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Dr Nkomo was not only an embodiment of the country’s liberation struggle but also a strong proponent of the empowerment of indigenous people and for that reason, has remained important in the history of Zimbabwe.
His commitment, dedication and contribution to the country’s liberation from colonial bondage earned him the name — Father Zimbabwe.
Passionately referred to as Umdhala Wethu in his old days, Dr Nkomo dedicated his life to the struggle for social and economic emancipation.
Father Zimbabwe died on July 1, 1999 and was laid to rest at the National Heroes Acre together with other outstanding heroes of the Second Chimurenga that brought the peace and independence that we enjoy.
He left a legacy that continues to guide the nation and Africa today.
With the scourge of neo-colonialism threatening to split the continent again, the late Father Zimbabwe is speaking to us more than yesterday.
A strong proponent of empowerment, Dr Nkomo was passionate about equitable distribution of resources and the importance of owning our resources.
He would always remind the people that they too had a share in the country’s cake.
He is on record saying Zimbabweans should strive to “become masters of their own destiny rather than to continue working in factories without putting an effort to eventually own the means of production”.
Dr Nkomo urged local companies to invest more in national development, especially in rural communities.
He would be proud with what is taking place today, with mining companies beginning to offer support to communities under the indigenisation and empowerment drive through the community share ownership schemes.
In fulfillment of the wishes of the late Dr Nkomo, Government has increased the pace of economic empowerment.
The current empowerment drive has seen thousands of former landless people getting productive land in the country’s prime agricultural areas thereby spreading the country’s wealth among the citizens.
If Father Zimbabwe were alive today, surely he would be happy that his wish, one of the grand reasons for waging the protracted war of liberation, has been fulfilled.
Indeed the giant would be smiling to see the trucks of farm produce driving into the various markets across the country coming from black owned farms, black people driving latest models of cars got from the proceeds of tilling the land, something that was unheard of during the colonial era.
His passion for land redistribution saw him travel the breath of the country to dialogue with whites and share with them his vision that Zimbabwe would only be more secure if they shared the skills and means of production with indigenous people.
Father Zimbabwe was always critical of the ratio of land holding in the country where, due to colonial imbalances, only a few whites controlled the bulk of arable land in Zimbabwe.
It was the late Father Zimbabwe who started talking about the equitable distribution of land warning that until the issue was solved there would be no peace in Zimbabwe.
In 1990 while addressing farmers in Gwanda North, Dr Nkomo said it was unacceptable that only 4 500 whites continued to own most of the land.
“We can no longer accept a situation where 4 500 commercial farms own most of the land at the expense of the seven million communal farmers.
“Time has come for us to deliver the goods to the (indigenous) people, who have been waiting patiently for us to do something about the land question,” he is quoted as saying.
He was a strong advocate for the free acquisition of the land that at one point he even said we needed to do exactly what Rhodes did to us and take what rightfully belonged to us.
“If we fail to use the laws of the land in trying to acquire the land for resettlement for our people, we will resort to the means we used to attain our independence,”
he added.
For him Zimbabweans could not say they were free if they didn’t have the land, which they fought for?
Surely that land is with us and his wishes are fulfilled.
It is now time to fully utilise that land for the benefit of the people.
Even when the country was still engulfed with the euphoria of independence, Dr Nkomo through his book The New Zimbabwe forecast that unless the land issue was resolved peace would remain elusive in Zimbabwe.
Land redistribution remained his wish until his death that even in an interview with ZBC TV during his last days defended the resettlement programme saying: “. . .
White people just have to respond because it is in their interest. If not . . . young people will say makabva kupi?”
The late Dr “Chibwechitedza” Nkomo, as he was also known during the days of nationalism wanted to see a united Zimbabwe.
He sacrificed his life to ensure Zimbabweans remained a united people.
For this reason he challenged Zimbabweans not to look at themselves “as black or white but as Zimbabweans.”
Even when the stakes were high, Dr Nkomo remained resolute in promoting the unity of his people that he dearly loved.
Throughout the struggle for independence he maintained that Zimbabweans should not allow themselves to be divided and he carried on with this spirit until his death.
This is why when asked by a journalist about his chances in the impending elections in 1980 he devoted the struggle to the people saying: “I have not been fighting for an election for myself, but so that the people can make their own decisions.
“I have been able to win the country for the people.
“For 33 years I have been fighting for the country.
“I have got the country so what is an election, after all.”
A strong believer in the role of unity in national development, Dr Nkomo was always at hand castigating tribalism and promoting unity.
For him the country needed to fight tribalism even more than we fought colonialism because it would destroy the essence of the liberation struggle.
To fulfill his wish for a better Zimbabwe, Dr Nkomo abandoned the comfort of a formal job and a normal family life to engage in the liberation struggle that would
bring peace, unity, political and economic freedom for indigenous Zimbabweans.
Despite his name, contribution to Zimbabwe’s freedom and position that he had assumed, he remained a humble person who was always prepared to give an ear to all people regardless of their stature in life.
For this he became a direct link between government and the ordinary people. At independence Dr Nkomo chose to take up a ministerial post as long as it gave him an opportunity to work for the people.
This was reflected in his acceptance of the Vice President post after the Unity Accord in 1987.
Father Zimbabwe was prepared to retrace the unity of the Patriotic Front — for the sake of national unity and development.
For him service to the nation was not negotiable and transcended personal gains.
Even in his final days Umdhala Wethu always preached peace and unity.
If he was still alive today he would have castigated efforts to divide the country on tribal grounds, disguised as devolution.
His humility endeared him with the people and it was not by mistake that thousands gathered at Barbourfields Stadium, his home in Bulawayo, at Stodart Hall in
Mbare and finally the National Heroes Acre to bid farewell to the gallant son of Zimbabwe.
It was indeed a sign of approval that he had struck the right chords with the people.
Born on June 7, 1917 in the Kezi District of Matabeleland, he initially trained as a carpenter, after completing Standard Six, but his eagerness to improve his carpentry qualifications saw him moving to Adam’s College in South Africa.
In South Africa he met and became friends with former South African president and leader of the ANC, Nelson Mandela.
Despite the opportunities in that country Dr Nkomo returned to lead the liberation struggle.
Online Reporter