adminBongani Ndlovu Showbiz Correspondent
IT was pomp and fanfare at this year’s commemorations of the death of one of Zimbabwe’s unifiers, Dr Joshua Mqabuko kaNyongolo Nkomo.The celebrations were held yesterday under the theme “Healing the Nation”. They began with a march from the Blue Lagoon Business Centre at Renkini in Bulawayo to Dr Nkomo’s statue situated at the intersection of Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo Street and 8th Avenue.
The procession comprised drum majorettes, arts and cultural groups, school children and members of the public who joined in on the march to commemorate 15 years since the day Dr Nkomo died.
At the statue, cultural groups led by Matojeni Cultural Society were the centre of attraction as they performed traditional dances such as isitshikitsha, hosana and amabhiza.
Scores of people gathered at the statue to catch a glimpse of the action and traffic had to be diverted to accommodate people who wanted to watch the proceedings.
After an hour of singing and dancing at the statue, the procession moved along Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo Street towards 3rd Avenue to the main venue of the commemorations, Stanley Square. The convoy would stop once in a while so that cultural dance groups could sing songs praising Dr Nkomo and all that he did for Zimbabwe.
The parade then turned left into 3rd Avenue as it made its way to Stanley Square. Minister of State for Bulawayo Metropolitan Province Eunice Nomthandazo Moyo was the guest of honour while Bulawayo socialite Babongile Sikhonjwa was the director of ceremonies.
Thandanani Women’s Ensemble, Impumelelo Shining Stars, Cool Crooners and Umkhathi Theatre Works were among the many cultural groups that provided entertainment at the celebrations.
Well travelled imbube group Black Umfolosi led an ensemble of Bulawayo artistes in singing their famous song Unity. Zanu-PF central committee member Molly Mpofu went on stage and joined the artistes.
Black Umfolosi’s act had a mixture of traditional dances such as ingquzu, kongonya and the Alick Macheso-popularised dance, Borrowdale.
The act, according to the artistes, was to showcase Zimbabwe’s diverse culture that Dr Nkomo unified during his time before and after the liberation struggle.
The song Unity resonated with the themes of the various speeches delivered on the day showing that Father Zimbabwe was a man for everyone and had no segregation.
Meanwhile, many people yesterday called on government to declare July 1 a public holiday to celebrate the death of Dr Nkomo.
Online Reporter