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The late Vice-President, Dr Joshua Nkomo received a deserved treble of honours yesterday. His statue, a key road named after him and Bulawayo’s main airport are important landmarks in the city where in 1950, the legend launched what later became an outstanding political career.
He was only 33 when he agreed to take over the leadership of the Southern Rhodesia African National Congress from Reverend Samkange. For the next 30 years, Dr Nkomo fought for national liberation. He won it on 18 April 1980.
The statue dominates its environment, as the man himself did politically for 49 years before he died on July 1, 1999. Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo Street, Main Street until yesterday, is one of Bulawayo’s busiest as are other routes named after nationalists, Robert Mugabe Way and Leopold Takawira. Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo International Airport is where visitors flying into the city land.
The timing of the posthumous honours could not be better. Yesterday was Unity Day, 26 years from the signing of the Unity Accord by Dr Nkomo and President Mugabe. This was probably the first time that the Government has organised an event to mark Unity Day. What a way to begin!
President Mugabe himself conferred the triple honours on the icon, who like him, masterminded the liberation struggle and the country’s post-independence development. Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo Street was closed to traffic over the past few days, except that connected to the business of the day.
A mock mall was set up as well, allowing businesses to operate on parts of Jason Moyo Street and Eighth Avenue, the immediate environs of the statue. Business came to a stop in the city as the President led the country in saluting one of its makers. The event was rightly solemn, as every occasion that remembers a departed person in Zimbabwean culture, and a celebration as well, witness the music, dance and poetry that came with it.
The Government gave the event the gravitas it merited that everyone, the Nkomo family and his former comrades in Zapu should be particularly happy that what was done yesterday was the best that could be done.
It was a profound gesture of respect to Dr Nkomo that demonstrates that national unity is alive. In death, Dr Nkomo becomes arguably Zimbabwe’s most decorated national hero. Before yesterday, we already had Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo Polytechnic in Gwanda and Joshua Nkomo Road, formerly Airport Road in Harare.
Many public schools are named after him as well as a good number of housing co-operatives. Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo International Airport was already known as such for many years. A new terminal was built, an investment of $30 million and was opened for traffic at the beginning of last month.
President Mugabe officially commissioned the modern facility yesterday. On 27 June 2000, the Government issued postage stamps featuring Dr Nkomo.
Econet Wireless has been running the Joshua Nkomo Scholarship Fund since 2005 in his honour. It was great that the Government bestowed the honours well after the July elections, allowing the proceedings to go on without the risk, or possibility of them being misinterpreted as an attempt by Zanu-PF to use Dr Nkomo’s name for political expediency.
If there was a desire to use the model as a political marketing point, the revolutionary party could have timed the occasion before the July elections, say on the day when President Mugabe addressed his star rally in Bulawayo.
But by choosing yesterday, a whole four months after the elections which it not only won, but won emphatically, Zanu-PF has shown that it is not about to stoop so low as to abuse important figures for parochial benefit. Some local political actors have attempted to abuse certain political moments in our history for political gain, but the people have rejected them.
As we celebrated Dr Nkomo’s works and legacy yesterday, we note that Ekusileni Medical Centre, a health facility whose construction he inspired, remains unopened. At least by yesterday morning, it was virtually overwhelmed by grass which is thriving as the life-giving summer rains continue to fall.
It received a facelift of its own at the weekend when a new name plaque was put on, replacing the one whose plastic lettering was peeling off. The new one is more specific to the late national hero as it is emblazoned with the man’s picture. We read yesterday that $50 million to equip the hospital had been secured from investors in Botswana and South Africa. Good news, that is.
Mrs Thandiwe Nkomo-Ibrahim, his eldest daughter said: “We have negotiated with donors and secured funding, so without doubt, we expect to open the doors of the hospital to patients in March or thereabouts.”
Lack of funding has hampered efforts to replace obsolete equipment at the architecturally impressive facility and get it open. The money has been secured, as Mrs Nkomo-Ibrahim assured Zimbabwe, and the Government has underwritten it. Donors are assured that their investment is safe, and Zimbabweans, who collectively own Ekusileni Medical Centre, are reassured that their project is on course.
It is embarrassing, and sad too, that the hospital has remained closed since 2004. March must be the time.
Online Reporter