peter
Robin Muchetu, Senior Reporter
THE Joshua Nkomo National Foundation has praised the Second Republic for its unwavering commitment in honouring the late Father Zimbabwe’s legacy as seen by the overwhelming support the Government has been offering to anything relating to the late national icon.
Speaking during the 24th anniversary of the late former Vice-President of Zimbabwe Dr Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo, the chairperson of the Foundation, Mr Nyararai Sibanda paid tribute to the Second Republic for a sterling job in keeping alive the legacy of Dr Nkomo.
“The Government and other partners have assisted us in doing many projects regarding Cde Nkomo. I am happy to say that the Government listens to our cries, we are grateful to President Mnangagwa, and we see that there is renewed recognition, renewed outlook, and renewed commitment to preserving his legacy that shows that the work that the late icon did for the country is still being prioritised,” said Mr Sibanda.
The Foundation’s leadership highlighted that they were open to new ideas on how they could carry forward the legacy of the late Father Zimbabwe.
“As a foundation, we are proud of everyone who has come to grace this event, it is a bittersweet day as we remember the late Cde Nkomo who spoke about the Zimbabwe he envisaged and died still emphasising on a peaceful Zimbabwe. I am glad the leadership that is there today is also preaching the same gospel of peace, they carry on what Baba Nkomo lived for. We do not have a monopoly of knowledge and ideas so we are calling upon the public to assist us in sharing ideas of maintaining this legacy,” said Mr Sibanda.
Mr Sibanda said the late Father Zimbabwe left many lessons that the Foundation has been taking a leaf from and ensuring that his name and legacy live on for many generations to come.
Cde Judith Ncube the Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution in Bulawayo also paid tribute to the late Father Zimbabwe.
“Today is a great day, we are sad though that a dark cloud was thrust upon us when we lost Cde Nkomo especially when we remember that he was a unifier who loved peace always, he emphasised that if people were failing to understand each other, they must always choose peace as a solution. Baba Nkomo imparted to us when we were in the heat of the war that the aim was independence and when the country was liberated, he said we needed to develop it together. This gave us an insight into what kind of a person he was,” she said.
Cde Ncube said the President was also continuing with preaching peace and unity as an important block in building the nation.
Mrs Thandiwe Nkomo-Ibrahim the daughter of the late icon spoke fondly of her father.
“Today’s event shows that my father put forward the wellbeing of Zimbabwe and its people, this unity and peace being mentioned here is testimony to what he always used to say, that if there is no peace and unity there is no development. He also taught us to embrace each other with our diversity from the time people were in the struggle until after the attainment of independence. These are the lessons we live with and we will not divert from his teachings of peace and unity which give rise to progress, development, and wealth,” said Mrs Nkomo-Ibrahim. — @NyembeziMu
Online Reporter