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On Tuesday, Zimbabweans from different corners of the country commemorated the 15th anniversary of Vice-President Dr Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo’s death. Dr Nkomo, who died on July 1, 1999, was also popularly referred to as Father Zimbabwe. Dr Nkomo, who was a leading figure in the liberation struggle and also played a pivotal role in uniting Zimbabweans after independence, bequeathed to Zimbabweans a rich legacy of love.
The nation therefore takes comfort to learn that Dr Nkomo’s son Sibangilizwe is taking from where his father left.
Speaking at commemorations in Bulawayo, Sibangilizwe said Zimbabweans should take seriously the issue of national healing. “It’s time we seriously heal ourselves, individually, at family level and then collaboratively as a nation” he said.
Dr Nkomo should be smiling in his grave that one of his own has taken the baton from where he left to preach the gospel of unity. At many of his meetings, Dr Nkomo emphasised the importance of unity and he demonstrated his commitment to unity when he led his party PF-Zapu to sign the Unity Accord with Zanu-PF in 1987.
Sibangilizwe, who chairs the Joshua Nkomo Cultural Movement, and seems to be fitting well into the shoes of his late father, told the large gathering at Stanley Square in Makokoba that holding onto past political grievances would continue to hinder the country’s progress. He said it was important for the country to go forward socially and economically.
The nation, Sibangilizwe said, should enjoy the fruits of freedom that the gallant sons and daughters of Zimbabwe sacrificed their lives for during the liberation struggle. “The birth pains of this nation were too prolonged and we are all still bleeding years after the birth of our country. We have been torn between black and white. We fought brother against brother and it’s time to achieve true national healing,” said Sibangilizwe.
We cannot say it better than the words of Sibangilizwe, who like his late father, wants to see a united Zimbabwe, a nation with a shared vision. The country can only go forward when all Zimbabweans realised that they are Zimbabweans first.
People can belong to different political parties, different religions, different tribes but what binds them together is that they are all Zimbabweans.
The country is facing serious economic challenges but with unity of purpose there is nothing insurmountable. We want more people of Sibangilizwe’s calibre who understand the pivotal role of unity in fostering social and economic development. Gone are the days when people used to be at each other’s throat because they belonged to different political parties, religion or tribe. The present generation has an obligation to bequeath to future generations a prosperous Zimbabwe whose people are united.
Zimbabwe has at times been demonised by its own people who seem not to appreciate that they will have no other country to call their own. It is therefore incumbent upon each and every Zimbabwean to be asking himself or herself what he or she is doing or intends to do to make Zimbabwe a better country to live in.
We want to once again implore Zimbabweans to strive to fulfil the aspirations of our departed heroes such as Dr Nkomo who wanted to see a prosperous and united Zimbabwe.
derick.khumalo