Sundaymail Editor
Bulawayo Bureau
AS he delivered his speech, President Mnangagwa imagined the late Dr Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo smiling down upon him and thousands of ZANU PF followers who gathered at Nyele Primary School in Bulilima district, Matabeleland South province, yesterday for a rally held as the country celebrated the 24th anniversary of the late founding nationalist’s death.
About 33 years after Bulilima last hosted the country’s Head of State, the humble district woke up to clouds of dust as the masses, in vehicles big and small and on foot, made their way to the venue for a rally that doubled up as the launch of ZANU PF’s campaign in the province and the commemoration of Dr Nkomo’s death.
The thousands who had braved the biting early cold in Matabeleland South got what they had been longing for when the President arrived around mid-morning.
“Why have we come here? We have come here to Matabeleland South, the province that gave the country some of the luminaries of the revolution, heroes and heroines, heroes such as our founding father, Father Zimbabwe, the late national hero and former Vice President, Dr Joshua Mqabuko Nyongolo Nkomo, Cde Jason Ziyaphapha Moyo, George Silundika, Naison Khutshwekhaya Ndlovu, loMama Thenjawe Lesabe, among many other sons and daughters of the revolution who came from this province. So, we who are their leaders have to honour their leadership,” said President Mnangagwa. to thunderous applause.
The rally was held in the country’s self-proclaimed rainbow province, so named because of the variety of languages spoken on this southern tip of Zimbabwe.
With various speakers taking to the podium and giving speeches in various languages, the presence of President Mnangagwa seemed to have indeed evoked the spirit of the late Dr Nkomo, a nationalist who had always spoken of his desire to see Zimbabwe’s tribes and races united as one.
“Most importantly, we chose July 1, why? Because Father Zimbabwe, Chibwechitedza; it’s the 24th anniversary of his death. So, today, first and foremost, we are celebrating the anniversary of Father Zimbabwe.
“We are not only celebrating with this huge rally, a rally that has never, never happened in this country, particularly in Matabeleland South.
“We have never had a rally this big in Matabeleland South. It is so big, well, the spirit of the founding father is amongst us today. It is hovering over us and saying, bantwana bami, you remember me,” said President Mnangagwa.
Staying true to the inclusive mood of the rally, President Mnangagwa showed the versatility of his learned tongue, switching from one language to the other — Shona, Ndebele and English — in a speech that had much humour and wisdom in equal measure.
It was indeed a historic day to the province and Zimbabwe at large.
Online Reporter