adminBongani Ndlovu Showbiz Correspondent
AMBASSADOR Simon Khaya Moyo yesterday said it was important for key events in Zimbabwe’s history such as the Unity Day Celebrations held last year where Dr Joshua Nkomo was honoured, to be documented so that they can be seen by future generations.Speaking at the launch of Dr Nkomo’s book Unity and Honour at the Joshua Nkomo Memorial Museum in Bulawayo, Ambassador Moyo said Dr Nkomo’s legacy would not die as he stood for humanity.
Today marks 15 years since the death of Dr Joshua Mqabuko kaNyongolo Nkomo.
The 40 paged book captures the events of December 22 last year where President Mugabe commissioned the Joshua Mqabuko International Airport, officiated at the unveiling of the Joshua Nkomo statue and the renaming of Main Street to Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo Street.
The book is a compilation of speeches and pictures of President Mugabe, Ambassador Simon Khaya Moyo, Dr Obert Mpofu, Michael Sibangilizwe Nkomo, Dr Ignatius Chombo, Edward Ginqusaba Nyongolo Nkomo, Thandi Nkomo Ibrahim and Kembo Mohadi during the celebrations.
Ambassador Moyo said they were launching Dr Nkomo’s book in his honour, describing him as a visionary leader with charisma.
“His deeds live forever. It is in recognition of his selfless contribution to the liberation of this country and his illustrious service to Zimbabwe that we launch this concise booklet,” he said.
Ambassador Moyo said the book would be sold at $5 with proceeds going to the Joshua Nkomo National Foundation coffers to preserve the museum.
“The Museum should not fade away and we want to keep Dr Nkomo’s legacy through the sale of these books. So when the books are sold for $5 each, we as the board want the proceeds to go to the Joshua Nkomo National Foundation,” he said. Ambassador Moyo, who is also the Founder Trustee of the foundation, said when he tasked the editor of the book Felix Moyo, he asked him to capture events which took place at last year’s Unity Day celebrations and he did so with aplomb.
Speaking on the sidelines of the book launch, Moyo said it took six weeks to produce the book.
“I was approached by Ambassador S K Moyo in mid May to edit the Unity and Honour book. Within three days he had brought me the hard copies of the speeches. It took a week for us to re-type everything and have it on soft copy,” he said. Moyo said thereafter they began looking for archival pictures of Dr Nkomo such as the Lancaster House Agreement and the signing of the Unity Accord.
“We went into serious editing and looking for pictures of the day and others of the Unity Accord and Lancaster House Agreement. The book went into a readability test, once we were satisfied then we sought quotations from the printers,” he said.
The book launch was attended by Minister Francis Nhema – the Joshua Nkomo Foundation Board Chairman, Bulawayo Minister of State Nomthandazo Moyo and Matabeleland South Minister of State Angeline Masuku among other dignitaries.
Family members who also attended included Thandiwe Nkomo-Ibrahim, Sibangilizwe Nkomo and Dr Nkomo’s brother, Edward.
derick.khumalo