adminHarare Bureau
There is no better way to remember the late Vice-President Dr Joshua Nkomo than to implement his vision for the country, opposition Zapu leader Dr Dumiso Dabengwa has said.
Dr Dabengwa said Dr Nkomo’s vision was that of a united Zimbabwe, while he had also initiated some projects, which had not been pursued in a manner envisaged by the late Vice President.
The remarks by Dr Dabengwa come as the nation celebrates the 15th anniversary of the passing on of Umdala Wethu, as Vice-President Nkomo was known by many Zimbabweans.
Dr Nkomo died on July 1, 1999 and was declared national hero before he was buried at the National Heroes Acre.
In an interview yesterday, Dr Dabengwa said there was a need to take audit of Dr Nkomo’s vision and take a deliberate effort to ensure that the objectives of his vision were realised as part of efforts to remember him.
“Let’s follow his vision and be able to implement all those things that he had in mind. Dr Nkomo was a man of deeds and not much of words,” said Dr Dabengwa who was Zipra’s head of intelligence.
He said one other project Dr Nkomo had a vision upon was the Development Trust of Zimbabwe, which he founded in 1989 and earmarked to produce bio-fuels in Zimbabwe’s Lowveld region.
Dr Dabengwa said Dr Nkomo was one of the rare breed of opposition leaders who was prepared to see people united for the good of the country.
“He was of the view that we must be able to interact on things that we agree on and work together. He said where possible we must be able to compromise,” he said.
Another Zapu cadre and former Zvishavane MP, Cde Obert Matshalaga, said current opposition leaders did not come anywhere close to Dr Nkomo’s legacy.
“Unlike current opposition leaders, which are narrow and negative, Dr Nkomo always thought of unity and a prosperous Zimbabwe. He would say we are all Zimbabweans and he wanted unity hence we had the 1987 Unity Accord. He understood well the dynamics of this country,” said Cde Matshalaga who is also former Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Another virtue endowed on Dr Nkomo, said Cde Matshalaga, was that of listening.
“He was a good listener and an implementer. He also wanted to ensure that youths were empowered. He believed that the future of any country belonged to the young generation.”
Former chief of staff in Zapu’s Zimbabwe People Revolutionary Army, Retired Brigadier General Ambrose Mutinhiri, said he was amazed by Dr Nkomo’s ability as a civilian to swiftly learn military issues.
“I was surprised by the pace at which he learnt military issues as a civilian. It is not something that you generally expect for someone with no military background to know the matters at hand so fast as what Dr Nkomo did,” said Rtd Brig Gen Mutinhiri.
The country commemorates the death of Dr Nkomo on July 1 annually to remember his contribution to the liberation struggle and the growth of Zimbabwe as a democracy.
derick.khumalo