The Greeks in Zimbabwe comprise about 3,000 people of
Greek
Greek may refer to:
Greece
Anything of, from, or related to Greece, a country in Southern Europe:
*Greeks, an ethnic group.
*Greek language, a branch of the Indo-European language family.
**Proto-Greek language, the assumed last common ancestor ...
origin, almost half of them from the island of
Cyprus
Cyprus ; tr, Kıbrıs (), officially the Republic of Cyprus,, , lit: Republic of Cyprus is an island country located south of the Anatolian Peninsula in the eastern Mediterranean Sea. Its continental position is disputed; while it is geo ...
.
[Hellenic Republic: Ministry of Foreign Affairs]
Zimbabwe: The Greek Community
Zimbabwe currently hosts eleven Greek Orthodox churches and fifteen Greek associations and humanitarian organizations.
Holy Archbishopric of Zimbabwe
Most of the Greek community are to be found in
Harare
Harare (; formerly Salisbury ) is the capital and most populous city of Zimbabwe. The city proper has an area of 940 km2 (371 mi2) and a population of 2.12 million in the 2012 census and an estimated 3.12 million in its metropolitan ...
, and to a lesser extent
Bulawayo
Bulawayo (, ; Ndebele: ''Bulawayo'') is the second largest city in Zimbabwe, and the largest city in the country's Matabeleland region. The city's population is disputed; the 2022 census listed it at 665,940, while the Bulawayo City Council cl ...
,
Gweru
Gweru is a city in central Zimbabwe. Near the geographical centre of the country. It is on the centre of Midlands Province. Originally an area known to the Northern Ndebele people, Ndebele as "The Steep Place" because of the Gweru River's high ...
and
Kwekwe
Kwekwe ( ), known until 1983 as Que Que, is a city in the Midlands province of central Zimbabwe. The city has a population of 119,863 within the city limits, as of the 2022 census, making it the 7th-largest city in Zimbabwe and the second-most p ...
. Many Greek Zimbabweans maintain their identity through the observation of Greek customs and traditions, and their adherence to their
Greek Orthodox
The term Greek Orthodox Church (Greek language, Greek: Ἑλληνορθόδοξη Ἐκκλησία, ''Ellinorthódoxi Ekklisía'', ) has two meanings. The broader meaning designates "the Eastern Orthodox Church, entire body of Orthodox (Chalced ...
Christian faith, whilst also participating in Zimbabwean society. The number of people reporting their ethnicity as Greek in Zimbabwe was over 3,000 in the 2012 census. An estimated 30,000 to 45,000 people have Greek ancestry, a majority of whom now reside abroad.
In the modern era, many Greeks came by way of
Cyprus
Cyprus ; tr, Kıbrıs (), officially the Republic of Cyprus,, , lit: Republic of Cyprus is an island country located south of the Anatolian Peninsula in the eastern Mediterranean Sea. Its continental position is disputed; while it is geo ...
,
Greece
Greece,, or , romanized: ', officially the Hellenic Republic, is a country in Southeast Europe. It is situated on the southern tip of the Balkans, and is located at the crossroads of Europe, Asia, and Africa. Greece shares land borders with ...
and to a lesser extent
South Africa
South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the north by the neighbouring countri ...
, the Congo and Egypt to Zimbabwe, coming in waves from the 1950s to the early 1970s. The vast majority of these migrants came to Harare, which still noticeable Hellenic heritage with churches, restaurants, small businesses and social clubs. Suburbs that became Greek hubs during this era include
Milton Park
Milton Park is a mixed use business and technology park in Oxfordshire, England, operated by MEPC plc.
It is just south of the village of Milton, about west of Didcot. It is on the site of a former Ministry of Defence depot between the A ...
, Greendale, Newlands,
Highlands
Highland is a broad term for areas of higher elevation, such as a mountain range or mountainous plateau.
Highland, Highlands, or The Highlands, may also refer to:
Places Albania
* Dukagjin Highlands
Armenia
* Armenian Highlands
Australia
*Sou ...
, and Eastlea, the latter of which the Hellenic Club of Harare is based.
History
Background
Few Greek people resided in early Rhodesia, due to an immigration policy that favoured British settlers, while discriminating against Europeans particularly those from non-Protestant backgrounds. Rhodesian whites created an image of a thriving settler community presiding
over the African majority.
One of the reasons for screening immigrants was to avoid “poor white aliens” entering the colony. Rhodesian settlers considered whites who lived below their expected standards as undesirables, or they were simply known as the “other”. As they began to enter the country, Greeks were negatively stereotyped as undesirables and often faced hurdles settling in the country.
The line of thinking behind this policy was clearly articulated by
Ethel Tawse Jollie
Ethel Maud Tawse Jollie (8 March 1874 – 21 September 1950; née Cookson; widowed Colquhoun) was a writer and political activist in Southern Rhodesia who was the first female parliamentarian in the British overseas empire.
Career
Cookson was b ...
who noted in the
Zimbabwe Herald
''The Herald'' is a state-owned daily newspaper published in Harare, the capital of Zimbabwe.
History
Origins
The newspaper's origins date back to the 19th century. Its forerunner was launched on 27 June 1891 by William Fairbridge for the Ar ...
in the 1920s that:
''The average British-born Rhodesian feels that this is essentially a British
country, pioneered, bought and developed by British people, and he
wants to keep it so''
Displaced persons and refugees
Many Greeks immigrated to Zimbabwe for a better life, in the wake of
World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
and the
Greek Civil War
The Greek Civil War ( el, ο Eμφύλιος όλεμος ''o Emfýlios'' 'Pólemos'' "the Civil War") took place from 1946 to 1949. It was mainly fought against the established Kingdom of Greece, which was supported by the United Kingdom ...
, fought from 1946 to 1949. Rhodesian authorities who had long discriminated and limited the entry of non-Protestant and British migrants as 'undesirable whites', were pressured by the British government to accept more refugees. As a member of the International Refugee Organization, the country allowed a few Greeks and Poles to settle in the early 1950s. Although most arrivals found work in retail and manufacturing jobs in Harare, some found work in hydroelectric construction and heavy industry where there was a severe shortage of labour in the early post-war period.
The "Golden Age"
A greater influx of Greek immigration took place in the 1950s and 1960s due to economic and political problems in Greece and as the country's economy expanded during the Federal years. Many Greeks emigrated from Greece during this period, a small minority of whom came to Zimbabwe. Many Greeks settled in the central districts of Salisbury, finding work in retail, manufacturing, construction and hospitality. The Greek community's population peaked in the mid-1970s, with over 15,000 Greeks and their Zimbabwean descendants.
Greek Cypriots
A disproportionate number of Greeks came to the country directly from Cyprus. Cyprus was also a British territory and most where able to immigrate to the country as
British subjects. Most Greek Cypriots arrived in the period after World War Two between 1948 and 1960. Some Cypriots arrived from Greek
Cyprus
Cyprus ; tr, Kıbrıs (), officially the Republic of Cyprus,, , lit: Republic of Cyprus is an island country located south of the Anatolian Peninsula in the eastern Mediterranean Sea. Its continental position is disputed; while it is geo ...
following the
Turkish invasion of Cyprus
The Turkish invasion of Cyprus began on 20 July 1974 and progressed in two phases over the following month. Taking place upon a background of Cypriot intercommunal violence, intercommunal violence between Greek Cypriots, Greek and Turkish ...
in 1974, as then Smith government removed restrictions on Europeans to boost the white population. Greek Cypriots have built their own community hall and community associations often paving the way for the broader Greek community.
The Greek community in Zimbabwe numbered between 13,000 and 15,000 people in 1972 but following the deterioration of Zimbabwe's domestic and financial situation has been reduced to a fraction of its former size.
[ The country's highest-scoring ]flying ace
A flying ace, fighter ace or air ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down five or more enemy aircraft during aerial combat. The exact number of aerial victories required to officially qualify as an ace is varied, but is usually co ...
of World War II, John Plagis
Ioannis Agorastos "John" Plagis,., group=n, name=greek DSO, DFC & Bar (1919–1974) was a Southern Rhodesian flying ace in the Royal Air Force (RAF) during the Second World War, noted especially for his part in the defence of Malta during 1942 ...
, was the son of Greek immigrants from the island of Lemnos
Lemnos or Limnos ( el, Λήμνος; grc, Λῆμνος) is a Greek island in the northern Aegean Sea. Administratively the island forms a separate municipality within the Lemnos regional unit, which is part of the North Aegean region. The p ...
.
Present situation
Since 2000, a growing number of Greek Zimbabweans sought Greek passports, in the wake of the country's economic crisis. Most have done so in order to gain easy access to the EU and many have joined the Zimbabwean diaspora
The Zimbabwean diaspora refers to the diaspora of immigrants from the nation of Zimbabwe and their descendants who now reside in other countries. The number of Zimbabweans living outside Zimbabwe varies significantly from 4 to 7 million peopl ...
in the United Kingdom. As such, the community has begun to stagnate with many young people choosing to migrate. Greek citizenship is acquired by birth by all persons born in Greece, and all persons born with at least one parent who is a registered Greek citizen. Any person who is ethnically Greek born outside Greece may become a Greek citizen through naturalization, providing they can prove a parent or grandparent was born as a national of Greece.
The local Greek community and Greece itself are active in the field of humanitarian assistance to Zimbabwe.Greeks 'strongly behind' Zimbabwe
Apart from a few landowners and businesspeople the majority of Greeks in the country are occupied in trade and other activities that contribute considerably to the country's economy.
[ There are Greek communities in various cities in the country,][ including ]Bulawayo
Bulawayo (, ; Ndebele: ''Bulawayo'') is the second largest city in Zimbabwe, and the largest city in the country's Matabeleland region. The city's population is disputed; the 2022 census listed it at 665,940, while the Bulawayo City Council cl ...
, Mutare
Mutare (formerly Umtali) is the most populous city in the province of Manicaland, and the third most populous city in Zimbabwe, having surpassed Gweru in the 2012 census, with an urban area, urban population of 224,802 and approximately 260,567 ...
, Gweru
Gweru is a city in central Zimbabwe. Near the geographical centre of the country. It is on the centre of Midlands Province. Originally an area known to the Northern Ndebele people, Ndebele as "The Steep Place" because of the Gweru River's high ...
and Harare
Harare (; formerly Salisbury ) is the capital and most populous city of Zimbabwe. The city proper has an area of 940 km2 (371 mi2) and a population of 2.12 million in the 2012 census and an estimated 3.12 million in its metropolitan ...
where the local community has been operating a Greek school since 1954.[ The Archbishopric of Zimbabwe and Southern Africa is under the jurisdiction of the ]Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria
The Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria and all Africa ( grc, Πατριαρχεῖον Ἀλεξανδρείας καὶ πάσης Ἀφρικῆς, Patriarcheîon Alexandreías kaì pásēs Aphrikês, The Patriarchate of Alexandria and ...
.[
]
Notable people
* Ioannes Antoniades- Former mayor of Gweru
Gweru is a city in central Zimbabwe. Near the geographical centre of the country. It is on the centre of Midlands Province. Originally an area known to the Northern Ndebele people, Ndebele as "The Steep Place" because of the Gweru River's high ...
(born in Othos of Karpathos island, 1864)
* Alexander Theodore Callinicos - Zimbabwean-British political theorist
A political theorist is someone who engages in constructing or evaluating political theory, including political philosophy. Theorists may be academics or independent scholars. Here the most notable political theorists are categorized by their ...
and activist
* Kiki Divaris -former model, designer and national hero.
*Mario Frangoulis
Mario Frangoulis ( el, Μάριος Φραγκούλης, Mários Frankoúlis; born 18 December 1967) is a Greek vocalist and theatre actor, famous for his refined tenor vocals. Born in Rhodesia, Frangoulis after his three decade long career has ...
- Greek singer (born 1967, from Kasos island)
* Vangelis Haritatos- Deputy Minister for Lands, Agriculture, Water, Climate and Rural Resettlement
* Helen Lieros - visual art
The visual arts are art forms such as painting, drawing, printmaking, sculpture, ceramics, photography, video, filmmaking, design, crafts and architecture. Many artistic disciplines such as performing arts, conceptual art, and textile arts ...
ist, gallerist
An art dealer is a person or company that buys and sells Work of art, works of art, or acts as the intermediary between the buyers and sellers of art.
An art dealer in contemporary art typically seeks out various artists to represent, and build ...
, art collector
A private collection is a privately owned collection of works (usually artworks) or valuable items. In a museum or art gallery context, the term signifies that a certain work is not owned by that institution, but is on loan from an individual ...
and owner of Delta Gallery
*John Plagis
Ioannis Agorastos "John" Plagis,., group=n, name=greek DSO, DFC & Bar (1919–1974) was a Southern Rhodesian flying ace in the Royal Air Force (RAF) during the Second World War, noted especially for his part in the defence of Malta during 1942 ...
- Flying Ace in the Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force (RAF) is the United Kingdom's air and space force. It was formed towards the end of the First World War on 1 April 1918, becoming the first independent air force in the world, by regrouping the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) and ...
(1919–1974, from Lemnos island)
*Sabrina
Sabrina may refer to:
* Sabrina (given name), a feminine given name, including a list of persons and fictional characters with the name
People
* Sabrina (actress), stage name of Norma Ann Sykes (1936–2016), a British glamour model and actres ...
, Greek singer (born 1969)
* Aravella Simotas- Zimbabwean American
Zimbabwean Americans are Americans of full or partial Zimbabwean ancestry. The Zimbabwean communities are localized, among other places, in California and Texas.
History
The first great wave of immigration from Rhodesia (modern-day Zimba ...
politician (born 1978)
* Brian Raftopoulos - author, academic and historian
*John Traicos
Athanasios John Traicos (born 17 May 1947) is a former cricketer who represented South Africa and Zimbabwe at international level. He was primarily an off spin bowler, and is one of a small number of cricketers to have played at the highest lev ...
- Zimbabwe & South African test cricketer (born 1947, from Lemnos & Kalymnos islands)
*George Zambellas
Admiral Sir George Michael Zambellas, (born 4 April 1958) is a retired Royal Navy officer. He was the First Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval Staff from April 2013 until he handed over duties to Admiral Sir Philip Jones in April 2016.
In his ea ...
- Chief of the Naval Staff of the Royal Navy
The Royal Navy (RN) is the United Kingdom's naval warfare force. Although warships were used by English and Scottish kings from the early medieval period, the first major maritime engagements were fought in the Hundred Years' War against F ...
(born 1958, from Castellorizo island)
See also
* Greece–Zimbabwe relations
References
{{Ethnic groups in Zimbabwe
Cypriot diaspora
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe (), officially the Republic of Zimbabwe, is a landlocked country located in Southeast Africa, between the Zambezi and Limpopo Rivers, bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the south-west, Zambia to the north, and Mozam ...
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe (), officially the Republic of Zimbabwe, is a landlocked country located in Southeast Africa, between the Zambezi and Limpopo Rivers, bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the south-west, Zambia to the north, and Mozam ...
Ethnic groups in Zimbabwe
European diaspora in Africa
Greeks
The Greeks or Hellenes (; el, Έλληνες, ''Éllines'' ) are an ethnic group and nation indigenous to the Eastern Mediterranean and the Black Sea regions, namely Greece, Cyprus, Albania, Italy, Turkey, Egypt, and, to a lesser extent, oth ...