10 Things You Didn’t Know About Zimbabwe’s First Lady Janet Banana

Janet Banana became the first ever first lady of Zimbabwe in 1980 when Zimbabwe gained its Independence. Now living in England, Janet’s life may not be what you expect a former first lady’s life to be.

Here are ten things you didn’t know about the former first lady of Zimbabwe.

1. Janet Banana was born Janet Mbuyazwe in 1938 in Matabeleland Zimbabwe to farmer parents.

2. She trained to become a teacher and it’s during that time she met a fellow teacher, Canaan Banana.

3. She married the Zimbabwe’s first President in 1961 and served as the first Lady of Zimbabwe from 1980-1987.

4. Whilst serving as the first lady she was invited as an honored guest to attend Prince Charles and Princess Diana’s wedding.

5. Janet and Canaan had four children together. She moved to America with her kids during the war and returned in 1975 when the war was still much in full swing.

6. Janet never enjoyed her stay at the State House because everything was done for her and she missed home cooking and her family. Janet says she was lonely at the State House.

7. Janet found out that her husband was gay from his bodyguard just before they moved out of the State House. The couple continued to live together.

8. After her husband was arrested, she left for England with her 18year old daughter seeking for political asylum in October 2000.

9. Upon arrival in London the former first lady of Zimbabwe moved into a one room flat with a budget of 10pounds a week.

10. In February 2006 Janet Banana was granted British citizenship and took an oath of allegiance in a ceremony in the London Borough of Haringey.