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Tendai Munengwa Correspondent
It is not a joke! Seventy nine years of living with disability and a rare condition which requires special attention can be described by some as worse than leaving jail without freedom.
But for Cde Joshua Malinga such was life as he navigated the rough, tough and winding conditions of disability without giving a damn. After suffering polio at a tender age, Cde Malinga did not despair as he hop-stepped and jumped from a rags to riches journey.
Never Judge a Book by its Cover
Fast-tracked from his polio stricken life, he turned out to be a good example of a man separated from boys thanks to the Almighty God who kept him going and moulded him to become one of the first black executive mayors of our generation.
Disability did not deter him from executing the demanding duties which come with running the affairs of the second largest city Bulawayo.
By virtue of being the most respected City father, an ordinary person out there would expect to see a gentleman or madam in such his or her worship robes not a simple Malinga.
For our own camaraderie the Malinga story was different. As per norm, we celebrate our Independence Day and the mayor especially the early 80s was an executive member who could draw much respect in the corridors of power.
At one of the celebrations, as the proceedings of the Uhuru day started the stage was set and the executive mayor who happens to be Malinga was supposed to address, but unfortunately he was being held hostage at the entrance by a security guard.
Because the security guard only looked at disability and a man in wheelchair and not bothered to ask, he was humiliated after being told that the gentleman in wheelchair was the mayor and Guest of Honour.
Never judge a book by its cover is the lesson! That is life what a great loss.
What a great loss to the disabled community. Cde Joshua Malinga was a humble, but an effective leader when it comes to issue of disabilities.
Even during his last days he would struggle to give speeches, but the few words which would come out of his lips will say it all. As special advisor to President Mnangagwa, Cde Malinga pushed for a lot of reforms and projects some implemented while others were still being considered.
As one of first mayors of Bulawayo the late Cde Malinga left a legacy that dovetails well to the fact that disability does not mean inability.
He would lead from the front which led him to become the darling of the ruling ZANU PF.
He exuded political shock absorbers to become one of the Senators and President Mnangagwa’s special advisor on issues of disabilities a post he held up to his death on Friday 8 September 2023. During his stint as executive mayor of Bulawayo he wrote his own piece of history by ensuring service delivery and put the City of Kings on the map as the hub of industrial development and job creation.
I had on many occasions rubbed shoulders with the champion of disability advocacy – down to earth, very humble man, dedicated cadre to disability issues and nation building.
He would invite me for round table over a cup of tea to share and discuss pertinent socio-economic and political developments.
“Politics is a game of hardworking people, it calls for tolerance – you need to work with the grassroots to provide social sustainable development – you are such a good candidate for Parliament, he would tell me after I joined politics and lost during primary elections in 2018.
“Yes you lost, but my advice is we are in world of competition the best weapon Tendai,” he would emphasise is for you to upgrade your education go for a first degree and continue I know you will become a good leader.
The advocate of disability issues – Malinga is one man who has seen it all when we talk of issues to do with disabilities locally and international.
He would always highlight to President Mnangagwa during interface occasions that the biggest challenge people living with disabilities face is the issue of artificial barriers created by humankind against the disabled.
“Your Excellency, I will not keep quiet until this issue is attended to – people with disabilities are normal human beings created by the same God – but the issue of barriers, barriers , these artificial barriers once removed then we create a safe and conducive environment for the disadvantaged who constitute 10 percent of Zimbabwe population.”
Before his untimely death, Cde Malinga’s vision for 2030 was to see more representation of people with disabilities in the National Assembly House and Senate than the current set up where only two members are selected to represent a constituency which accommodates 10 percent of country’s population.
He wanted Government to set aside land for the hardworking disabled, he advocated for the creation of a bank specifically for people with disabilities among other things.
Your death, our mentor has robbed the disabled community of a pillar, beacon of strength, great advisor on issues of disabilities.
Go well Camarada, You are our Hero!
Tendai Munengwa is a veteran journalist with disability who cherishes the mentorship he received from Cde Malinga.
Online Reporter