Harare– Deputy Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water, and Rural Development, Vangelis Haritatos, turned 40 on Wednesday, using the milestone to publicly reflect on a decade of political rise, profound personal loss, and his wife’s nine miscarriages.

In a statement posted on his twitter handle on his birthday, the Muzvezve Member of Parliament — who was named Zimbabwe’s Best Performing Deputy Minister for 2025 earlier this year — described life as “not easy” while vowing to rededicate himself to public service.

Haritatos, born at Redcliffe Medical Centre weighing 5kg and nicknamed “Baby Elephant,” is the youngest of three children. He was educated in Zimbabwe, Italy, and the United States before entering politics. First elected in 2018 at age 32, he was then the youngest minister serving in the government. He was re‑elected in 2023 and reappointed to his current deputy ministry.

But the politician also recounted deep personal tragedy. In 2021, he lost both parents just 18 days apart. “My life changed forever, losing my idol and heroes,” he wrote, thanking his late mother and father for “carving your names on not only my heart, but the hearts of so many.”

Haritatos further revealed that his wife endured nine miscarriages while raising their three children. “Many of you will not know that,” he said, praising her as “the most amazing mother.”

The deputy minister, who still lives in Muzvezve where he grew up, acknowledged he has not done all he could in his first 40 years. “I pray that I do though within the next 40 years because indeed life is short and time is never on our side.”

He closed with a Bible verse, Matthew 20:26: “Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant,” and thanked his constituents: “I am very little without you.”