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His remarks come after his widely publicised meeting with President Mugabe at the Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo International Airport in Bulawayo on 18 May.
The 45-minute meeting had sparked speculation about his future with some analysts labelling him as an attention seeker who was trying to worm his way back to the top.
However, in a wide ranging interview at his Woodlands home in Bulawayo yesterday, Cde Nkala (80), one of the founding members of Zanu-PF, also rubbished the view that Matabeleland was marginalised.
The veteran politician also advised people in the region to think carefully before calling for devolution of power in the new constitution.
“I most definitely have no plans to return to politics. I have done my part and I am proud that I am one of those who fought to liberate this country,” said Cde Nkala, who said he was proud that Zanu-PF was formed at his house, 4449 in Highfield, Harare.
“However, I will continue keeping in touch with politicians who are my friends, like President Robert Mugabe and Dumiso Dabengwa, who still visit me from time to time.”
Commenting on the statement that he was an attention seeker, Cde Nkala said the people who were advancing that notion were entitled to their opinions.
“Although I think it is a foolish and silly assessment of me, I want to allow him his view. I want to point out that since I retired from Government, I have never sought any publicity and have never called any journalist to interview me. Even that day at the airport, I bumped into reporters because they were following the President, I did not call them,” he said.
Cde Nkala said he was impressed by President Mugabe who often ignored unfair criticism.
“I wish to be like him. People always attack him and he never replies,” said the former Home Affairs and Defence Minister.
He said people from Matabeleland were not marginalised but lacked the courage to control their destiny.
“If we as Ndebeles are lazy and not grabbing things as others are, whose fault is it? If we do not want to empower ourselves, we cannot go around blaming others,” said Cde Nkala.
He said people from the region should wake up from their slumber and start doing things for themselves.
“It is nonsense to say the people’s spirits were broken by Gukurahundi. Let us just get out of our blankets and work,” said Cde Nkala.
He said while he supported the concept of devolution, it would not work for the region.
“When we talk of devolution, we are talking about redistributing power. Who in Matabeleland can be said to be ready to take up that power? I say we should think carefully about this issue, otherwise we might create more problems for ourselves,” said the veteran politician.
Cde Nkala said he was bitter about the way he was forced to leave politics in 1989.
“I had to resign in anger over the so-called Willowgate Scandal. I still maintain that there is nothing wrong with buying a car and selling it for a little profit. That is business,” said Cde Nkala.
He said he was angry and chose to resign rather than appear before the Sandura Commission.
“Like a proud Ndebele, I felt wounded ukuthi ngiyethonisiswa ngokungabafana okuncane engakukhululayo ngempi (I could not wait to be tried by small boys that I liberated),” said Cde Nkala.
He said he was so hurt that he resigned from being Minister of Defence, abandoned Zanu-PF and relinquished his post of treasurer-general that he had held since the party’s formation.
Cde Nkala was the country’s first Minister of Finance.
Online Reporter