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Oral history interview with Bernard T.G. Chidzero, 2000

Creator: Chidzero, Bernard T. G., 1927-2002
Project: United Nations intellectual history project (UNIHP).
(see all project interviews)
Phys. Desc. :sound file : digital preservation master, WAV files (96 kHz, 24 bit)
Location: Columbia Center for Oral History
Full CLIO record >>

Biographical Note

United Nations official; Minister of finance & government advisor, Zimbabwe

Scope and Contents

Childhood in Harare: working on Edinburgh estate, tobacco farming, early education, secondary school, and university in South Africa; study of psychology, outbreak of WWII, segregated school and town. Move to Canada, study of imperialism, mandate systems, and African nationalisms. 1958: racial tensions surrounding academic career, marriage, joining UN as an officer in Ethiopia. Research into economic and social consequences of segregation and discrimination, work with Economic Commission of Africa (ECA), UNDP in Kenya. 1962: move to Genvea to direct Commodities Division, 1967: experiences with Kenya's Unilateral Declaration of Independence, South-South cooperation and Southern leaders. 1970s: Differences between UNCTAD, IMF, World Bank; UNCTAD deputy secretary general. 1980: Zimbabwean independence and work with new government and Mugabe. Role of third-world in globalization, SADC and development in Southern Africa. Women's equality as central to development; role of consensus and discussion. Retirement to Zimbabwean government, intellectual and operational challenges for the future of the UN

Subjects

Access Conditions

Copyright by the Ralph Bunche Institute for International Studies, The Graduate Center, The City University of New York, 2001

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