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he learnt of the death of former president Ben Bella (96) with great sadness.
“I have learnt with shock and despair of the death of Ahmed Ben Bella the first president of the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria.
“On behalf of the Government and the people of Zimbabwe and on my own I wish to extend our condolences to the government and people of Algeria on this solemn occasion.
“As you mourn the founding father of the nation you get solace in the knowledge that the people of Zimbabwe are with you through this time of grief,” VP Nkomo said.
In an interview after signing the condolence book, VP Nkomo described the late Ben Bella as one of Africa’s founding fathers who left a legacy that every African should emulate.
“Ben Bella was one of those leaders who were instrumental in leading the way and showing the way forward for Africa.
“Ben Bella in his own way was very influential, be it in Francophone or Anglophone Africa, you could not mention any struggle without mentioning him,” he said.
He urged current African leaders to build on the foundations laid by the founding fathers.
“Our thrust now is to build on that and make Africa more stable,” he said.
The second secretary at the Algerian Embassy Redha Oucher said Zimbabwe and Algeria shared cordial relations from the time of Harare’s liberation struggle.
“As the late president Ben Bella was the first president, he was also the first president to support African liberation movements.
“Now Algeria is supporting Zimbabwean students, in the past we supported soldiers but now we are supporting students,” he said.
Mr Oucher said over 400 students had benefited from scholarships offered by the Algerian government.
During his reign he offered support to various liberation movements especially in Southern Africa.
He was born on December 25, 1916 and died on April 11 this year at his home in Algeria.
Online Reporter