‘Zimbabwe will always be here’

“Political parties come and go but Zimbabwe will always be here”.
These were the words of Cde Joshua Nkomo, leader of PF Zapu, as he urged his supporters to co-operate with the new Government led by Prime Minister Robert Mugabe.

The Herald of April 14, 1980 reported:

Saying that the people of Matabeleland had “nothing to worry about” following the election results, Mr Nkomo said his party would come to power in the future.

The people have voted for the country, and now Zimbabwe was free, they should all work together, he told 3 000 supporters who had been invited to welcome home his wife, Joanah, after three years exile in East Germany.

Crammed into the courtyard of the Castle Arms Motel and overflowing on the walls of the medieval-style building, which is being used as a training camp for PF girls taking part in the celebration programme, the supporters gave Mrs Nkomo a tumultuous welcome.

After inspecting the guard of honour made up of PF girls, dressed in military-style dresses and berets, Mrs Nkomo expressed her gratitude for the “magnificent welcome” and congratulated the youngsters for the part they had played in the past.

She had been astonished, she said, at how young some of them who had taken part in the war had been.

Speaking of her exile, Mrs Nkomo said she has been well-treated in East Germany, but glad to be home.

The Nkomos were accompanied by their daughter, Thandiwe (25), who has travelled from (the United States of) America for Independence.