Nkomo’s legacy still lives 13 years after his death

The visit got me thinking that it has been almost 13 years since the death of the former Vice-President, arguably one of the greatest statesmen to have graced the African continent, and his life, unparalleled sacrifice for the country, and his positive iconic works are still being felt even today.
To many Zimbabweans, Dr Nkomo remains ‘crème de la crème’ of what patriotism entails and this is traceable in his remarkable political career, which spanned more than four decades.
All this is well documented in the memorial museum.
The 10-roomed museum, located at number 17 Aberdeen Road, is where the late national hero used to stay and each and everything found in it is a narration of Dr Nkomo’s life in some way or another.
The museum details the inner aspects of Dr Nkomo’s life and some of those are outside his political life and not known by many.
The museum elaborates much on Father Zimbabwe’s illustrious profile, as there are colourful displays and collections of artifacts that include his photographs and letters he wrote to his family.
The most striking epistles were ones sent to his wife Johanna MaFuyana.
In one of the epistle dated 2 February 1977, Dr Nkomo expressed his profound affection for her since they had then been married for 23 years.
Born on 19 June 1917, in Semokwe Reserve, Matabeleland South, Dr Nkomo is one of the greatest nationalists of his time and is credited for helping lead the guerrilla war against white rule in Rhodesia which culminated in the liberation of Zimbabwe on April 18 1980.
Also within the museum is a library of newspaper cuttings and articles on Dr Nkomo and what he did up to the time of his death and after and these simply confirm why Dr Nkomo has been hailed as the “Father of Zimbabwean nationalism”.
Several steps into the rich museum give a fuller appreciation of Dr Nkomo’s role in assuring black majority rule in Zimbabwe.
In the moments I spent in the museum, I understood how his political ingenuity and immense selfless contribution to Zimbabwean politics earned him many titles such as “Father Zimbabwe”, “The Old Lion,” and “Chibwechitedza” among other titles known by all.
In the library room there is a book with a collection of condolence messages from Heads of State in Africa and overseas and a notable one was from former South African president Nelson Mandela.
He showered praises of Nkomo saying that:
“He was one of those freedom fighters who stood up for justice at a most difficult time in the course of the struggle.”
A prominent feature in the museum is Dr Nkomo’s academic achievements and regalia, his library, neatly decorated bedroom, his clothes and rifles.
Prominently captured as well are Dr Nkomo’s days during the liberation struggle when, together with the likes of President Mugabe, his Zipra top brass including Dr Dumiso Dabengwa, the late Lookout Masuku, Nikita Mangena and others, bravely fought the Ian Smith regime.
His role in the signing of the landmark 22 December 1987 Unity Accord is also well documented.
A renowned historian and author Mr Pathisa Nyathi also echoed similar sentiments saying Dr Nkomo was peace loving and respected the rule of law.
“During the struggle he commanded one of the strongest armies in Africa but he never let that get into his head, he opted for peace than war,” said Nyathi.
He further described Dr Nkomo as “far ahead of his time, a selfless man who sacrificed everything even his family for each and every one of us.”
Former Zapu director of information and publicity and journalist Saul Gwakuba Ndlovu described Dr Nkomo as a man who cherished the ideals of humanity and equality of all people.
“Nkomo was completely committed to the promotion of the dignity of the oppressed man,” Mr Ndlovu said in an interview with Chronicle on the death of Nkomo on July 1 1999.
He said Dr Nkomo wanted people to respect their cultures and not to have inferiority complexes about their food, attire and even dances.
Dr Mqabuko Nkomo was 82 at the time of his death at Parirenyatwa Hospital in Harare and his death marked one of the darkest days in the history of the country.
Dr Nkomo died on 1 July 1999.
To confirm his greatness even beyond his death, on 27 June 2000, a set of four postage stamps were released by the then Post and Telecommunications Corporation (now Zimpost) featuring the national hero, described by the poet Albert Nyathi as a “Son of the Soil”.
Father Zimbabwe, the icon of Zimbabwean sovereignty, felt that independence without economic independence was hollow and void hence at independence he worked hard in fostering economic development in the country.
He established the Development Trust of Zimbabwe through which he was able to mobilise funds to buy business ventures such as the 800 000-hectre Nuanetsi Ranch in Mwenezi and got equipment for canning and timber processing plants among other things.
To Dr Nkomo, land was a vehicle to economic emancipation hence his famous saying:
“Angithi uyayifuna imali? Phendulela ibala elithi mali, uzathola ukuthi lima.”
However, this vision was realised through the land reform programme which saw many families benefiting from it.
Long Live the Spirit of Umdala Wethu.