Greeks in Zimbabwe

Zimbabwean Greeks
Έλληνες της Ζιμπάμπουε

Regions with significant populations
Harare
Languages
English, Greek
Religion
Greek Orthodox Church

Zimbabwe

Greek Zimbabweans (Greek: Έλληνες της Ζιμπάμπουε) comprise about 2,500 people of Greek origin, almost half of them from the island of Cyprus.^[1] Zimbabwe currently hosts eleven Greek Orthodox churches and fifteen Greek associations and humanitarian organizations.^[2]

History

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.^[1] The country's highest-scoring flying ace of World War II, John Plagis, was the son of Greek immigrants from the island of Lemnos.^[3]

Present situation

The local Greek community and Greece itself are active in the field of humanitarian assistance to Zimbabwe.^[4] 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.^[1] There are Greek communities in various cities in the country,^[2] including Bulawayo, Mutare, Gweru and Harare where the local community has been operating a Greek school since 1954.^[1] The Archbishopric of Zimbabwe and Southern Africa is under the jurisdiction of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria.^[2]

Notable people

• Mario Frangoulis, Greek singer (born 1967)
• John Plagis, Flying Ace in the Royal Air Force (1919–1974)
• Sabrina, Greek singer (born 1969)
• George Zambellas, Chief of the Naval Staff of the Royal Navy (born 1958)
• John Traicos, Zimbabwe & South African test cricketer (born 1947)

References

1. Hellenic Republic: Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Zimbabwe: The Greek Community Archived May 7, 2008, at the Wayback Machine.
2. Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria and all Africa Holy Archbishopric of Zimbabwe
3. Shores, Christopher F; Williams, Clive (1966). Aces High: the Fighter Aces of the British and Commonwealth Air Forces in World War II. London: Neville Spearman Publishing. p. 73. OCLC 654945475.; Charousis, Chariton (December 2010). Έλληνες Άσσοι σε Συμμαχικές Αεροπορίες κατά το Β΄ Παγκόσμιο Πόλεμο [Greek Aces in Allied Air Forces in World War II] (PDF). Aviation Review (in Greek). Athens: Hellenic Air Force: pp. 114–127. Retrieved 14 September 2013.
4. Greeks 'strongly behind' Zimbabwe Archived August 21, 2008, at the Wayback Machine.