Banana was a controversial figure , especially after his criminal conviction . As President , he did not always command respect ( a law had to be passed in 1982 to prevent Zimbabweans from joking about his surname ) . Nevertheless , he was held in esteem by some for his involvement in Zimbabwe 's liberation struggle and later for his role in uniting ZANU and ZAPU , which ended the '' Gukurahundi '' massacres . After his death , Mugabe called him a " rare gift to the nation . " Banana was born on 5 March 1936 , near Essexvale ( now Esigodini ) , Matabeleland , Southern Rhodesia . His mother was an Ndebele , and his father was an ethnic Basotho who had emigrated from Lesotho . He attended the local Mzinyati mission school , before completing his secondary education at Tegwani High School in Plumtree . He later studied at a teacher training institute before earning a diploma in theology at Epworth Theological College in Salisbury ( today Harare ) . He was ordained a United Methodist minister in 1962 . Between 1962 and 1966 , he worked as a minister , visiting chaplain , and school administrator in Wankie ( today Hwange ) and Plumtree . In 1969 , he was elected Chairman of the Bulawayo Council of Churches , an office he held until 1971 . Between 1970 and 1973 , he chaired the Southern Africa Content Group , part of the All Africa Conference of Churches ' urban-industrial ministry . In that capacity , he worked with southern African churches as they adjusted to respond , theologically and practically , to urbanisation and industrialisation . During this time , he was also a member of the Advisory Committee of the World Council of Churches
Gukurahundi
Gukurahundi
Canaan Banana