adminVice President Nkomo died on Thursday morning at St Anne’s Hospital in Harare after a long battle with cancer.
He was aged 79.
Vice President Nkomo is among the nationalists that dedicated their lives to the liberation struggle having been one of the founding members of the African National Congress.
He was among the gallant sons of the soil that suffered at the hands of the Smith regime for resisting the settler regime.
Vice President Nkomo was arrested on several occasions and detained at Gonakudzingwa with other late nationalists such as the late Vice President Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo, Joseph Msika, Leopold Takawira, Ruth and her husband Josiah Chinamano among many others.
At independence Cde Nkomo served government in different ministerial portfolios until his elevation to Vice President in December 2009.
He served as Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare; Local Government and National Housing; Home Affairs and was once Minister of Special Affairs in the President’s Office.
Cde Nkomo was Speaker of Parliament between 2005 and 2008.
In recognition of his maturity and resoluteness, Vice President Nkomo was given the National Healing and Reconciliation portfolio which saw him and his team traversing the length and breadth of the country preaching the gospel of peace and reconciliation.
Vice President Nkomo will go down in history for sacrificing his personal wealth to better the welfare of his community after he single-handedly built a secondary school for Manqe community in Tsholotsho, his home area.
The state-of-the-art Landa J High School was officially opened by the President Cde Mugabe last July.
It is such sacrifice to better the welfare of his community which puts Vice President Nkomo in a category of his own.
Many could have used the resources he poured into constructing the community school into for example a family business but he decided to invest in a community project meant to benefit the generality of the people.
Vice President Nkomo was so passionate when it came to issues of nation building and the revival of the country’s economy.
In one of the addresses to journalists at the Bulawayo Press Club, Cde Nkomo said the media had an obligation to contribute to nation building and the revival of the country’s economy by promoting debate on important issues among all stakeholders.
The nation has lost one of its founding fathers but what is important is that as a nation we should borrow a leaf or two from his exemplary leadership qualities. He was, as a result, endeared by even his political foes.
Vice President Nkomo was such a humble man who could easily interact with the grassroots despite his senior position in both the party and Government.
Zimbabwe is obviously poorer following the death of Vice President Nkomo but what is comforting is that he has left a rich legacy.
The Nkomo family and the nation at large should take solace in the fact that his political journey was well travelled and has passed on the baton to the living to continue from where he left.
May his soul rest in eternal peace.
Online Reporter