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Elisabeth Valerio

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Elisabeth Isabel Valerio is a Zimbabwean businesswoman and politician who is leader of the United Zimbabwe Alliance (UZA).[1] She was the only female candidate for president in the 2023 Zimbabwean general election.[2]

Early life and education

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Elisabeth Valerio was born in Masvingo, Zimbabwe.[3] She grew up in Hwange in Matabeleland North Province.[4] She spent most of her childhood in the mid-1970s in her parents’ grocery store at Machipisa Shopping Center in Highfield.[5]

Valerio attended University of California, Los Angeles.[6]

Career

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Valerio is a biochemist and conservationist by profession.[7][8] She began her career as a biochemist then moved to Hwange, where she became an environmentalist.[9] In 2020, Elisabeth was led a national appeal to Emmerson Mnangagwa to stop coal mining in the Hwange National Park and any other park reserve, the Zimbabwe’s cabinet then announced that no mining would occur within any national park in Zimbabwe. She is the founding Chairperson for the Association for Tourism Hwange.[10]

In 2022, Elisabeth founded of the Entrepreneurial & Leadership Initiative for Sustainability in Africa (ELISA). Elisabeth Valerio established United Zimbabwe Alliance political party in 2022. The party was launched on 16 March 2022 at the Andy Millar Hall in Harare, Zimbabwe.[11]

Valerio became an official candidate in the 2023 Zimbabwean general election after winning an appeal barring her participation.[2][12] In the election she came ninth out of eleven candidates.[13]

Personal life

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Valerio's mother Isabel Madangure was the first woman to contest a presidential election in African history.[6] They are descendants of Masvingo's chieftain Mugabe.[5]

References

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  1. ^ Chronicle, The (2023-08-16). "ZEC clears Elisabeth Isabel Valerio". The Chronicle. Retrieved 2023-08-26.
  2. ^ a b "BBC World Service - Newshour, Zimbabwe's only female presidential candidate wins appeal to stand". BBC. 2023-07-20. Retrieved 2023-08-03.
  3. ^ "Valerio vows to improve the lives of Zimbabweans | Business Times". businesstimes.co.zw. 2022-04-07. Retrieved 2023-10-09.
  4. ^ "Victory for Zimbabwe's only female candidate in the presidential race". TimesLIVE. Retrieved 2023-08-03.
  5. ^ a b ngoafricawatch (2023-03-20). "'Zimbabwe is ready for a female President'- Elisabeth Valerio -". ngoafricawatch.com. Retrieved 2023-08-03.
  6. ^ a b "UZA candidate Valerio dreams big". The Herald. Retrieved 2023-08-03.
  7. ^ Chifamba, Jerry (2023-07-21). "Zimbabwe: Are Zimbabweans Ready to Elect a Woman President?". allAfrica.com. Retrieved 2023-08-03.
  8. ^ "Opposition presidential candidate calls for lifting of sanctions". The Herald. Retrieved 2023-10-09.
  9. ^ Nyandoro, Donald. "Exploitation of resources jolted me into politics: Valerio". NewsDay. Retrieved 2023-10-09.
  10. ^ Trevor, In Conversation With, Elisabeth Valerio, 2023 Presidential Candidate, United Zimbabwe Alliance In Conversation With Trevor, retrieved 2023-10-09
  11. ^ ZimSitRep_M (2022-03-18). "Zimbabwean Businesswoman Launches New Opposition Party". Zimbabwe Situation. Retrieved 2023-10-09.
  12. ^ "Zimbabwean Businesswoman Launches New Opposition Party". VOA. 2022-03-16. Retrieved 2023-10-09.
  13. ^ "Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa wins re-election after troubled vote, officials say". AP News. 2023-08-26. Retrieved 2023-08-28.
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