Yvonne Vera (September 19, 1964 - April 7, 2005) was an award-winning author from Zimbabwe. Her novels are known for their poetic prose, difficult subject-matter, and their strong women characters, and are firmly rooted in Zimbabwe’s difficult past. For these reasons, she has been widely studied and appreciated by those studying postcolonial African literature.
In 2005, Vera passed away from AIDS-related meningitis, in Toronto, Canada.
An historic 1979 photo shows two leaders of the Zimbabwean liberation struggle against racist Rhodesia: Lookout Masuku, commander of the Zimbabwe People’s Liberation Army (Zipra) and Solomon Mujuru (aka Rex Nhongo) of the Zimbabwe National Liberation Army (Zanla).
Comrade Mujuru died on Aug. 16. Some 40,000 people turned out for his funeral.