Harare statues for Nkomo, Mugabe on the cards

THE Nkomo family has lauded Government for its decision to once again honour the late nationalist and former Vice President Dr Joshua Mqabuko Nyongolo Nkomo in the form of another statue, saying it will help promote and sustain his legacy as the country’s founding father.

In her post-Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa announced that two statues for the late former President Robert Gabriel Mugabe and Dr Joshua Nkomo are set to be erected at two separate points in Harare in recognition of their roles during the liberation struggle.

The late nationalist and first Vice President of Zapu, Dr Tichafa Samuel Parirenyatwa, will also be honoured with a statue.
Cde Mugabe’s statue will be erected at the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport while that of Dr Nkomo would be at the intersection of Joshua Mqabuko Nyongolo Nkomo Expressway and Glenara roads.

Dr Nkomo’s daughter, Mrs Thandi Nkomo-Ebrahim said they are happy with the honour bestowed on their father.

“As Nkomo family, we welcome the move by Government to erect the statues of the national heroes. We are happy to have our father’s statue being erected in Harare, which is a great honour for his contribution to the country both before and after independence,” she said.

“In fact, Joshua Nkomo’s statue was meant to be erected in Harare in 2013 together with the one in Bulawayo. We met Government officials as Nkomo family and it was agreed that the statue would be erected the reason being that Father Zimbabwe was a national leader.”

Mrs Nkomo- Ebrahim said as Joshua Nkomo National Foundation, they have been lobbying Government to erect the late icon’s statue since 2013, and also trying to identify the location.

Chairperson of Joshua Nkomo Legacy Restoration Project, Mr Mehluli Moyo said the decision by Government to recognise the late nationalist’s works is critical in terms of preserving his legacy.

“Our aim to promote and sustain the legacy of our icon Dr Joshua Mqabuko Nyongolo Nkomo, Father Zimbabwe who was a peace builder and unifier, a true national hero, and a leader par excellence. We welcome the announcement by the Government that they are going to be honouring the works of Joshua Nkomo through a statue, which will be erected in Harare,” he said.

“As an organisation, we welcome such developments because it shows that Government recognises all the efforts and works by Dr Nkomo from the period of the liberation struggle to independence and post-independence up to the time of his death.”

Mr Moyo said it is important for the present and future generations to emulate Dr Nkomo and be proud of their identity and history.

“We are the only people that can tell our history and we must be proud of our identity as Zimbabweans in terms of raising our national flag high, promoting the legacies of our heroes.

Honouring Dr Nkomo through the erecting of a statue in Harare will go a long way in educating our people on the importance of unity and working together,” he said.