Qualified teacher. 1951, BA, University of Fort Hare, South Africa; BEd; BSc in Economics. Entered full-time politics in Zimbabwe in 1960: Secretary for Publicity, National Democratic Party (NDP); 1963, Secretary-General, Zimbabwe African National Union (ZANU). Arrested in 1964 and held until 1974 (obtained Bachelor of Law and Bachelor of Administration degrees by correspondence from University of London while in detention). 1975, reorganized the party and reactivated the armed struggle from Mozambique. 1976, joint leader of the Patriotic Front with Joshua Nkomo. 1977, President of ZANU. 1979, led the ZANU delegation to the Lancaster House Conference in London; January 1980, returned to Zimbabwe to supervise and lead ZANU (PF)'s election campaign. 1980, became Prime Minister. Since January 1988, President of Zimbabwe; President, ZANU (PF); Chairman, ZANU (PF) National Executive and Central Committee.