Elisha Mutasa
Elisha Chenzira Mutasa was a Zimbabwean politician and first Vice President of the National People's Union (NPU).
Background
Mutasa was born at Nyakatsapa Mission and was one in a family of 5 boys and 4 girls. He was married to a British born wife Adrienne Davey. the two married in England in 1963. He had four children; Rinda, Tsara, Chandisaita and Tumai. He was once married Miss Olive Lyken from British Guiana in London on 7 February 1959.
Education
He attended Healdtown School in the Cape Province of South Africa and gained his junior certificate in 1940. He trained as a school teacher at the same school. He was then awarded a scholarship by the United Methodist Church in 1949 to study medicine in the USA. For three years in succession he failed his first year examinations. As a result the church sent him to a Canadian university and he eventually gained a place in a British university.[1]obtained his degree at the University of Edinburgh in 1959.
Career
After he finished his training as a teacher at Healdtown in South Africa, returned to Rhodesia as a staff member at Waddilove High School where one of his pupils was Nathan Shamuyarira. He then went to Watsomba Mission School where he first served as assistant master and Headmaster. Mutasa was the medical superintendent at Old Umtali Mission.
Political Career
He appeared in court facing charges under the Law and Order (Maintenence Act) on February 1970. The charges arose from a speech he made at an NPU meeting held in Rusape on November 1, 1969. he was sentenced to four months imprisonment which was suspended for 3 years on the main charge and $80 or 4 months and $40 or two months on the alternative charges. He later appealed the sentence but his appeal was dismissed by the High Court.
Death
He died in December 1971. Mutasa collapsed in the bathroom of his home and was dead when his wife reached him. He had suffered a heart attack in September 1970 and was admitted at umtali General hospital and then transferred to Harare Hospital 2 weeks before his death. His funeral was attended by Abel Muzorewa.
