NEW PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF ZIMBABWE PRESENTS CREDENTIALS
Press Release
BIO/3016
NEW PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF ZIMBABWE PRESENTS CREDENTIALS
19960503 Biographical NoteMachivenyika Tobias Mapuranga, the new Permanent Representative of Zimbabwe to the United Nations presented his credentials this afternoon to Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali.
Mr. Mapuranga has been Deputy Permanent Secretary for Political and Economic Affairs in his country's Ministry of Foreign Affairs since 1995. Prior to that, he served as an Assistant Secretary-General in various departments of the Organization of African Unity (OAU), including Political Affairs; Finance Administration and Conferences; and Education, Social Affairs, Culture, Health and Science (1987-1995).
Mr. Mapuranga served as Special Representative of the OAU Secretary- General to Rwanda (1992-1995) and in that capacity led the OAU delegation to broker the Arusha peace talks that led to the signing of the Arusha Peace Agreement on Rwanda.
From 1986 to 1987, Mr. Mapuranga was Deputy Secretary of Political and Economic Affairs in Zimbabwe's Ministry of Foreign Affairs after serving as High Commissioner of Zimbabwe to Zambia (1983-1986).
Mr. Mapuranga was a delegate to all OAU summits between 1982 and 1987 and in 1986 attended the eighth summit of the Non-Aligned Movement in Harare, Zimbabwe.
Prior to his diplomatic career, he was a lecturer at the University of Zimbabwe and at the University of Jos in Nigeria.
Mr. Mapuranga graduated with honours from the University of London in 1970 and received a Diploma in Development Studies from Oxford University in 1972. He also holds a Master's degree from the University of Edinburgh and received a Ph.D in African history from the University of London in 1980.
Born on 22 March 1947, Mr. Mapuranga is married and has five children.
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