Youths urged not to reverse gains of independence

Nhlanhla died on Saturday afternoon after sustaining serious head injuries when he was hit by a train while walking on the side of a railway track between Emakhandeni and Entumbane suburbs.
He was 38.
Addressing hundreds of mourners who included Zanu-PF Central Committee member, Cde Molly Mpofu and provincial executive members, Secretary for Education and family friend Dr Sikhanyiso Ndlovu said the death of Nhlanhla should encourage the people of Bulawayo to unite in times of grief.
“The death of Nhlanhla has taught us to be united as a city and a nation, taking heed of the message that was left for us by the late Vice-President Dr Joshua Nkomo.
“He said he united with Zanu as he was bringing together the people of Zimbabwe,” said Dr Ndlovu.
He said he asked President Mugabe to excuse him from yesterday’s Politburo meeting so that he could attend the burial of the son of a dear friend.
“Today (yesterday) there is a Politburo meeting in which the President is chairing. I excused myself because I had to attend the funeral of the son of the Bulawayo chairman.
“President Mugabe excused me so that I could be here and he has since sent a condolence message saying he was in mourning with the Dakamela family,” said Dr Ndlovu.
He challenged the youths not to reverse the gains of independence and take the country back to the colonial era.
“We are leaving the country in your hands, the youths, so the onus is upon you not to reverse the gains of the liberation struggle and independence,” said Dr Ndlovu.
Family representative and uncle to Nhlanhla, Mr Nsika Dakamela, described his nephew as a quiet and humble person whom he loved dearly.
“You can not replace anyone when they are dead. We are torn apart with regards to the death of my nephew. We as a family have lost a son and brother and we shall always remember him,” he said.
Mr Dakamela thanked Zanu-PF and the country as a whole for comforting the family during its trying times.
In a condolence message on the death of Nhlanhla, Zanu-PF national commissar and Minister of Media, Information and Publicity Cde Webster Shamu described his death as shocking and devastating, and called for safety measures to be put in place at railway crossings to avoid further loss of life.
He said this in a speech read on his behalf by Zanu-PF secretary for transport and social welfare for Bulawayo province Cde Joseph Tshuma.
“Nhlanhla’s death in such horrific and tragic circumstances brings to the fore the urgent need to put safety features at all points where members of the public cross railway lines and roads.
“This unnecessary loss of lives in such an unfortunate and sad circumstances has to be brought to an end by responsible Government authorities as a matter of urgency,” said Cde Shamu.
Zanu-PF Bulawayo provincial youth chairman Cde Butholezwe Gatsi described the death of Nhlanhla as a blow to the youth wing of the party.
He said the youths of the province were in mourning with the Dakamela family over the death of a fellow comrade.
Also present at the funeral was the secretary for Harare province Cde Torongo Torongo who was representing the chairman, Cde Amos Midzi.