Online Reporter
The Herald, 3 June 1985
ZAPU has adopted a charging bull as it’s symbol for the forthcoming general election.
The symbol was unveiled at a fundraising ceremony at Bulawayo’s Barbourfields Stadium yesterday by the party President, Dr Joshua Nkomo. Pointing to the picture of the charging bull, which was displayed on the four sides of a scaffold, Dr Nkomo told the crowd: “There is the black bull of Zimbabwe. It is the bull that gores all other bulls. It will destroy high taxation, unemployment and all evil.”
The bull would destroy all misunderstanding and replace it with unity and turn the country into a land of milk and honey, he said. Dr Nkomo said the future of the country was at stake, “Unless we think positively, move and vote positively our country will go down the drain,” he said.
“Put in power a government which will respect the rule of law and which will respect and uphold the sacredness of life,” he said.
“The Electoral Act is being tampered with by making modifications to it. Manoeuvres are being made to create difficulties which on our old symbol was rendered ineffective through recourse to emergency regulations,” Dr Nkomo said.
Voters’ registers had not been made public, people continued to receive more than voting slip, constituencies were not yet known and opposition parties continued to be refused access to the people by the withholding of permits, he said.
Dr Nkomo said that his party would win the coming election and then make sure that youth brigade did not usurp power from the police.
Dr Nkomo said that the new party would be registered in Harare tomorrow.
Lessons for today
- From this passage about Dr Joshua Nkomo and the charging bull symbol, we learn several powerful lessons about leadership, confidence, and political vision. He speaks with strong belief and certainty. He says the bull “will destroy… all evil” and confidently predicts victory in the election. Great leaders use confidence to motivate and energise people, even in difficult situations.
- Symbols are powerful in leadership. The charging bull represents strength, determination, and victory, it became a rallying image for supporters. Symbols can unite people and communicate ideas quickly.
- In politics (and even business), a strong symbol helps people identify with a cause.
- Leadership must offer solutions, not just criticism. Dr Nkomo talks about ending high taxation, fighting unemployment and promoting unity and development. He emphasised removing misunderstanding and Building a nation of “milk and honey”.
