BCC shun Joshua Nkomo commemorations citing cash flow problems

 Cash strapped Bulawayo City council has turned down a request from a group calling its self The Joshua Nkomo commemorations committee which sought financial assistance to stage a two day commemoration of the late vice president Nkomo.

 The group had wrote to council saying "we invite you to be part of this history making process of bringing Umdala back to life to take his rightful position in our lives.

"Your presence and that of your organisation will make this event a great success. Your moral, financial and material support will make a difference that will guarantee the perpetuity of Umdala's legacy".

 However, the MDC-T dominated council refused to contribute financially.

"That the request for financial and material support from council be not acceded to in view of financial constrains…" council said.

The grouping had sent an invitation to council on the planned celebrations. "The Joshua Nkomo commemorations committee was formed to correctly and properly portray and uphold the life and legacy of our icon Dr Joshua Nkomo.

"Working in concurrence with the Joshua Nkomo National Foundation, the committee seeks to solidify and perpetuate Nkomo's legacy through among other things commemorating annually the day of his departure from the earth on the 1st July, 1999" the organisation wrote to the council.

The theme of the event this year is "Bangaphi Abantu" which it says is in line with "Umdala's last wishes from his death bed to be with the masses for the last time"

It lan to stage the commemoration on two days, June 30 to July 1 at Stanley Square.