Greeks in Zimbabwe
| Regions with significant populations | |
|---|---|
| Harare | |
| Languages | |
| English, Greek | |
| Religion | |
| Greek Orthodox Church |
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 2 3 4 Hellenic Republic: Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Zimbabwe: The Greek Community Archived May 7, 2008, at the Wayback Machine.
- 1 2 3 Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria and all Africa Holy Archbishopric of Zimbabwe
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ Greeks 'strongly behind' Zimbabwe Archived August 21, 2008, at the Wayback Machine.
| Traditional areas of Greek settlement |  Map of countries with the largest Greek communities | |
|---|---|---|
| Western and Central Europe | ||
| Former Soviet Union | ||
| Asia | ||
| Sub-Saharan Africa | ||
| Americas | ||
| Oceania | ||
