Online Reporter
Gibson Mhaka and Raymond Jaravaza
“FATHER Zimbabwe, Chibwechitedza, Umafukufuku, Umdala Wethu”. These are some of the names summarising the life of a larger than life character, man of the people and veteran nationalist, the late Vice President Dr Joshua Mqabuko Nyongolo Nkomo, who died on this day in 1999.
Twenty six years after his departure he remains an enduring icon of Zimbabwe’s liberation struggle and his memory lives on in the hearts of many across the country’s generational divide.
Ahead of today’s commemorations, family members, politicians, business fraternity and people from all walks of life have described the late Dr Nkomo as a revered revolutionary, giant statesman, mentor, shrewd and brave politician, brilliant strategist, visionary and gentle giant whose legacy will continue to be cherished by future generations in Zimbabwe and beyond.
His only surviving brother, Edward Ginqusaba Nkomo, said Father Zimbabwe will always be a household name as he believed deeply in collective good and emancipation of all Zimbabweans regardless of their race, tribe or creed.
“Even on his deathbed, he remarked, ‘bangaphi abantu?’ (Where are the people) because his comfort was in the collective uplifting of the people,” said Edward.
“My brother believed in the brotherhood of mankind, the importance of peace, even at the expense of personal glory.
“He could have chosen the path of greed and entitlement, but he believed the nation and its people were more important than narrow individual interests,” he said.
Beyond his political achievements, Dr Nkomo believed that humility, selflessness, love and hard work were crucial personal values and daily practices that current and future generations of Zimbabwe should emulate — values, which the family is actively working to preserve and promote, said Edward.
“The family has tried to espouse his principles of humility, selflessness, love and hard work. I believe his daughter (my niece) Thandiwe has started a foundation to promote these values,” he said.
“We need to uphold Ubuntu, respect for everyone regardless of status, and servant leadership, which he believed in and worked for his life. If he was alive, he would have enjoyed the relative peace the country enjoys.”
Minister of State for Matabeleland South Provincial Affairs and Devolution Cde Albert Nguluvhe, who served as one of Dr Nkomo’s former bodyguards, said in remembering Father Zimbabwe it is crucial to recognise that he was unequivocally a national leader, not a regional one, consistently prioritising the unity and well-being of the entire country.
He stated that July 1 is always a painful day for reflection, as it marks the remembrance of this great man who dedicated everything to the liberation of the country.
“As we remember Dr Nkomo, we should bear in mind that he was not merely a regional leader but a national one. Umdala Wethu, though from Kezi, was a man of the people, loved by the entire country,” said Cde Nguluvhe.
“He was not a tribalist, he put his country first, much like the unifying philosophy of leaving no one and no place behind now being championed by His Excellency President Mnangagwa and the Second Republic.
“He was a visionary leader, a unifier and a colossal father figure who gave Zimbabweans the vision of black empowerment and an indigenised economy that was later embraced, sanctified and ultimately realised,” said Cde Nguluvhe.
He said that while perpetually calling for unity he so fervently preached, the late Dr Nkomo also wanted people to be deeply involved in the struggle.
“He was a down-to-earth individual, highly educated, having attended Adams College and Jan Hofmeyer School of Social Work in South Africa. Upon his return, he joined Rhodesia Railways (now National Railways of Zimbabwe) as a social worker, where he quickly became a prominent trade unionist and a leading figure in the 1948 general strike by blacks. This clearly demonstrates his profound dedication to his people,” said Cde Nguluvhe.
“He was also known for encouraging people to work very hard, preaching that land belongs to the people. He would often say, ‘Nxa lifuna imali, phendulelani ibala elithi mali, lithi lima,’ meaning, if you want money, turn the word ‘mali’ (money) into ‘lima’ (cultivate/farm). His teachings now resonate powerfully with President Mnangagwa’s mantra of ‘Nyika inovakwa nevene vayo/Ilizwe lakhiwa ngabanikazi balo’.”
Furthermore, Minister Nguluvhe said Dr Nkomo deeply loved children and had a great affection for the youth.
“However, it seems the youth nowadays have, in some ways, betrayed Umdala Wethu’s love by partaking in drugs and substance abuse — something that is diverting them from his ethos and his wish of seeing them nurtured to be the leaders of tomorrow,” he said.
Cde Nguluvhe echoed public calls to declare July 1 a national holiday, a proposal that was part of Zanu PF’s resolutions during its National People’s Conference held in Bulawayo last October.
Prominent Bulawayo businessman and a former Bulawayo councillor, Mr Mohammed Esat of Esats Chain Stores — a business with over 110 years footprint — described Dr Nkomo as a unifying character.
“I miss my good old friend, Father Zimbabwe whose desire to see a better Zimbabwe is a quality that a majority of people lack,” said Cde Esat.
The businessman said he met Dr Nkomo in person in the early 1970s although he had read about iconic figure in the newspapers and was quickly drawn to the humility of the respected politician.
“As a young man I heard about Dr Nkomo during the armed struggle and the first that I met him was at a filling station and I was immediately drawn by the way that he treated me,” he recalled.
“Before meeting him I had read so much about him in the newspapers. So, at first I was scared to meet him. But his humility and warmth really shocked me and he allowed me into his car where we spoke at length about the struggle.
“Whenever he was free I would visit him at his home on Sunday and we discussed politics,” said Cde Esat.
Despite the fact that he was a young Indian man at the time, Cde Esat said visiting Dr Nkomo in the high density suburbs did not scare or bother him at all.
“Part of the reasons why I joined Zapu in 1974 were the meetings that I held with Dr Nkomo, where we talked a lot about the evil system of colonialism,” he said.
In a brief interview yesterday, veteran politician and former minister, Cde Angelina Masuku, said Dr Nkomo’s vision was that of having Zimbabwe competing in the international market with its rich mineral endowments.
“Dr Nkomo not only played an integral part in liberating the country and bringing the different tribes at peace with each other but looked at the greater national good. His broader picture was to unravel the great economic potential of the country,” said Cde Masuku.
She said although Dr Nkomo died just a year shy before the beginning of land reform in 2000, he always wanted to see land being given back to the black majority.
For ordinary Zimbabweans such Mr Enock Ncube, a photographer who operates at the iconic Joshua Nkomo statue in Bulawayo, the story of Zimbabwe, pre and post independence, can never be told without the mention of Father Zimbabwe.
“I have seen families coming here to the Joshua Nkomo statue to take pictures and children always ask who that old man is and as elders who know the role that he played for the country to attain independence, we happily narrate his history to the children,” said Mr Ncube.
Ms Prim Mutemi, a resident of Old Magwegwe, believes naming a road and the airport in Bulawayo after the late Dr Nkomo will keep his memory and legacy alive.
“Our children will be interested to know why our local airport is called the Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo International Airport and when they are told who the man was that is a good way of keeping his legacy alive,” said Ms Mutemi.
To commemorate Dr Nkomo’s life today, the Joshua Nkomo Restoration Project Trust, together with The Joshua Nkomo Foundation are also hosting a commemoration event at the Matsheumhlope Museum to mark the 26th anniversary of his death.
According to programmes director of the Joshua Nkomo Trust Mr Tyson Chipikwa, the event will feature an arts exhibition, a lecture from executive director of the Joshua Nkomo Restoration Trust, Mr Kwanele Hlabangana, and speeches from a family representative, the chair of the Joshua Nkomo Restoration Project Trust and a representative from the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education.
The event aims to instil Dr Nkomo’s values of equality and non-tribalism in the younger generation, with Mr Chipikwa emphasising the importance of “catching them young”.
Schools from across the Bulawayo metropolitan area are expected to participate, providing them with an opportunity to learn about Dr Nkomo’s legacy and showcase their talents.
Known affectionately as “Father Zimbabwe” for his pivotal role in the liberation struggle, Dr Nkomo’s enduring vision for national unity and inclusivity remains profoundly relevant today.
His life, marked by unwavering dedication to the country’s independence and the rights of black Africans, continues to inspire.
Dr Nkomo’s commitment to peace and unity was most powerfully demonstrated when he signed the historic Unity Accord on December 22, 1987, choosing to work alongside the late President Robert Mugabe for the sake of national cohesion.
His leadership extended to various political and trade unions, including the Railways Workers Union, African National Congress, National Democratic Party, and Zapu, through which he tirelessly advocated for Zimbabwe’s independence.
He was a leading participant in the 1979 Lancaster House negotiations, which ultimately led to Zimbabwe’s independence. Born on June 19, 1917, in Matobo, Matabeleland, Dr Nkomo’s early life saw him pursue carpentry at the Tsholotsho Government Industrial School after completing primary school.
He later worked as a driver, ventured into animal husbandry, and taught carpentry at Manyame School in Kezi. Many of Dr Nkomo’s ideals resonate deeply with the aspirations of the Second Republic, led by President Mnangagwa.
The Government’s overarching goal of achieving an upper middle-income economy by 2030, encapsulated in Vision 2030, and its philosophy of “leaving no one and no place behind” directly reflect and continue Dr Nkomo’s commitment to inclusive national development.
The ongoing Gukurahundi hearings are also a testament to this commitment, representing a courageous and necessary step towards healing historical wounds that deeply affected communities and the national psyche.
By confronting this sensitive past directly, President Mnangagwa is not only honouring Dr Nkomo’s tireless advocacy for peace and reconciliation but also laying a robust foundation for a genuinely cohesive Zimbabwean society.
