Frederick Shava

Frederick Musiiwa Makamure Shava (born 20 March 1949) is a Zimbabwean politician who was appointed Minister of Higher Education, Science and Technology on 15 October 2024.^[1][2] He was formerly the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade from 2 March 2021^[3][4] to 15 October 2024. He also serves as a member of the Senate representing Midlands Province, having been sworn in on 17 March 2021.^[5] He replaced the late Sibusiso Moyo in both the Senate and as foreign minister.^[5]

Frederick Shava
Council Chairperson of SADC
Incumbent
Assumed office 17 August 2024
President	Emmerson Mnangagwa
Minister of Higher Education, Science and Technology
Incumbent
Assumed office 15 October 2024
President	Emmerson Mnangagwa
Preceded by	Amon Murwira
Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
In office 2 March 2021 – 15 October 2024
President	Emmerson Mnangagwa
Vice President	Constantino Chiwenga Kembo Mohadi
Preceded by	Sibusiso Moyo
Succeeded by	Amon Murwira
Member of the Senate for Midlands Province
In office 17 March 2021 – 2021
Preceded by	Sibusiso Moyo
Succeeded by	Stuart Comberbach
Permanent Representative of Zimbabwe to the United Nations
Incumbent
Assumed office 19 September 2014
President	Robert Mugabe Emmerson Mnangagwa
Preceded by	Chitsaka Chipaziwa
Personal details
Born	(1949-03-20) 20 March 1949 (age 76) Chivi, Cheteni Village, Southern Rhodesia
Political party	ZANU–PF
Spouse	Beatrice Foya Shava
Alma mater	Royal Holloway College Imperial College London

Prior to his cabinet appointments, Shava served as Zimbabwe's representative to the United Nations, where he was the President of the UN Economic and Social Affairs Council.^[6][7] Shava also served in Robert Mugabe's government as the Minister of Labour, Manpower Planning and Development from 1981 to 1986 and Minister of State for Political Affairs in 1987.^[2][8] While a cabinet minister in the Mugabe government, Shava was convicted for perjury in the Willowgate motor scandal, a matter for which he later received a presidential pardon.^[9] He also served as Zimbabwe's ambassador to China from 2007 to 2014.^[6][9] He became Council Chairperson of the Southern African Development Community in August 2024.^[10]

Early life and education

Shava was born on 20 March 1949 in Chivi, in what was then the colony of Southern Rhodesia.^[6] He attended secondary school at St. Ignatius College in Chishawasha, and went on to earn a Bachelor of Science in biology from the University of Zambia^[6] or the University of Zimbabwe.^[11] He also holds a Master of Science in nematology from Imperial College London and a Master of Philosophy and Doctor of Philosophy, both in parasitology, from Royal Holloway College.^[6][11]

Allegations of Unauthorized Borrowing (2024)

In October 2024, Frederick Shava was implicated in a legal case concerning the unauthorized borrowing of public funds. A lawsuit filed by former opposition legislator Marvellous Kumalo accused Shava and Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Minister July Moyo of violating the Public Finance Management Act (Treasury Instructions), 2019, and the Constitution. The allegations centered around borrowing funds from government-established programs, including the Sustainable Livelihoods Fund, the Child Welfare Fund, and the Older Persons Fund, without prior Treasury approval.^[12]

The High Court, presided over by Justice Gladys Mhuri, ruled that Shava and Moyo had acted unlawfully and breached public trust. The court ordered both ministers to reimburse the misappropriated funds within 90 days. Shava was specifically directed to repay amounts borrowed from the Industrial Training and Trade Testing Fund and the Skilled Manpower Trade Testing and Certification Fund.^[13]