| Intro | Angolan politician |
| Is | Politician |
| From | Angola |
| Type | Politics |
| Gender | male |
| Death |
1 January 1970 |
David “Samwimbila” Chingunji (died in 1970) served as a top commander in UNITA, who became pro-Western rebels in the subsequent Angolan Civil War (1975-2002).
Chingunji died when UNITA forces tried to ambush Portuguese forces in 1970. Some said UNITA leader Jonas Savimbi, fearing a competitor for control of UNITA, ordered Chingunji’s assassination, alleging Chingunji had opposed the planned ambush but Savimbi insisted. Some witnesses say non-Portuguese killers shot Chingunji in the back. He had trained in the People’s Republic of China and the Chinese government openly named him as a possible successor to Savimbi. All of his brothers, with the exception of Dinho, died in mysterious circumstances.