Hero Nkala’s body flown to Bulawayo

THE body of national hero and former Cabinet minister Cde Enos Mzombi Nkala arrived in Bulawayo yesterday ahead of a funeral service at the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair grounds this morning. Cde Nkala’s body was received at HQ One Brigade at 2pm by outgoing Bulawayo Governor Cain Mathema, Zanu-PF Matabeleland South chairman Cde Andrew Langa, Politburo member Cde Richard Ndlovu, and senior police and Zimbabwe National Army officers.

The veteran nationalist’s body was escorted by his wife, Thandiwe, close family members and outgoing Minister of Small to Medium Enterprises and Co-operatives Cde Sithembiso Nyoni.
They were aboard two helicopters from the Air Force of Zimbabwe.

Earlier in Harare, Cde Nkala’s body was seen off at One Commando by Defence Minister Emmerson Mnangagwa, Zanu-PF Politburo member Cde Sikhanyiso Ndlovu, Home Affairs permanent secretary Mr Melusi Matshiya, Commander of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces General Constantine Chiwenga, close relatives and senior Government officials.

Speaking to journalists before the departure of the body, Minister Mnangagwa described Cde Nkala as a distinguished hero who sacrificed his life to liberate Zimbabwe.

“Cde Nkala is one of the few revolutionaries who still remained behind,” he said. “I do not think that he knows anything in his mind except the liberation struggle. I came to know him in 1962 and he was such a firebrand speaker.”

Minister Mnangagwa said Cde Nkala played a pivotal role in mobilising youths to join the liberation struggle through his insightful speeches.

He said he was fortunate to be mentored by such a distinguished and dedicated hero.
“Cde Nkala was a rubble-rouser. Few people had the courage to tell the whites to go back to their motherland,” he said.
In Bulawayo, at exactly 2.30pm the funeral procession, which included church members and members of the Zanu-PF Bulawayo provincial executive was joined by other mourners on the journey to Cde Nkala’s farm in Esigodini.

The long-winding funeral cortège led by the police arrived at the farm at 3pm where scores of villagers who are neighbours to Cde Nkala were gathered.

The mourners were welcomed by outgoing Matabeleland South Governor Cde Angeline Masuku, outgoing Deputy President of the Senate Cde Naison Khutshwekhaya Ndlovu and Politburo member Cde Abednico Ncube.

A brief funeral service for Cde Nkala, who was now a born again Christian, was conducted at the farm by pastors from his church, Harvest House International, in collaboration with ZNA Bulawayo district senior chaplain Major Elphas Dube.

After the service villagers in the area were afforded the opportunity to view the body.
Provincial Administrator Mr Midard Khumalo announced that the Government has availed five buses to ferry mourners from different parts of the province to the National Heroes Acre where Cde Nkala will be buried tomorrow.

He said the buses would transport mourners from Cde Nkala’s home area in Silalatshani, Insiza district, Gwanda, Umzingwane, Bulilima and Mangwe.

Cde Nkala’s body was later on taken to his Woodlands House at Number 9 Eastwood Road where scores of mourners, who included Zanu-PF Politburo member Cde Joshua Malinga were gathered.

Zapu leader Dr Dumiso Dabengwa later on joined the mourners.
In an interview, the Nkala family spokesperson, Mr Hebert Nkala, expressed gratitude to the honour given to their father and thanked the mourners for supporting the family in its moment of grief.

“Everything is now working according to the programme. We are glad that we are here at home and that we were met by senior dignitaries from Government and the party who escorted us all the way to Esigodini,” said Mr  Nkala.

He said it was important for Cde Nkala’s body to pass by his Esigodini farm saying the place had spiritual significance.
“Most family members including baba Nkala’s parents Ugogo uMaDube and khulu Mzomubi were buried there. If he was not going to be declared a national hero he was going to be buried at that farm.

“We are in Bulawayo now and baba’s body will lie in state at his house and tomorrow we will be giving him a big send off.
“We expect large crowds to attend his farewell funeral service at the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair grounds at Hall Eight between 8am and 12noon,” said Mr Nkala.

He said Cde Nkala’s body would be flown back to Harare at about 3pm today for burial at the national shrine tomorrow.
The outspoken Zanu-PF founder member and former Defence, Finance and Home Affairs Minister succumbed to renal failure at Avenues Clinic in Harare last week at the age of 81 and was declared a National Hero.

Cde Nkala, who was born in Filabusi, Matabeleland South, was one of the founders of Zanu as the party was formed at his house, 4449 Highfield, Harare in 1963.

He was the party’s first treasurer and held the post until his resignation from politics.
During the war he served in the party’s high command.

He was detained by the Rhodesian government for 12 years with leaders such as Ndabaningi Sithole, Leopold Takawira, Edgar Tekere, Morris Nyagumbo, all late and President Mugabe.

At independence in 1980 Cde Nkala was appointed Minister of Finance and later Minister of National Supplies. He also served as Minister of Home Affairs and then Defence.

Cde Nkala resigned from Government in 1989 at the height of the Willowgate scandal.
Cde Nkala is survived by wife, Thandiwe, eight children, six grand children and two great grand children.
Meanwhile Zanu-PF national chairman Cde Simon Khaya sent a condolence message to the Kangai family following the death of national hero Cde Kumbirai Kangai last Saturday.

In a statement, Cde Khaya Moyo said the revolutionary party was saddened by the untimely death of Cde Kangai.
“The late Cde Kangai had participated candidly in the deliberations of our Politburo the previous day, showing no signs whatsoever that he was in the departure lounge and bidding us and bidding us farewell. He indeed participated in a guerilla-war fare style,” he said.
“Cde KK, as some of us called him, was a principled cadre of the revolution, a fearless leader, a man of courage, a man of impeccable liberation war credentials, a jovial character with a measured smile and indeed a man of great humility.”

Cde Khaya Moyo said he knew Cde Kangai during the days of the liberation struggle and their relationship continued to flourish after independence.

“KK could not have died. He never feared. He survived many battles and attempts on his life by the Rhodesian agents,” he said.
“I merely believe that he has departed for a higher responsibility.”

Cde Khaya Moyo said in Cde Kangai, Zanu-PF lost a solid stalwart, and Zimbabwe is without its unflinching servant and mankind was poorer without him.

Cde Kangai’s body would be flown to his rural home in Buhera on Friday. It would also be taken to Mutare on the same day before burial set for Saturday at the National Heroes Acre. – Herald Reporter/Bulawayo Bureau.