adminTinomuda Chakanyuka Sunday News Reporter
The family of late national hero Cde Lazarus Nkala (left) will today celebrate the life of their late father who died on 3 December 1975. Cde Nkala was buried at Pelandaba Cemetary in Bulawayo on 6 December 1975 and was posthumously declared national hero after independence. Today marks 40 years after his death and burial and his children will commemorate his life at the family home, Number 3921 Luveve high density suburb.
The commemorations will kick off in Luveve before moving to Pelandaba cemetery for a small church service.
Cde Nkala’s son, Liberty, who himself is a liberation war veteran, said his father’s life was worth celebrating as he had paid a huge sacrifice for the country’s liberation.
“He never realised that himself because he died before independence and before he could witness the freedom that he fought for. So we have decided as a family to celebrate 40 years of his passing on in a manner that honours the work that he did for the country,” he said.
Cde Nkala was born on 26 February 1927 in Filabusi district, Matabeleland South province.
He joined the old African National Congress ANC, led by Cde Joshua Nkomo in the early 1950s.
Cde Nkala was once detained for a period when the state of emergency was declared on 26 February 1959.
From 1960 to 1963 he held branch and district posts in the National Democratic Party (NDP) and Zimbabwe African People Union (Zapu).
Cde Nkala served as a member of the Central Committee of the ANC in December 1974 and in August 1975 he attended the Victoria Falls talks as a member of the ANC delegation.
Online Reporter