Online Reporter
Rutendo Nyeve [email protected]
VICE President Kembo Mohadi has paid tribute to the late Vice President Dr Joshua Mqabuko Nyongolo Nkomo, describing him as a towering unifier whose legacy of peace and national unity remains a cornerstone of Zimbabwe’s stability.
He was speaking in a recent interview with Zimpapers in Victoria Falls on the 27th anniversary of the death of the liberation icon.
Dr Nkomo, affectionately known as Father Zimbabwe, passed away on July 1, 1999, at the age of 82 after a battle with prostate cancer.
The day has since become an annual moment of sombre reflection, where the nation remembers his pivotal role in the liberation struggle and his relentless pursuit of national cohesion.
This year’s commemorations coincide with a period of renewed focus on the development of Matabeleland, the region of his birth, including major infrastructure projects and the decentralisation of national events to honour his rich legacy and advocacy for equitable development.
VP Mohadi, who is the second Vice President from Matabeleland South Province since the passing of the late Father Zimbabwe, emphasised the enduring relevance of Nkomo’s message.
He said the principles of unity taught by the founding father are essential for fostering the peace required for national development.
VP Mohadi said the current ZANU-PF party embodies the legacy of unity left by the late nationalist.
“Today we remember the day Father Zimbabwe bowed down and left us. We remember him daily for the good works that he did here in Zimbabwe and in the region,” VP Mohadi said.
“He is a pioneer nationalist who was among the first people who led the war of liberation together with some of his comrades who have since departed.
“They left us with one word, that Zimbabweans should be united. They taught us not to discriminate against ourselves based on tribe, ethnicity or otherwise but that we are one people,” he said.
“So, the current ZANU-PF party is a symbol of unity that Father Zimbabwe left us with. We really want to thank him for this and we will continue to remember him for leaving behind a long-lasting legacy of unity and peace. If we unite, there will be peace and that peace will foster development,” said VP Mohadi.
Dr Nkomo’s crowning achievement as a unifier was his role in the 1987 Unity Accord, a historic agreement signed with the late former President Robert Mugabe that merged ZAPU and ZANU, effectively ending internal political conflict and ethnic strife.
The peace brought about by the agreement has laid a firm foundation for the country’s socio-economic progress, particularly in Matabeleland South Province.
In recent years, the legacy of the accord has been strengthened by the Second Republic’s development agenda, which aims to ensure no one and no place is left behind.
Key projects in the southern region, such as the modernisation of the Beitbridge Border Post, the establishment of the first Village Business Unit, and the creation of a drought mitigation centre, are seen by provincial leaders as tangible fruits of the unity Nkomo championed.
Furthermore, the national agricultural sector has flourished, with record-breaking production in maize, wheat, and tobacco, while the mining sector continues to see a rise in output, underpinned by the prevailing peace and stability.
