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The news that Cde Sikhanyiso Duke Ndlovu is no more stimulated intense reflection and discussion about his career. But when reading obituaries and listening to various television and radio discussions one comes to a conclusion that he was a man of the people, and there are a lot of things that young politicians can learn from him. He left many traits that made him a national treasure, and no wonder he was buried at the National Heroes Acre. He listened, he spoke and he connected with the public in a way that most contemporary politicians can only dream of. To him, life was not about blaming other people, but telling youngsters where we come from as a nation, how the liberation of this country came about, in speech and in writing, and also saw it fit to give counsel to the young and old alike, to stick together and stay true to the values and teachings of great nationalists like President Robert Gabriel Mugabe and the late Joshua Mqabuko Nyongolo Nkomo.
It’s too easy to focus on the obvious landmarks in a political career that spanned well over 50 years — perhaps focus on his life as a youth entering politics, joining the pioneers of the liberation struggle; perhaps focus on his life in Zambia and other parts of the world as part of the machinery that liberated this country, and overlook some little things that made Dr Ndlovu the “Duke of Mpopoma”.
As a Member of Parliament for the Mpopoma Constituency, he empowered the young and the old, men and women, through various income generating projects. Many families managed to access loans to buy kombis and venture into the transport business. The elderly managed to get space to grow vegetables for home consumption and selling, and many young boys and girls managed to access tertiary education, some after going through scholarships he offered at his Zimbabwe Distance Education College and some from secondary schools in his constituency.
Even during the hyper inflation era, when illegal sanctions hit hard in the country, although he was no longer an MP for the area, he still had the heart to mobilise basic foodstuffs for the elderly and vulnerable children in the area.
Moreover, in an era when politicians gave up being with their people after losing elections, Dr Ndlovu never abandoned his people. He was still part of Mpopoma. He never closed his constituency office. He was still approachable and remained a fountain of wise counsel. And above all, he remained true to the values of the liberation movement, Zanu-PF.
And after all that, when an opportunity presented itself for him to find his way back to parliament after MDC-T recalled lots of its MPs, he opted to stand aside and give a chance to young blood to carry the torch forward. That was leading by example, wise counsel to the young indeed.
The burr of his voice, always speaking isiNdebele with a Zulu accent, the look on his face, that smile, that hand always ready to stretch and greet the next person; these were the things that made Cde Ndlovu such a special man. When he was not attending to party business, he always found time to go to Barbourfields Stadium to watch his favourite football team, Highlanders, and there he would always greet the crowd in the VIP area with a firm fist and warm smile — never mind the result. That was the Duke for you.
He liked being among people. He liked being among journalists, always reminding them of the need to remain steadfast to the ideals of the profession and for a long time, was patron of the Bulawayo Press Club, and also served in Government as Information minister. He liked being at Davies Hall, the headquarters of the ruling party in the province, where he always made his opinion known, no matter how unpalatable it might be to other people.
In the party, for a long time, he held the education portfolio, an area close to his heart, and was at some time the Education Deputy Minister, and played a key role in the establishment of long distance learning in the country and was in various education boards in the country, including the Zimbabwe National Army.
After being admitted in hospital about a week ago, he was finally called to his final resting place by the Almighty, at the age of 78. We say Rest in peace Duke. You have played your part.
Online Reporter