View source for Patrick Chinamasa

{{short description|Zimbabwean politician|bot=PearBOT 5}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2020}}
{{Infobox officeholder
|honorific-prefix = [[The Right Honourable]]
|name             = Patrick Chinamasa
|honorific-suffix = [[Former Member of Parliament|MP]]
|image            = 
|imagesize        = 150px
|office          = [[List of Finance Ministers of Zimbabwe|Minister of Finance and Economic Planning]]
|term_start      = 27 November 2017
|term_end        = 9 September 2018<br />{{small|Acting: 27 November 2017 – 30 November 2017}} 
|president       = [[Emmerson Mnangagwa]]
|predecessor     = [[Ignatius Chombo]]
|successor       = [[Mthuli Ncube]]
|deputy= Terence Mukupe
|term_start2      = 10 September 2013
|term_end2        = 9 October 2017 <br />{{small|[[List of Finance Ministers of Zimbabwe|Minister of Finance and Economic Development]]}}
|president2       = [[Robert Mugabe]]
|predecessor2     = [[Tendai Biti]]
|successor2       = [[Ignatius Chombo]]
|term_start3      = 7 January 2009
|term_end3        = 13 February 2009<br />[[List of Finance Ministers of Zimbabwe|Minister of Finance]]<br />{{small|Acting}}
|president3       = [[Robert Mugabe]]
|predecessor3     = [[Samuel Mumbengegwi]]
|successor3       = [[Tendai Biti]]
|office4           = [[Ministry of Justice (Zimbabwe)|Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs]]
|term_start4       = July 2000
|term_end4         = September 2013
|president4        = [[Robert Mugabe]]
|deputy4           = [[Jessie Majome]]
|predecessor4      = 
|successor4        = [[Emmerson Mnangagwa]]
|birth_date       = {{birth date and age|1947|01|25|df=y}}
|birth_place      = [[Southern Rhodesia]]
|death_date       = 
|death_place      = 
|party            = [[ZANU–PF]]
|spouse           = Monica Chinamasa
|children         = 2 (1 deceased)
}}
'''Patrick Antony Chinamasa''' (born 25 January 1947) is a [[Zimbabwe]]an politician who served in the government of Zimbabwe as the minister of various [[Cabinet of Zimbabwe|cabinet ministries]]. Previously he served as the [[List of Finance Ministers of Zimbabwe|Minister of Finance and Investment Promotion]] and the [[Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs|Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs]].<ref name="passport">[http://www.voanews.com/english/2007-06-16-voa11.cfm Zimbabwe Police Seize Opposition Leader's Passport] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070623171440/http://www.voanews.com/english/2007-06-16-voa11.cfm |date=23 June 2007 }} VOA News</ref>

On 9 October 2017, he was appointed as Minister of the newly created Ministry of Cyber Security, Threat Detection and Mitigation.<ref>{{cite web |title=What is the role of Cyber Security Minister Chinamasa? |url= http://www.techzim.co.zw/2017/10/role-of-cyber-security-minister-chinamasa/ |author= Leonard Sengere |date=9 October 2017 |access-date= 9 October 2017}}</ref> On 27 November 2017, [[Emmerson Mnangagwa]], who succeeded [[Robert Mugabe]] as President of Zimbabwe following the [[2017 Zimbabwean coup d'état]], appointed Chinamasa as the nation's acting Finance Minister.<ref>{{cite news |title=Zimbabwe president Mnangagwa appoints Chinamasa acting finance minister |website=[[Reuters]] |date=27 November 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201033101/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-zimbabwe-politics-cabinet/zimbabwe-president-mnangagwa-appoints-chinamasa-acting-finance-minister-idUSKBN1DR2FU?il=0 |archive-date=2017-12-01 |url-status=live |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-zimbabwe-politics-cabinet/zimbabwe-president-mnangagwa-appoints-chinamasa-acting-finance-minister-idUSKBN1DR2FU?il=0}}</ref> He was substantively returned to his portfolio as Minister of Finance and Economic Development in Mnangagwa's first cabinet on 30 November 2017.<ref>{{cite web |title=New Cabinet appointed . . . Ministerial portfolios reduced to 22 . . . Only 6 deputy ministers appointed |url= http://www.herald.co.zw/breaking-news-president-announces-new-cabinet/ |author= Felex Share |date=1 December 2017 |access-date= 1 December 2017}}</ref>

==Political career==
A leading member of the ruling [[ZANU–PF]] party, Chinamasa became first deputy Agriculture Minister, and then [[Attorney General of Zimbabwe]]; he also has held the role of Leader of the Zimbabwean Parliament.

Following his appointment, many Zimbabwean judges resigned, complaining of political pressure.<ref name="BBC1">[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/5313366.stm Court clears Zimbabwe's minister] BBC News– 4 September 2006</ref> On 9 February 2001 after Chief Justice [[Anthony Gubbay]] took early retirement at his suggestion,<ref name="Telgph1">[https://web.archive.org/web/20080422015957/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2005/01/05/wzim05.xml&sSheet=/news/2005/01/05/ixworld.html Mugabe dumps his hardline disciples] Telegraph.co.uk– 5 January 2005</ref> Chinamasa held meetings with senior Justices Ahmed Ebrahim and Nicholas McNally (the last white justice on the Zimbabwean Court), and told them for their own safety to leave.<ref>[http://www.strauss.za.com/afric/zim_timeline2001.html Zimbabwe The countdown to Chaos– 2001]</ref>

In 2002, following what Chinamasa considered lenient conviction of three American citizens caught and convicted of smuggling arms in an aircraft, Zimbabwean High Court judge [[Fergus Blackie]] brought successful charges against Chinamasa for a conviction of "scandalising the court." Chinamasa had Blackie immediately arrested on charges of "corruption," on the grounds of having decided the case of a white woman improperly (on the basis of an alleged adulterous relationship and racist bias), and without the support of the other judge that was sitting with him on the matter.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.icjcanada.org/en/news_archive/news_blackie.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2007-09-26 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061208145211/http://www.icjcanada.org/en/news_archive/news_blackie.pdf |archive-date=8 December 2006}}</ref> After the case closed, Chinamasa declared various NGO's illegal, including leading Human Rights organisation the [[Amani Trust]] which provides support to victims of torture; and was reportedly accused of working with the British government to unseat President Robert Mugabe and destabilise the nation.<ref>[http://web.amnesty.org/library/Index/ENGAFR460152003?open&of=ENG-2F3 Zimbabwe: Rights under siege: State intimidation of Human Rights NGO Amani Trust. | Amnesty International] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061202124757/http://web.amnesty.org/library/Index/ENGAFR460152003?open&of=ENG-2F3 |date=2 December 2006 }}</ref>

In 2003, Chinamasa was placed on [[European Union]] and [[United States sanctions]] lists.<ref>[https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2003/03/10/03-5848/blocking-property-of-persons-undermining-democratic-processes-or-institutions-in-zimbabwe Blocking property of persons undermining democratic processes or institutions in Zimbabwe.]</ref>

On 17 December 2004, Chinamasa, who had been the Secretary for Legal Affairs of ZANU PF, was removed from the party's Politburo.<ref>Constantine Chimakure, [http://www.zimbabwesituation.com/dec19_2004.html "Mugabe fires Moyo"], ''Zimbabwe Daily Mirror'' (zimbabwesituation.com), 18 December 2004.</ref> In 2005, Chinamasa was ejected from his post as Justice Minister;<ref name="Telgph1"/> however, six months later he was returned to the post.

In September 2006, Chinamasa was cleared by a judge of trying to pervert the course of justice. Chinamasa was accused of trying to stop a prosecution witness, James Kaunye, from testifying in a case against the Minister of State for National Security, [[Didymus Mutasa]], who had been accused of inciting public violence.<ref name="BBC1"/>

He is among a host of individuals not allowed to travel to the USA because the USA government feels he has worked to undermine democracy in Zimbabwe.<ref>US Dept. of Treasury {{cite web|url=http://www.ustreas.gov/offices/enforcement/ofac/actions/20051123.shtml |title=U.S. Treasury - Recent OFAC Actions: 11/23/2005 |access-date=7 February 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080318073617/http://www.ustreas.gov/offices/enforcement/ofac/actions/20051123.shtml |archive-date=18 March 2008 }} (accessed 02/07/2008)</ref>

Chinamasa and Labour Minister [[Nicholas Goche]] met with [[Tendai Biti]] ([[Movement for Democratic Change – Tsvangirai|MDC-T]]) and [[Welshman Ncube]] ([[Movement for Democratic Change – Mutambara|MDC-M]]), Secretaries General of their respective Movement for Democratic Change factions, in [[Pretoria]], South Africa on 16 June 2007. South African President [[Thabo Mbeki]], appointed by the [[Southern African Development Community]], presided over the negotiations which sought to end [[economic sanctions]] on Zimbabwe.<ref name="passport"/>

Chinamasa was nominated as ZANU–PF's candidate for the House of Assembly seat from [[Makoni Central]] in the [[2008 Zimbabwean parliamentary election|March 2008 parliamentary election]],<ref>[http://allafrica.com/stories/200802150006.html "Zimbabwe: Zanu-PF Names Poll Candidates"], ''The Herald'' (allAfrica.com), 15 February 2008.</ref><ref name=ZEC>[http://www.int.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=68&art_id=nw20080331105906556C895570 "Is the ZEC sitting on results?"], AFP (''IOL''), 31 March 2008.</ref> but he was defeated.<ref name=ZEC/><ref name=VP>Mutongi Gava, [http://www.newzimbabwe.com/pages/electoral204.17985.html "VP Mujuru not defeated"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180317103254/http://www.newzimbabwe.com/pages/electoral204.17985.html |date=17 March 2018 }}, newzimbabwe.com, 31 March 2008.</ref> Chinamasa received 4 050 votes against 7,060 for [[John Nyamande]] of the [[Movement for Democratic Change – Tsvangirai|Movement for Democratic Change]] (MDC).<ref name=VP/>

Within ZANU-PF, Chinamasa has been seen as an ally of [[Emmerson Mnangagwa]] since 2004.<ref name=Mnangagwa>[http://allafrica.com/stories/200805090797.html "Zimbabwe: Mnangagwa Running Zanu PF Campaign"], ''Zimbabwe Independent'' (allAfrica.com), 8 May 2008.</ref> As of 2008, Chinamasa is the Chairman of ZANU PF's Information and Publicity Sub-Committee,<ref name=Mnangagwa/><ref>[http://english.people.com.cn/90001/90777/90852/6411113.html "Zimbabwe's ruling ZANU PF says to launch run-off campaign when ZEC sets date"], Xinhua (''People's Daily Online''), 15 May 2008.</ref> and in that capacity he acted as spokesman for ZANU PF in the period following the 2008 presidential and parliamentary election. In this respect, he was viewed as taking over the roles of Minister of Information and Publicity [[Sikhanyiso Ndlovu]] and ZANU–PF Secretary for Information and Publicity [[Nathan Shamuyarira]].<ref name=Mnangagwa/>

Along with Goche, Chinamasa was one of the negotiators sent by ZANU–PF to the talks between political parties that began in Pretoria on 10 July 2008, following Mugabe's disputed re-election.<ref>Barry Bearak, [http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/07/10/africa/11zim.php "Zimbabwe opponents begin talking about talks"], ''International Herald Tribune'', 10 July 2008.</ref>

Chinamasa was appointed to the [[Senate of Zimbabwe|Senate]] by Mugabe on 25 August 2008.<ref>[http://allafrica.com/stories/200808250158.html "President Appoints Ministers"], ''The Herald'', 25 August 2008.</ref> On 7 January 2009, ''The Herald'' reported that Chinamasa had been appointed as Acting Minister of Finance following the dismissal of [[Samuel Mumbengegwi]], who no longer held a seat in Parliament.<ref>[http://www.int.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=84&art_id=nw20090107093840119C281243 "Mugabe appoints acting ministers: report"], Sapa-AFP (''IOL''), 7 January 2009.</ref> In this position, Chinamasa took a historic step in the ongoing [[Hyperinflation in Zimbabwe|hyperinflation crisis in Zimbabwe]], announcing that all Zimbabweans would be allowed to conduct business in any currency as of the end of January 2009.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/world/africa/7859033.stm |title=Zimbabwe abandons its currency |publisher=BBC News |date=7 January 2009 |access-date=2010-08-24}}</ref>

When the ZANU-PF&ndash;MDC [[Zimbabwe Government of National Unity of 2009|national unity government]] was sworn in on 13 February 2009, Chinamasa was retained as Minister of Justice.<ref>[http://www.newzimbabwe.com/pages/minister20.19389.html "Cabinet sworn in amid chaotic scenes"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090214135850/http://www.newzimbabwe.com/pages/minister20.19389.html |date=14 February 2009 }}, Newzimbabwe.com, 13 February 2009.</ref>

Following Mugabe's victory in the [[2013 Zimbabwean presidential election|July 2013 presidential election]], he moved Chinamasa to the post of Minister of Finance on 10 September 2013.<ref>Cris Chinaka, [https://web.archive.org/web/20151222193121/http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-zimbabwe-cabinet-idUKBRE9890XN20130910 "Mugabe appoints ZANU-PF lawyer as Zimbabwe finance minister"], Reuters, 10 September 2013.</ref>

Later, Patrick Chinamasa was moved to a newly created ministry of Cyber Security in 2017. The Ministry of Cyber Security, Threat Detection and Mitigation was announced and initiated by President Robert Mugabe in October 2017 to address the challenges of new generation of technologies. Patrick was reassigned to the role of Minister of Cyber Security, Threat Detection and Mitigation where he led efforts to ensure cybersecurity through various end points.<ref>[https://www.techzim.co.zw/2017/10/new-minister-cyber-security/ "We Have a New Minister of Cyber Security in Zimbabwe: Big Brother is watching…"], 9 October 2017.</ref>

In 2017, when Zimbabwe's new president Emmerson Mnangagwa took over, he named Patrick Chinamasa as the acting Finance Minister until the appointment of a new cabinet and minister.<ref>[https://ewn.co.za/2017/11/28/patrick-chinamasa-appointed-as-zimbabwe-acting-finance-minister "Patrick Chinamasa Appointed As Zimbabwe's Acting Finance Minister"]</ref>

===Farms===
In February 2003, Chinamasa sent the police to arrest Peter Baker, a white farmer who had refused to vacate his farm, Rocklands, in favour of the Minister, after successfully challenging its seizure in court. Eight months after the seizure, the farm's water supply has been squandered, undermining its future productivity and that of the neighbouring farms.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20080422015951/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml;jsessionid=V3TWKYXISYC31QFIQMFSFFWAVCBQ0IV0?xml=/news/2003/10/20/wzim20.xml Rough justice as Mugabe's man grabs second farm] Telegraph.co.uk– 19 October 2003</ref>

In September 2003, white farmer Richard Yates was evicted from his 800-hectare tobacco farm Tsukumai Farm at Headlands, located east of [[Harare]]. Although Chinamasa paid some compensation, Yates is still awaiting final payment and said that he considers the farm his in an interview with the ''[[Daily Telegraph]]''. The following year his wife Monica won the Zimbabwean Tobacco grower of the year award, together with a Z$24million prize and trophy as the 2004/2005 top grower at a ceremony in Harare on 29 July. British MP [[Kate Hoey]], who made a fact-finding visit to Zimbabwe earlier in the year, said the award was shocking: "It is like someone stealing a race horse and winning the [[Grand National]]."<ref>{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20070807021420/http://swradioafrica.com/pages/shame.htm SW Radio Africa– wall of shame]}}</ref> As a result, London based [[British American Tobacco]] came under pressure to stop its Zimbabwean associate company sponsoring the award, which it did the following year.

===Personal life===
Chinamasa is married to Monica Chinamasa. 
His children include:   
*Chengetai – although banned from travelling into the United States, he gained entry using his mother's maiden surname. He claimed his home location as [[Worcester, Massachusetts]], where he studied and also worked for [[Keller Williams]].<ref>[http://www.linkedin.com/pub/1/554/1a7 LinkedIn: Chengetai Chinamasa]</ref> He died in November 2007.<ref>[http://allafrica.com/stories/200711130760.html allAfrica.com: Zimbabwe: Zanu-PF, MDC Negotiators Mourn Chinamasa's Son (Page 1 of 1)]</ref>
*Gamuchirai - born 11 November 1991.<ref>[http://www.accuitysolutions.com/$nocookies$/ofac.html?id=200511289PDK1G6O Accuity]</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Mnangagwa cabinet}}
{{Zimbabwe Attorneys General}}
{{Zimbabwe-Ministers of Finance}}
{{Zimbabwe government ministers}}
{{Members of the 8th Parliament of Zimbabwe}}
{{Members of the 5th Parliament of Zimbabwe}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Chinamasa, Patrick}}
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:1947 births]]
[[Category:Finance ministers of Zimbabwe]]
[[Category:Attorneys-general of Zimbabwe]]
[[Category:Members of the Senate of Zimbabwe]]
[[Category:ZANU–PF politicians]]
[[Category:Government ministers of Zimbabwe]]