Denis R. Norman (26 March 1931 – 20 December 2019) was a British-Zimbabwean politician who spent a total of twelve years in the Cabinet of Robert Mugabe. He was known as "Nothing Wrong Norman" due to his penchant for trying to put a positive spin on difficult situations.[1][2]
From 2003 he lived in Oxfordshire, England, before his death on 20 December 2019.[3]
Career
Norman headed the Commercial Farmers' Union when Robert Mugabe came to power in 1980.[1][2][4] Norman was appointed Minister of Agriculture that same year, and held the position from 1980 to 1985.[1][2][4][5] Mugabe asked Norman to leave the government after the 1985 elections which resulted in Ian Smith's faction winning most of the (minority-designated) white roll seats. The then-Prime Minister was aggrieved that the party which was sympathetic to ZANU-PF's cause did not win even though Mugabe had 'tried to appeal to the white population in Zimbabwe'.[6] Norman proceeded to head the Beira Corridor Group,[7] before being appointed to two positions by President Mugabe – Minister of Transport and Minister of Power – from 1990 to 1997.[1][2][8] As minister of transport, Norman began introducing safety regulations for public transport.[9]
References
- ^ a b c d Holland, Heidi (2008). Dinner with Mugabe. London: Penguin Books. pp. 107–125. ISBN 978-0-14-104079-0.
- ^ a b c d "Denis Norman". Roots Web. Retrieved 10 June 2009.
- ^ "The Times e-paper web". epaper.thetimes.co.uk.
- ^ a b Rook, Mike. "Farmer At War, 30 years on..." SW Radio Africa. Archived from the original on 16 July 2011. Retrieved 10 June 2009.
- ^ Lamb, Christina (24 February 2003). "Could Zimbabwe be the next Rwanda". New Statesman. Retrieved 10 June 2009.
- ^ Holland, Heidi (2008). Dinner With Mugabe: The untold story of a freedom fighter who became a tyrant. South Africa: Penguin Books. p. 114.
- ^ Lewis, Anthony (22 January 1987). "AT HOME ABROAD; The Beira Corridor". New York Times. Retrieved 10 June 2009.
- ^ "Zimbabwe: 1990 General Elections". EISA. Archived from the original on 5 December 2008. Retrieved 10 June 2009.
- ^ Tendai Hildegarde Manzvanzvike (24 April 2009). "Zimbabwe: Bus Disasters - When is Enough, Enough?". The Herald. Retrieved 10 June 2009.