Online Reporter
Raymond Jaravaza, Online Reorter
PRESIDENT Mnangagwa has called on Zimbabweans to look back at the life of the late Vice President Dr Joshua Nkomo with pride.
Dr Nkomo passed away on 1 July 1999.
“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.
President Mnangagwa said, however, 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” he said.
President Mnangagwa said Dr Nkomo devoted an entire life to raising national consciousness among his oppressed countrymen and women.
“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. R.G. 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,”
Dr Nkomo endured imprisonment in notorious camps such as Gonakudzingwa, but the colonial efforts failed to break his spirit, said President Mnangagwa.
“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,”
