News / Local
Zanu-PF shocked and saddened by the death of Enos Nkala
22 Aug 2013 at 04:27hrs | Views
In a statement issued yesterday, Zanu-PF spokesperson Rugare Gumbo said his party was in shock at the demise of the veteran nationalist.
"The party is shocked and saddened by the tragic death of one of the illustrious sons of Zimbabwe, Enos Nkala, this morning (yesterday) at the Avenues Clinic, Harare.
"Nkala was a veteran gallant fighter of the nationalist struggle. He represents that rare breed of nationalist cadres who defied the diabolic racist laws of the Rhodesian settler regime and was always harassed, detained and arrested for his defiant attitude and actions.
"Nkala will always be remembered for being one of the architects of the formation of Zanu in 1963 (which later became Zanu-PF in 1987 after the Unity Accord). Zanu was formed in his house on 8 August 1963 in Highfield.
"Nkala served in Government and held several posts in the 1980s. Burial arrangements will be announced in due course."
As news of the veteran nationalist's demise started filtering through, condolence messages poured in with his colleagues describing him as a fearless cadre.
Zanu-PF Bulawayo provincial chairman Professor Callistus Ndlovu said: "He is a founder member of Zanu. In fact, the party was founded at his house. He was a fearless fighter and his contemporaries know that he confronted the enemy without fear.
"At times he used strong language which antagonised him with some people. However, he never kept a grudge and whenever you quarrelled with him it would end there."
Prof Ndlovu said Nkala was a generous person who assisted a lot of people from Bulawayo to go to school and helped others to get jobs in Harare.
"I would say notwithstanding the negatives about him, Nkala was generally interested in the positive future of his own people. That is why he was concerned about the self-exclusion of his Ndebele people.
"He feared that this might create a generation of marginalised people. He wanted them to be involved," said Prof Ndlovu.
Zanu-PF Politburo member and outgoing Matabeleland South Governor Angeline Masuku said Nkala was one of the people who steered the liberation struggle.
Zapu leader Dr Dumiso Dabengwa said he worked with Nkala during the days of the NDP in 1960 and got used to him more at Grey Street Prison, now Bulawayo Prison, where they shared the same cell.
"I found him already there in 1961 during the days of zhi and we were made to stay together in a cell for almost four months. While in the cell we discussed the state of the liberation struggle and ideas that we were going to implement after release," said Dr Dabengwa.
He said Nkala was part of the team that formed Zapu in 1962 before the party was banned.
"In 1963 Nkala and (President) Mugabe formed Zanu and I lost touch with him at that time until I met him again during the negotiations at the Lancaster House Conference," said Dr Dabengwa.
"He was a critical person who spoke his mind out whether you liked it or not."
Nkala was born in Insiza District in Matabeleland South Province where he grew up and did his education at local schools.
He worked for an insurance company in Harare where his involvement in politics began. He did not receive much of formal education, but while in prison, he studied accounting.
Nkala was one of the founders of Zanu as the party was formed at his house, 4449 Highfield, Harare in 1963.
He was the party's first treasurer and held the post until his resignation from politics.
During the war, he served in the party's high command.
He was detained at Gonakudzingwa for 12 years with leaders such as Ndabaningi Sithole, Leopold Takawira, Edgar Tekere, Maurice Nyagumbo, all late, and President Mugabe.
At independence in 1980 Nkala became the Minister of Finance until 1983 when he was moved to the Ministry of National Supplies.
In 1985, he became Minister of Home Affairs, and then moved over to Defence after the 1985 elections.
Nkala resigned from Government in 1989 at the height of the Willowgate scandal, which involved the acquisition of several vehicles from Willowvale Mazda Motor Industries by individuals in Government.
The vehicles were then sold at exorbitant prices in a market that was starved of new vehicles. Last year, Nkala said he was bitter about the way he was forced to leave politics in 1989, insisting that he chose to resign rather appear before the Wilson Sandura Commission because he was not wrong.
Since then, he was not active in politics until his death. Mourners are gathered at House Number 62 Carrick Road, Borrowdale, Harare, while in Bulawayo they are gathered at Nkala's house at House Number 9 Eastwood Road, Woodlands.
Nkala is survived by his wife, Thandiwe, eight children, six grandchildren and two great grandchildren.
"The party is shocked and saddened by the tragic death of one of the illustrious sons of Zimbabwe, Enos Nkala, this morning (yesterday) at the Avenues Clinic, Harare.
"Nkala was a veteran gallant fighter of the nationalist struggle. He represents that rare breed of nationalist cadres who defied the diabolic racist laws of the Rhodesian settler regime and was always harassed, detained and arrested for his defiant attitude and actions.
"Nkala will always be remembered for being one of the architects of the formation of Zanu in 1963 (which later became Zanu-PF in 1987 after the Unity Accord). Zanu was formed in his house on 8 August 1963 in Highfield.
"Nkala served in Government and held several posts in the 1980s. Burial arrangements will be announced in due course."
As news of the veteran nationalist's demise started filtering through, condolence messages poured in with his colleagues describing him as a fearless cadre.
Zanu-PF Bulawayo provincial chairman Professor Callistus Ndlovu said: "He is a founder member of Zanu. In fact, the party was founded at his house. He was a fearless fighter and his contemporaries know that he confronted the enemy without fear.
"At times he used strong language which antagonised him with some people. However, he never kept a grudge and whenever you quarrelled with him it would end there."
Prof Ndlovu said Nkala was a generous person who assisted a lot of people from Bulawayo to go to school and helped others to get jobs in Harare.
"I would say notwithstanding the negatives about him, Nkala was generally interested in the positive future of his own people. That is why he was concerned about the self-exclusion of his Ndebele people.
"He feared that this might create a generation of marginalised people. He wanted them to be involved," said Prof Ndlovu.
Zanu-PF Politburo member and outgoing Matabeleland South Governor Angeline Masuku said Nkala was one of the people who steered the liberation struggle.
Zapu leader Dr Dumiso Dabengwa said he worked with Nkala during the days of the NDP in 1960 and got used to him more at Grey Street Prison, now Bulawayo Prison, where they shared the same cell.
"I found him already there in 1961 during the days of zhi and we were made to stay together in a cell for almost four months. While in the cell we discussed the state of the liberation struggle and ideas that we were going to implement after release," said Dr Dabengwa.
"In 1963 Nkala and (President) Mugabe formed Zanu and I lost touch with him at that time until I met him again during the negotiations at the Lancaster House Conference," said Dr Dabengwa.
"He was a critical person who spoke his mind out whether you liked it or not."
Nkala was born in Insiza District in Matabeleland South Province where he grew up and did his education at local schools.
He worked for an insurance company in Harare where his involvement in politics began. He did not receive much of formal education, but while in prison, he studied accounting.
Nkala was one of the founders of Zanu as the party was formed at his house, 4449 Highfield, Harare in 1963.
He was the party's first treasurer and held the post until his resignation from politics.
During the war, he served in the party's high command.
He was detained at Gonakudzingwa for 12 years with leaders such as Ndabaningi Sithole, Leopold Takawira, Edgar Tekere, Maurice Nyagumbo, all late, and President Mugabe.
At independence in 1980 Nkala became the Minister of Finance until 1983 when he was moved to the Ministry of National Supplies.
In 1985, he became Minister of Home Affairs, and then moved over to Defence after the 1985 elections.
Nkala resigned from Government in 1989 at the height of the Willowgate scandal, which involved the acquisition of several vehicles from Willowvale Mazda Motor Industries by individuals in Government.
The vehicles were then sold at exorbitant prices in a market that was starved of new vehicles. Last year, Nkala said he was bitter about the way he was forced to leave politics in 1989, insisting that he chose to resign rather appear before the Wilson Sandura Commission because he was not wrong.
Since then, he was not active in politics until his death. Mourners are gathered at House Number 62 Carrick Road, Borrowdale, Harare, while in Bulawayo they are gathered at Nkala's house at House Number 9 Eastwood Road, Woodlands.
Nkala is survived by his wife, Thandiwe, eight children, six grandchildren and two great grandchildren.
Source - herald
