Online Reporter
Commemoration message by His Excellency the President, Cde Dr Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa on the late “Father Zimbabwe”: Dr Joshua Mqabuko Nyongolo Nkomo: 19th June, 1917-1st July, 1999
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TODAY, 1st of July, the nation of Zimbabwe joins the Nkomo Family in remembering our liberation luminary and National Hero, former Vice President “Father Zimbabwe” Dr Joshua Mqabuko Nyongolo Nkomo, on the 26th anniversary of his demise.
From humble origins under successive colonial governments, Dr Joshua Nkomo devoted an entire life to raising national consciousness among his oppressed countrymen and women, whom he together with other revolutionaries subsequently led during the protracted nationalist and armed struggle.
His close associates during the formative years of nationalist movements, among them the late Benjamin Burombo, Masotsha Ndlovu, George Nyandoro, Michael Mawema, Morton Malianga and the late President Cde RG Mugabe worked with the towering personality of Dr Nkomo in forming the National Democratic Party with the sole objective of liberating our nation from the shackles of colonial subjugation and oppression.
The wheels of the revolution never stopped thereafter, until the birth of our beloved motherland Zimbabwe in 1980.
“Chibwe Chitedza”, as Dr Nkomo came to be popularly known, endured imprisonment in notorious camps such as Gonakudzingwa, but the colonial efforts failed to break his spirit.
Today, twenty-six years later, Zimbabwe can look back with pride to the life of a liberator, an astute politician, and a champion of Pan-Africanism.
A true son of the soil, Dr Nkomo was passionate about the land as the major reason for which the armed struggle had been waged.
In a cruel twist of fate, Dr Nkomo did not live to witness the Land Reform Programme which commenced a year after his demise.
However, his clarion call for unity of purpose continued to inspire an entire nation to reclaim its heritage.
The successful reclamation has inspired young farmers to break production records in agriculture subsectors such as dairy, tobacco and horticulture.
These and other success stories resonate well with the mantra, Nyika Inovakwa Nevene Vayo/ Illzwe Lakhiwa Ngabanikazi Balo, as the attainment of Vision 2030 draws closer.
Inspired by Dr Nkomo and his generation of heroic and selfless nationalists, our nation continues to defy all odds and scale new heights in the socio-economic upliftment of all Zimbabweans, irrespective of race, ethnicity, colour or creed.
Umdala Wethu and his generation of impeccable revolutionaries always preached peace as the bedrock of nation building.
As the Second Republic, we are using the peace dividend to implement people-oriented policies and high-impact programmes and projects in our endeavour to deliver decent livelihoods to all citizens in a free and democratic Zimbabwe.
In our tenure at the helm of Sadc, we are steering our sub-region to attain food security and to industrialise for greater competitiveness in global markets.
Our innovation hubs at institutions of higher learning are resolutely exploring and commercialising new technologies, including those that will assist our nation in combating the ravages of climate change as well as the drug abuse scourge.
As our great Motherland looks forward to commemorating our heroes and heroines during the coming month of August, we say, may the dear soul of the late Father Zimbabwe, “Chibwe Chitedza”, “Umdala Wethu”, Dr Joshua Mqabuko Nyongolo Nkomo, rest in eternal peace.
Long live our Unity, Peace and Freedom!
Long live Zimbabwe!
President of the Republic of Zimbabwe.
