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Bruce Ndlovu, Sunday News Reporter
AS he delivered his speech, President Mnangagwa imagined a proud Dr Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo smiling down upon him and thousands of Zanu-PF followers who had gathered at Nyele Primary School in Bulilima District, Matabeleland South Province, during a rally held on the 24th anniversary celebrations of the late founding nationalist’s death.
Thirty-three years after Bulilima last hosted the country’s Head of State, the humble district woke up to clouds of dust, as rally attendants, in vehicles big and small, made their way to Nyele Primary School for a rally that doubled up as the launch of Zanu-PF’s campaign in the province.
The thousands that had braved the biting early cold in Matabeleland South got what they had been longing for since their dust raising arrival at the venue when the President finally arrived at around mid-morning.
Fists were raised high into the air, as the helicopter delivering President Mnangagwa into the heart of Nyele hovered in the air, with thousands of eyes following the metallic bird’s flight until it nestled on the dry Bulilima dust.
For a brief moment, the whole venue was engulfed in dust and soot, as the very ground in Nyele seemed to rise in welcome of the President.
At the helicopter’s propellers rotated to a standstill, the ululations and whistles of an expectant crowd drowned the songs of the few birds that had not vacated their nests as thousands of Zanu PF supporters marched on what is usually a sleepy village.
A rainbow-coloured sea rose amidst the dust, as red, yellow, black and green caps were held aloft by thousands of fans that had been waiting for their leader, who in turn swung his own hands back and forth in enthusiastic response.
It was a reception that would have made the late Father Zimbabwe proud, signaling that the country has indeed come full circle, as the men and women who once played a game of deadly hide and seek with ruthless colonial forces are now fully in charge of steering their country’s fortunes.
“Why have we come here? We have come here to Matabeleland South, to the province that gave the country some of the lumaries of the revolution, heroes and heroines, magamba such as our founding father, Father Zimbabwe, the late National Hero and late Vice-President, Dr Joshua Mqabuko Nyongolo Nkomo, Cde Jason Ziyaphapha Moyo, George Silundika, Naison Khutshwekhaya Ndlovu loMama Thenjiwe 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.
This colourful reception received by President Mnangagwa and the rest of the Zanu-PF leadership was apt, with the rally being 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 invoked the spirit of the late Joshua 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 his 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 between Shona, Ndebele and English, in a speech that not only contained the fiery nationalist wisdom of the late Father Zimbabwe but also humour and wisdom in equal measure.
After last week’s rally in Chipinge, Vice-President Dr Constantino Chiwenga said a rally deep in the heart of rural Bulilima showed the President’s desire to stay in close touch with his people, however far flung they were.
“The whole country is here because the people want to see the President. This is a President that does not mind to go to even the most remote parts of the country. Last week, we were in far away Chipinge, where water comes out of rocks. This shows that we have a President that wants to be in touch with the people wherever they are,” he said.
Zanu-PF’s National Commissar Cde Mike Bimha said it was apt that the rally was held at Nyele Primary School, as the grandfather of the party’s candidate for the National Assembly in the constituency, Cde Dingimuzi Phuti, was one of those behind the construction of a school that had been crucial to the Government’s goal of advancing quality education in the area.
“Barrington Phuti was one of those that were there at the opening of the school in 1984. It was therefore fitting that the candidate for Bulilima is here as we host this rally here, at the same school that his grandfather helped build,” Cde Bimha said.
Ten years after the Zanu-PF wrestled control of Matabeleland South Province from the opposition, the party’s chairperson in the province, Cde Nqobizitha Mangaliso Ndhlovu said that in honour of the life and work of the late Father Zimbabwe, they would work to make sure that the province never fell in the wrong hands again.
“On 1 July 1999 the late President announced the passing of the late VP Nkomo at 9am. We are happy that on this day, the President has chosen to be with us. In his honour and in honour of your hard work Matabeleland South Province will never go to the opposition again,” said Cde Ndhlovu.
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