Online Reporter
Herald Reporter
ZIMBABWE continues to make strides in uplifting the lives of ordinary citizens, drawing inspiration from the enduring legacy of the late Vice President Dr Joshua Mqabuko Nyongolo Nkomo and his generation of nationalists who sacrificed everything for the country’s liberation, President Mnangagwa has said.
In a statement marking the 26th anniversary of Dr Nkomo’s death on July 1, 1999, President Mnangagwa yesterday described the founding nationalist as a symbol of unity, peace and nation-building, whose vision continues to guide Zimbabwe’s development trajectory.
“Today, July 1, the nation of Zimbabwe joins the Nkomo family in remembering our liberation luminary and national hero, former Vice President “Father Zimbabwe” Dr Joshua Mqabuko Nyongolo Nkomo, on the 26th anniversary of his demise,” said the President.
He said Dr Nkomo rose from humble beginnings under successive colonial regimes and went on to become a central figure in the liberation movement, working alongside other nationalist stalwarts such as Benjamin Burombo, Masotsha Ndlovu, George Nyandoro, Michael Mawema, Morton Malianga and the late President Robert Mugabe.
Together, they formed the National Democratic Party to spearhead the fight against colonial oppression.
“The wheels of the revolution never stopped thereafter, until the birth of our beloved motherland Zimbabwe in 1980,” President Mnangagwa said.
He praised Dr Nkomo — affectionately known as “Chibwe Chitedza” and “Umdala Wethu” — for his steadfast commitment to the land question, which lay at the heart of the liberation struggle.
Although Dr Nkomo passed away a year before the Land Reform Programme began in 2000, President Mnangagwa said the late Vice President’s call for unity and land reclamation continues to resonate with the nation’s aspirations.
“A true son of the soil, Dr Nkomo was passionate about the land as the major reason for which the armed struggle had been waged,” said the President.
“In a cruel twist of fate, Dr Nkomo did not live to witness the Land Reform Programme, which commenced a year after his demise.
“However, his clarion call for unity of purpose continued to inspire an entire nation to reclaim its heritage.”
He said the successful reclamation of land has inspired young farmers to break production records in agriculture subsectors such as dairy, tobacco and horticulture.
“These and other success stories resonate well with the mantra, Nyika Inovakwa Nevene Vayo/Ilizwe Lakhiwa Ngabanikazi Balo, as the attainment of Vision 2030 draws closer.
“Inspired by Dr Nkomo and his generation of heroic and selfless nationalists, our nation continues to defy all odds and scale new heights in the socio-economic upliftment of all Zimbabweans, irrespective of race, ethnicity, colour or creed.”
The President also described Dr Nkomo as a bedrock of peace, whose commitment to unity and reconciliation laid the foundation for Zimbabwe’s stability and progress.
“Umdala Wethu and his generation of impeccable revolutionaries always preached peace as the bedrock of nation building.
“As the Second Republic, we are using the peace dividend to implement people-oriented policies and high-impact programmes and projects in our endeavour to deliver decent livelihoods to all citizens in a free and democratic Zimbabwe.”
President Mnangagwa highlighted ongoing efforts to drive industrialisation and innovation, particularly through the country’s institutions of higher learning.
“In our tenure at the helm of SADC, we are steering our sub-region to attain food security and to industrialise for greater competitiveness in global markets,” he added.
“Our innovation hubs at institutions of higher learning are resolutely exploring and commercialising new technologies, including those that will assist our nation in combating the ravages of climate change as well as the drug abuse scourge.
“As our great Motherland looks forward to commemorating our heroes and heroines during the coming month of August, we say, may the dear soul of the late Father Zimbabwe, Chibwe Chitedza, Umdala Wethu, Dr Joshua Mqabuko Nyongolo Nkomo, rest in eternal peace.”
