Joshua Nkomo 'rose above all forms of tribal divisions' says Ndlovu

PEOPLE from Matabeleland should shake off the mentality of viewing themselves as victims of the past and work towards improving their future, Zanu-PF Bulawayo provincial chairman Professor Callistus Ndlovu said yesterday.

Addressing a fully-packed Davies Hall, the party's provincial headquarters, during commemorations for the late Vice-President Joshua Mqabuko Nyongolo Nkomo yesterday, Prof Ndlovu said Matabeleland would continue lagging behind unless people from the region shouldered full responsibility of bringing development.

He said the political leadership from the region should borrow a leaf from the late Father Zimbabwe who broke many barriers and achieved much in his lifetime as a leader because of his untiring commitment to serving the people.

"Dr Nkomo was a leader full of hope. Despite repeated efforts to silence the nationalist cause by the Rhodesian forces, he was not discouraged and never lost sight of a liberated Zimbabwe.

"He did not get easily annoyed and would afford a smile even when things were not rosy at all. If we have people like him in this region today, things could be different," said Prof Ndlovu, an acclaimed academic.

"We should emulate Dr Nkomo and not be victims of the past. Instead we should manage the past for the benefit of the future. We have a collective role to move forward than just sitting down and crying foul, especially here in Matabeleland.

"This country will develop if we have people who think in a progressive manner like Dr Nkomo."
Prof Ndlovu said Dr Nkomo would always be remembered and honoured by all Zimbabweans for his passion for peace, unity and love for the people he led.

He described the veteran nationalist as a brilliant leader who gave sound counsel and commanded respect from people across the tribal divide.

Prof Ndlovu also said Dr Nkomo was a staunch cultural conservationist who always underscored the need for Zimbabweans to uphold their cultural values.

"Dr Nkomo rose above all forms of tribal divisions. He was a kind of a leader who wanted to see all people, regardless of their ethnic origin, fulfill their potential and contribute to the development of the country. He must, therefore, be remembered for all these things," said Prof Ndlovu who said he owes his political consciousness to Dr Nkomo.

"When others betrayed the struggle Dr Nkomo remained resolute and optimistic. He believed that when people abandon their cultural values they will become slaves to other cultures. As a party, Zapu used to have a lot of funds because Dr Nkomo had good relations with people and was able to mobilise support from partners in all directions. That is why this week is dedicated to him so that each one of us could look at his life and see where we are lacking."

Prof Ndlovu chronicled how colonialism came to Zimbabwe in the 1890s and how the settler regime oppressed black people.
He noted how Dr Nkomo and his colleagues braved the settler brutality and lit the candle of nationalism, culminating in the liberation struggle, which gave birth to independence in 1980.

Speaking at the same occasion, Zanu-PF Central Committee member Godfrey Malaba, who leads the organising committee for the week-long commemorations, said Dr Nkomo's legacy must be jealously guarded by everyone.

He said revolutionary Zimbabweans should remain united in Zanu-PF.
"Dr Nkomo was born in Kezi in Matabeleland South but he was a national leader. As Zanu-PF we would not allow people who want to villagise or regionalise him.

"Dr Nkomo belongs to us and we should not allow other people to abuse his name for the sake of gaining political mileage. It was Dr Nkomo who led us to join the united Zanu-PF and we will not deviate from that."

Dennis Ndlovu who was chairing the meeting urged Zimbabweans to always remember where they came from saying the 1987 Unity Accord was irreversible.

The commemorations are continuing today up to Friday with a series of public lectures lined up to teach members of the public about the life of the late National Hero.

Today Prof Ndlovu would conduct a lecture at the Small City Hall between 9am and 12pm.
Tomorrow there would be four public lectures at Pelandaba Hall (9am to 1pm), Pumula South Hall (1pm to 5pm), Nkulumane Hall (1pm to 5pm) and Luveve's Beit Halls (1pm to 5pm).

The lectures would be conducted by Prof Ndlovu and historian Mr Pathisa Nyathi.
On Friday a public lecture for students and members of the public would be conducted by former Midlands Governor Cephas Msipa at the Bulawayo Polytechnic's School of Hospitality.

Malaba said the Saturday rally, which was supposed to be addressed by President Mugabe as the concluding event for the commemorations has since been cancelled.

Dr Nkomo died on 1 July 1999 and celebrations for his life have become an annual event.