ntawha and April Offensives, both of which he personally fought in. An offer of mediation was put forward by Dezevau between the two states, and Takakunda met with Rwizikuran Mambo Izibongo Ngonidzashe in the Dezevauni capital to sign the Treaty of Bazadavo, officially recognising Garambura as an independent state. Takakunda's comparatively right-wing politics in an overwhelming left-wing Bahia led to widespread recognition through eastern Euclea and the Asterias, which quickly ended any immediate threats to Garambura's international recognition.
Presidency
