Munashe Ngonidzashe
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| Munashe Ngonidzashe | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| File:Munashe2018.jpg | |||||
| King of Rwizikuru | |||||
| Reign | 21 February, 2019 - present | ||||
| Predecessor | Izibongo Ngonidzashe | ||||
| Heir apparent | Paul Ngonidzashe | ||||
| Premier | Tsuru Mawere | ||||
| Born | 28 August 1991 Guta raMambo, Rwizikuru | ||||
| Spouse | Ditsheho Ngonidzashe | ||||
| Issue | Malcolm Ngonidzashe Paul Ngonidzashe Naleli Ngonidzashe | ||||
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| House | House of Ngonidzashe | ||||
| Father | Izibongo Ngonidzashe | ||||
| Mother | Farai Ngonidzashe | ||||
| Religion | United Amended Church | ||||
Munashe Ngonidzashe (born 28 August, 1991) is the current Monarch of Rwizikuru, having ascended the throne on 21 February, 2019, after the death of his father, Izibongo Ngonidzashe. As monarch, he presided over the implementation of the 2020 Rwizikuran constitution which saw the establishment of a constitutional monarchy, with the first Premier under the new constitution taking power on 7 April, 2020, when Tsuru Mawere became head of government.
Born as the first son of Izibongo Ngonidzashe's second marriage with Farai Ngonidzashe, Munashe Ngonidzashe was second in line to the Rwizikuran throne until his half-brother, Joseph Ngonidzashe, died in an avalanche in 2002 while on a ski trip in the Neeves. As Joseph had no sons, Munashe became the heir apparent to the Rwizikuran throne.
Early life and education
Munashe Ngonidzashe was born to Izibongo Ngonidzashe and Farai Ngonidzashe, as the first son from that marriage on 28 August, 1991 in Guta raMambo. He was baptized into the United Amended Church as Barnabas Ngondizashe. At the time of his birth, he was second in line, behind his half-brother, Joseph Ngonidzashe, and ahead of his uncle, Ingwe Ngonidzashe.
In 1995, he entered a playgroup program at the King Izibongo School, making him the first royal to enter a preschool program. Tavonga went on to enter Reception at the King Izibongo School in 1997, and made his way through school at an average rate.
His teachers described him as being "average in all areas," and was expected to go to a secondary modern school after his "mediocre results" in the eleven-plus in 2003. However, his father was able to pull strings to allow Tavonga to attend the Shungudzemwoyo Ncube Grammar School in 2004, and finished Sixth Form in 2011.
While he had mediocre results, his father was able to persuade the University of Rwizikuru to allow him to attend classes: thus, in September 2011, he moved to Port Fitzhubert and studied political science.
In 2012, he met a Balisa commoner, Ditsheho Lekhotla at the University of Rwizikuru. In 2015, Tavonga Ngonidzashe graduated from the University of Rwizikuru with second class honors in political science. That same year, he married Ditsheho Lekhotla.
Crown Prince
Early years
Following the death of his half-brother in 2002, Munashe Ngonidzashe was promoted to Crown Prince. While this promoted him to the title, and led to Munashe Ngonidzashe making more public appearances from that point on, his age meant that his uncle, Ingwe Ngonidzashe remained influential, with some in the royal family expecting that he and his younger brother might be disinherited so that Ingwe could become the next King.
In 2006, Munashe Ngonidzashe made his first solo public appearance, when he gave a commencement speech at the Charles Fitzhubert School to incoming students. However, his solo public appearances were few and far between, with Munashe only making three solo appearances between 2006 and 2011.
Following his graduation from grammar school in 2011, Munashe Ngonidzashe began to take on some of his father's responsibilities and duties, as well as taking on some duties of his own within the royal family. In September 2014, he was named to his official government position, when Izibongo Ngonidzashe named him as Chief of the district of Gutaguru.
Regency
In June 2016, Izibongo Ngonidzashe formally designated Munashe Ngonidzashe as regent, due to Izibongo's deteriorating health and old age. This made Munashe Ngonidzashe the de-facto ruler of Rwizikuru, even though Izibongo Ngonidzashe still formally remained the King of Rwizikuru.
As regent, Munashe Ngonidzashe's first decree was to increase the pay to government officials, including soldiers of the Royal Rwizikuran Armed Forces and the Royal Rwizikuran Constabulary, in an attempt to combat rampant corruption. This was followed by another decree ordering the Constabulary to enforce legislation concerning corruption. Besides his focus on anti-corruption, Munashe Ngonidzashe would focus on improving the Rwizikuran education system: in 2017, he issued a decree that ordered new schools be built in fast-growing regions of the country so that the practice of hot-seating would end.
However, as regent, Munashe Ngonidzashe represented the King in all affairs: thus, he would meet with various international leaders during his tenure as regent. In 2018, he would oversee the King's Golden Jubilee celebrations, with Munashe Ngonidzashe representing Izibongo Ngonidzashe in many important events, excluding one in Guta raMambo where the King made his final public appearance. In October 2018, he directed the Rwizikuran government to begin negotiations with the Global Institute for Fiscal Affairs for another loan.
By late 2018, as Izibongo Ngonidzashe was hospitalised for the final time in Morwall, Munashe Ngonidzashe began to make preparations for his accession to the Rwizikuran throne.
Reign
Accession and reforms
On 21 February, 2019, Munashe Ngonidzashe acceded the throne following his father's death in Morwall. At the age of 27, Munashe was the youngest person to accede to the Rwizikuran throne.
His coronation was held on 1 June, 2019 at Saint Edward's Cathedral, with the rites of the United Amended Church. He was anointed by Priest James Gumede, before being crowned by him. Munashe then crowned his wife, Ditsheho, as Queen, and proclaimed her as the Queen. After he and his wife were crowned, Munashe received homage from the traditional chiefs of Rwizikuru, in a similar fashion to his father's coronations. Later that day, a lavish banquet was held at the royal palace.
After his coronation, Munashe Ngonidzashe expressed his intention to "have Rwizikuru progress with the times," which was hinted as Munashe intending to rule as a constitutional monarch. At the same time, negotiations with the Global Institute for Fiscal Affairs progressed significantly, and on 2 August, 2019, Munashe approved an agreement with the Global Institute of Fiscal Affairs in which the GIFA would provide Rwizikuru with a loan of one hundred million euclos in exchange for Rwizikuru undergoing further structural adjustment and establishing a constitutional monarchy, with the legislature being the only body allowed to pass and propose budgets, with the King prohibited from altering the budget.
That day, Munashe Ngonidzashe announced that a constitutional convention would be held to write up a new constitution for Rwizikuru, and vowed that a constitutional monarchy would "solve many of the issues that existed under [Izibongo Ngonidzashe's] reign." On 12 August, he appointed 14 delegates, and scheduled the election of 12 delegates for 16 September 2019. All of the delegates were summoned to the Port Fitzhubert campus of the University of Rwizikuru on 24 September, 2019.
On 1 October, 2019, with all the delegates present, Munashe Ngonidzashe formally opened the constitutional convention, and authorised it to draft a new Rwizikuran constitution to supersede the Basic Law of Rwizikuru. Munashe was to serve as the chairman of the constitutional convention, and thus would be presiding over the proceedings.
After four months of work, the new constitution was promulgated by Munashe Ngonidzashe on 17 January, 2020, and he scheduled the first elections under the new constitution to take place on 3 April, 2020.
Constitutional monarch
On 7 April, 2020, he officially became a constitutional monarch when the National Assembly elected Tsuru Mawere to be the first head of government under the 2020 constitution. Munashe's role was reduced significantly, with Munashe only maintaining legislative powers over the House of Ngonidzashe and the line of succession.
On 14 October, 2020, Munashe Ngonidzashe made his first executive action since the promulgation of the Rwizikuran constitution when he disinherited his eldest son, Malcolm Ngonidzashe, who had been the Crown Prince since his accession to the Rwizikuran throne, because of Malcolm's "severe developmental delays." This automatically made Malcolm's younger brother, Paul Ngonidzashe, Crown Prince.
On his Accession Day speech in 2021, Munashe Ngonidzashe declared that the role of the Rwizikuran monarch was to "serve as a unifying figure of the Rwizikuran nation," and that the Rwizikuran monarch should "only be involved in politics if called upon" by the government, and to otherwise "stay above the political arena" to avoid undermining Rwizikuru's "fledgling democracy."
Personal life
Munashe Ngonidzashe married Ditsheho Ngonidzashe in 2015, and had two sons: Malcolm Ngonidzashe in 2016, and Paul Ngonidzashe in 2018, and a daughter: Naleli Ngonidzashe, born in 2020.
He is fluent in Rwizi, Estmerish and Gaullican, and can "comfortably hold a conversation" in Senrian.
He is a member of the United Amended Church, but unlike his father, he is not "particularly devout."
Titles, styles, and honors
- 28 August, 1991 - 23 February, 2002 His Royal Highness Prince Munashe Ngonidzashe
- 23 February, 2002 - 21 February, 2019 - His Royal Highness Crown Prince Munashe Ngonidzashe
- 21 February, 2019 onwards - His Most Faithful Majesty Munashe Ngonidzashe
- Full regnal title - His Most Faithful Majesty Ngonidzashe II, by the Grace of God, and by the will of the Rwizikuran people through the National Salvation Council, King and N'anga of the Rwizikuran nation and of the Rwizi people
Domestic honors
- File:RwizikuruFlag.PNG - Ruby Jubilee Medal, 2008
- File:RwizikuruFlag.PNG - Order of Merit, 2011
- File:RwizikuruFlag.PNG - Golden Jubilee Medal, 2018
- File:RwizikuruFlag.PNG - Sovereign of the Nation, 2019
- File:RwizikuruFlag.PNG - Commander of the Order of the Elephant, 2019
Foreign honors
- File:Order of Estmere ribbon Grand Cross Special Class.svg Grand Cross with Special Class of the Order of Estmere (2020)
