Online Reporter
Sifelani Tsiko
Fact Check Editor
FORMER Vice President Joshua Mqabuko Nyongolo Nkomo, affectionately known as Father Zimbabwe, is remembered as one of the most influential nationalists who were instrumental in bringing independence to Zimbabwe.
He was a key figure in the long struggle to achieve majority rule in the country in 1980. A renowned Zimbabwean revolutionary and politician, he served as Vice-President of Zimbabwe until his death in 1999. Nkomo was affectionately called ‘Umafukufuku,” “Father Zimbabwe” and “Chibwechitedza”.
This report captures a timeline of key events in his life and political career:
19 June 1917: Joshua Mqabuko Nyongolo Nkomo is born in Semokwe Reserve (now Matobo, Kezi District), Matabeleland South. He was one of eight children of his father (Thomas Nyongolo Letswansto Nkomo), a preacher and cattle rancher for the London Missionary Society.
1920s – 1930s: Early years spent herding the family’s cattle. His father put a high value on education and young Joshua proved to be an outstanding student. He completed Standard Six and later took up a carpentry course at the Tsholotsho Government Industrial School. He studied there for a year and became a driver. Nkomo tried animal husbandry, and then became a school teacher specialising in carpentry at Manyame School in Kezi.
1942: At the age of 25, Nkomo moves to South Africa to further his education, study carpentry and qualify to a higher level. He enrolled at Adams College and the Jan H Hofmeyr School of Social Work in South Africa. While there, he met young political firebrands such as Nelson Mandela, Oliver Tambo and many others who later became African nationalist leaders at the University of Fort Hare. He did not attend that university.
1949: Nkomo marries his wife, Johanna MaFuyana, on October 1 of that year. The couple had four children — Thandiwe Nkomo, Ernest Thutani, Michael Sibangilizwe and Louise Sehlule.
1952: Nkomo graduates with a BA degree in Social Science at the Jan Hofmeyr School of Social Work.
1947: Returns to Bulawayo, becomes a trade unionist for black railway workers. Rose through the ranks to become leader of the Railway Workers Union.
1952: Nkomo assumes leadership of the Southern Rhodesian chapter of the African National Congress.
1953: Loses in the first federal election, running for Parliament.
1957: Becomes chairman of the Southern Rhodesia African National Congress (SRANC).
Feb 26, 1959: Rhodesian government declares a state of emergency and bans the ANC (African National Council). The Unlawful Organizations Act is passed.
Jan 1, 1960: Nkomo becomes president of the National Democratic Party, which was later banned by the Rhodesian regime. The National Democratic Party was founded as a successor to the ANC.
Jul 19, 1960: Nkomo and other NDP leaders are arrested. The arrests led to bloody rioting.
Oct 1960: The Law and Order Maintenance Act was introduced, targeting Nkomo and other black political activists.
1961: NDP is banned by the Rhodesian government.
1961: The Zimbabwe African People’s Union (ZAPU) is formed with Nkomo as leader.
Sep 20, 1962: ZAPU, the party he led, is banned.
1963: The British government establishes “five principles” guaranteeing African civil rights and unimpeded progress towards majority rule as a precondition for independence. Northern Rhodesia secedes and the Federation is formally dissolved in December. The Zimbabwe African National Union is formed by ZAPU political break-away leaders led by Ndabaningi Sithole. The People’s Caretaker Council (PCC) is formed as a ZAPU front. Zanu is later formed in August 1963.
1964: Nkomo is detained at Gonakudzingwa Restriction Camp by Ian Smith’s government together with Ndabaningi Sithole, Edgar Tekere, Maurice Nyagumbo, Robert Mugabe and others until 1974.
April 1966: ZANU launches its first guerrilla attack from Zambia. Also in 1966, the United Nations Security Council votes for mandatory sanctions on selected Rhodesian exports and imports.
Aug 1967: ZAPU and South Africa’s ANC launch a guerrilla campaign in the Northwest (Wankie battles).
1960s-1970s: Nkomo is involved in the armed struggle against the white minority government, leading ZAPU.
1974: After his release, Nkomo goes to Zambia, continuing to oppose the Rhodesian government through the dual processes of armed resistance and negotiation. He leads ZAPU’s armed wing — the Zimbabwe People’s Revolutionary Army using both guerrilla warfare and conventional warfare.
1970s: Joshua Nkomo survives two attempted assassinations by Rhodesian Selous Scouts and another by the Rhodesian Special Air Service (SAS).
1970s: Nkomo’s ZIPRA forces fight the Rhodesian government during the protracted 16 year armed guerrilla war. The most widely reported and possibly the most effective of their attacks, which had an impact in Rhodesia’s social life, is the downing of two Air Rhodesia Vickers Viscount civilian passenger planes with surface-to-air missiles. The first, on September 3, 1978, kills 38 out of 56 in the crash, with a further 10 survivors (including children) shot dead by ZIPRA cadres, sent to inspect the burnt wreckage. The second shooting on February 12, 1979, kills all 59 on board.
Feb 1975: Smith meets with Nkomo, Bishop Abel Muzorewa and Sithole to set up a formal constitutional congress.
Mar 19, 1976: Smith – Nkomo talks break down.
Oct 1976: Nkomo and the late former President Robert Mugabe announce the formation of the Patriotic Front.
1979: Nkomo and ZAPU, alongside Robert Mugabe and ZANU as the Patriotic Front negotiate the Lancaster House Agreement with the British government and the government of Zimbabwe-Rhodesia, leading to new elections. December 1979, Lancaster House agreement paves the way for the holding of elections in early 1980.
1980: Zanu PF wins independent Zimbabwe’s first election with 57 seats. Mugabe takes office as Prime Minister on April 18. ZANU-PF won 57 of the 80 African seats in the house, receiving 63 percent of the votes. ZAPU won 20 seats while UANC received 3 seats.
Mugabe invites ZAPU into the new government. Joshua Nkomo becomes Minister of Home Affairs in the first post-independence Government.
Jan 1981 – March 1983: Nkomo is demoted to a lesser Cabinet position after the discovery of a large cache of illegal arms on properties belonging to ZAPU in Matabeleland. He goes into self-imposed exile in London.
1987: Nkomo and Mugabe sign the historic Unity Accord on December 22, 1987. The agreement paves the way for the merging of ZAPU and ZANU PF. It’s ratified by ZAPU and ZANU PF in April 1988. Political disturbances and violence stop in Zimbabwe. Nkomo becomes one of Zimbabwe’s two Vice-Presidents while Mugabe becomes President.
April 1988: A second general amnesty is granted and many who had committed major atrocities during the early 1980s are pardoned. The Government grants amnesty and peace takes hold in Matabeleland more rapidly.
1987 – 1999: Nkomo serves as Vice President until his death.
July 1, 1999: Nkomo dies of prostate cancer at the age of 82 at Parirenyatwa Hospital in Harare. He is declared a National Hero.
July 5, 1999: Tens of thousands of mourners, including foreign dignitaries throng the National Heroes’ Acre to witness the burial of nationalist and liberation fighter Dr Joshua Nkomo, a revered towering political figure in Zimbabwean history.
2000: The Bulawayo airport is renamed Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo International Airport in his honour. Several roads and institutions are also named in his memory. A statue is erected in Bulawayo to honour his contribution to the country’s liberation.
