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Vusumuzi Dube
“I HAVE never abandoned hope that I might contribute a reasonable solution to our national problems, by discussion rather than by confrontation. Sometimes it looks as though progress is possible; sometimes I have to fight back despair.”
These words, typical of a revolutionary, a visionary, a pacifist and a nationalist, were said by the late Vice-President Dr Joshua Mqabuko Nyongolo Nkomo in his book; The Story of My life.
As the nation this month celebrates the illustrious life of the late veteran nationalist and Vice-President of the country, Sunday News spoke to a number of politicians in the region who could not hide their disappointment at some political misfits who are abusing Dr Nkomo’s name to claim self glory.
He was a giant who was among the few comrades who founded the nation. Dr Nkomo was a selfless leader and peacemaker par excellence who sold his personal worth for the greater good of the nation. His achievements, efforts, inspiration, and political pragmatic approach to development speak volumes of the kind of man he was and his shoes have somehow proved too big for the current crop of politicians.
He together with President Mugabe signed the Unity Accord in 1987 after violent clashes threatened to derail the peace in the young democracy and he diligently led the nation as the Vice-President until the time of his departure to the great beyond.
Dr Nkomo was also a notable empowerment guru who spearheaded the establishment of Econet Wireless by Strive Masiyiwa and many other development projects in the country some of which witnessed their decadence with his demise. The question in most people’s minds is; do the current leaders fit into the attributes of the late Father Zimbabwe, what would things be like if Dr Nkomo was still alive?
The country has in the past few years been faced with a number of problems, politically and economically, yet the question remains, what strides would have the nation leapt towards if Dr Nkomo was still alive?
Various politicians, elders and former PF-Zapu cadres gave their opinions on this broad subject and if they learned nothing and forgotten nothing from the man who they worked with and admired or if they learned something about the power, determination, political stamina and courage that he had in tackling issues.
Zanu-PF spokesperson Cde Simon Khaya Moyo said Dr Nkomo was a visionary leader even during his times in the liberation struggle, a feat which he said everyone should emulate for the development of the nation.
“There is no denying the kind of leader Dr Nkomo was, his works speak for themselves, he was a visionary leader, one whose goal from the start was to unify and empower the nation. During my years working with Dr Nkomo I learnt quite a lot from the way he would lead, even during difficult times, which is why up to this day we continue reflecting on his leadership skills and his overall vision for development,” said Cde Khaya Moyo.
Veteran freedom fighter and former Deputy Minister of Manpower Planning and Development, Cde Jane Ngwenya castigated people who were now using the name and legacy of Dr Nkomo to further their own mischievous ends.
“A lot of people are sadly taking advantage of Dr Nkomo’s name to trick the region into following their principles, their Western sponsors know that if you use Dr Nkomo’s name you have a lee-way to the people from the region.
“Besides when you are a failure in life you will always use the name of someone to try and boost your profile, that’s the reason why Dr Nkomo’s name is being abused. Some are even using the name of the late Chief Khayisa Ndiweni to gain favour from people from that district. What you should note is that when those people are cheered at a rally the people won’t be cheering them but the name of Dr Nkomo,” said the war veteran.
She said unlike all other political parties and movements that were emerging, Dr Nkomo would not have been bought easily by people who only wanted to squander the country’s resources.
“Some are also trying to bring up the issue of Gukurahundi. While we know and appreciate that it is one event that brought pain to the region, Dr Nkomo tried to solve the issue by the signing of the Unity Accord. He knew that if the nation continued in that state, people would not enjoy the gains of independence. He was forward looking, not these people who are obviously backward looking and don’t want anything good for this nation,” said Cde Ngwenya.
She said people should stop using the name and legacy of the late Vice-President to try and mislead people.
Former Bulawayo Mayor and disabled rights activist Cde Joshua Malinga said the key to the whole question was unity. He said while Nkomo was a great leader there was a need for the region and the country as a whole to emulate him in issues to do with nation building.
“We definitely need a leader in the mould of Dr Nkomo all the time, someone with the capability of unifying a nation. A leader has to speak for the people, if a leader does not know the problems of his or her people then there is no solution at all. My call to the current leadership is that we unite across party lines and focus on developing the nation by all means. This is what Dr Nkomo would have done,” said Cde Malinga.
He noted that unity and development were two terms that worked hand in glove saying by achieving unity one achieved development.
“When you look at basic examples like King Mzilikazi you realise that he built a nation out of unity, that’s why you find that every tribe was represented in the Ndebele kingdom be it Shona, Sotho or Kalanga and when you look at that kingdom it was by all means successful,” said Cde Malinga.
He added that Dr Nkomo together with President Mugabe united a nation that was largely divided on tribal lines.
The main call is thus for all leaders to emulate the works of this great man, unite the nation and lead it to a more prosperous future.
Father Zimbabwe, as most Zimbabweans call him, was born in Kezi District on 17 June 1918 and was the country’s Vice-President at the time of his death on 1 July 1999. After leading Zapu and its predecessor, National Democratic Party (NDP), and playing a pivotal role in the 17-year long liberation struggle and in uniting the country since 1987, it was but a natural call for the moniker Father Zimbabwe to be given to this titanic and iconic figure in our national history and heritage.
Dr Nkomo played an immense role in liberating the country from white oppressors; he was notably one of the first individuals to take up the struggle for liberating the country as a full time occupation, literally abandoning his family all in the name of nationalism.
He is ranked alongside some of Africa’s great leaders such as the late Ghana President Kwame Nkrumah; the late Mozambican President Samora Machel; Democratic Republic of Congo (then Zaire) founding President, the late Patrice Lumumba; former South African President, Nelson Mandela and former Zambian President Kenneth Kaunda.
Writing in his book, The Story of my life, Dr Nkomo sums up this issue when he says; “I am a Zimbabwean patriot and an African patriot too. I refuse to accept that we cannot do better than we have so far done . . . It is up to us to do better now.”
Londile Moyo
Online Reporter