News / Local
Hundreds bid Enos Nkala farewell in Bulawayo
28 Aug 2013 at 16:48hrs | Views
HUNDREDS of people yesterday thronged the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) grounds in Bulawayo to bid farewell to national hero and former Zanu-PF Cabinet Minister Enos Nkala amid calls for the leadership of Matabeleland to unite for the development of the region.
By 9am, Hall Four was packed with mourners, some of them church members from Nkala's church, Harvest House International, politicians, family members, friends and residents.
Also present were senior Zanu-PF leaders such as Dr Obert Mpofu, Cain Mathema and Sithembiso Nyoni, service chiefs and senior Government officials. In his address Dr Mpofu who was representing the Government and the party described Nkala as a hero of heroes who leaves behind a great history.
He said Nkala was a rare breed of aggressive politicians from the region who bravely confronted the enemy in order to liberate the country.
"Let us tell the truth about the history of Nkala and not be lured by lies. A lot is being said about him in some sections of the media, which is not true.
"The problem here in Matabeleland is that we do not love each other.
"We are lagging behind in many things because we are not united," said Dr Mpofu.
"We do not support each other but we are good at pointing fingers. Our counterparts from empumalanga work together on issues of development thina sinyeyana.
"If we are united as a region we will be strong and be able to achieve development. We would be able to say no to the closure of companies in Bulawayo."
Dr Mpofu said people from the region should emulate the lives of people like Nkala, Joshua Nkomo, John Nkomo and Welshman Mabhena, whom he described as great leaders from the region.
"The history of this country is not complete without Nkala. He was one of the few people who left Zapu and joined Zanu, which shows that he was not a tribalist. If he is not buried at the National Heroes' Acre who else can? His footsteps are all over," said Dr Mpofu.
"He never deviated from the revolution. That is why some of us joined Zanu in the 1980s because I liked the way they did their things. I saw that they were people who wanted to take the country forward."
He said Nkala was a man of truth who spoke his mind out without fear and stood his ground despite opposition.
Dr Mpofu said he joined the Government in the early 1980s when he worked in the Customs Department and worked under Nkala who was the Minister of Finance at that time.
He said he worked closely with Nkala even after he had left Government and constantly visited him in hospital whenever he fell ill.
Several speakers also described Nkala as a vibrant leader who wanted things to be done in a perfect manner.
His eldest daughter, Thandi, said her father was a hardworking man who was very strict but kind and loving.
Harvest House International founder member Apostle Sarah Nyathi said the church had lost a father figure in Nkala whom she described as an exemplary leader, a loving brother and an intelligent man.
"We have learnt a lot from him as a church. He was a brilliant man with a sharp mind despite old age. He was an honest man of integrity who loved Christ," she said.Reverend Margaret Mkhwananzi from Stand in the Gap Ministries said the evangelists had a tough time trying to convince Nkala to turn to God in the early 1990s.
"When he was first told about Christ he resisted fiercely and at some point we feared that he was going to assault the preachers. After a long engagement he knelt down and wept. The atmosphere changed when he accepted Christ in his life. Even his house was turned into a church," she said.
Pastor Mlungisi Mhlophe from Hope International Ministries said Nkala's repentance was an inspiration to many. Friends described him as a man who had a forgiving spirit and never held grudges.
At the end of the church service at about 12.30pm mourners viewed the body after which it was flown back to Harare ahead of today's burial at the National Heroes Acre.
Nkala's body arrived in Harare in the afternoon aboard an Air Force of Zimbabwe helicopter at Manyame Airbase before it was taken to One Commando Barracks on a gun carriage.
Speaking on behalf of Home Affairs permanent secretary Mr Melusi Matshiya, Mr Alouis Matongo said the funeral cortege will depart at around 7am for Stodart Hall in Mbare where body viewing ceremony will be done. Harare acting Governor Mr Alfred Tome said 30 buses would be available in Harare to ferry mourners to the national shrine. He urged Zimbabweans to come in their thousands to give Nkala a befitting send off.
"The buses will be found at the usual pick up points and we call upon our people to come out in numbers so that we bid farewell to this great icon," Mr Tome said.
"He is a founding member of Zanu-PF and as such we respect him for that and the job he did for the country. We also encourage the youths to come and listen to the wise words of President Mugabe as they are the future leaders of this country."
The outspoken Zanu-PF founder member and former Defence, Finance and Home Affairs Minister, Nkala, succumbed to renal failure last week at the age of 81 and was declared a National Hero.
Nkala, who was born in Filabusi, Matabeleland South, was one of the founders of Zanu as the party was formed at his house, 4449 Highfields, Harare in 1963.
He was detained by the Rhodesian government for 12 years with leaders such as Ndabaningi Sithole, Leopold Takawira, Edgar Tekere, Morris Nyagumbo, all late and President Mugabe. At independence in 1980 Nkala was appointed Minister of Finance and later Minister of National Supplies. He also served as Minister of Home Affairs and then Defence.
Nkala resigned from Government in 1989 at the height of the Willowgate scandal, which involved the acquisition of several motor vehicles from Willowvale Mazda Motor Industries by individuals in Government.
The vehicles were then sold at exorbitant pricess.
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 than appear before the Wilson Sandura Commission because he was not wrong.
Since then he was not active in politics until his death.
Nkala is survived by wife, Thandiwe, eight children, six grandchildren and two great grandchildren.
By 9am, Hall Four was packed with mourners, some of them church members from Nkala's church, Harvest House International, politicians, family members, friends and residents.
Also present were senior Zanu-PF leaders such as Dr Obert Mpofu, Cain Mathema and Sithembiso Nyoni, service chiefs and senior Government officials. In his address Dr Mpofu who was representing the Government and the party described Nkala as a hero of heroes who leaves behind a great history.
He said Nkala was a rare breed of aggressive politicians from the region who bravely confronted the enemy in order to liberate the country.
"Let us tell the truth about the history of Nkala and not be lured by lies. A lot is being said about him in some sections of the media, which is not true.
"The problem here in Matabeleland is that we do not love each other.
"We are lagging behind in many things because we are not united," said Dr Mpofu.
"We do not support each other but we are good at pointing fingers. Our counterparts from empumalanga work together on issues of development thina sinyeyana.
"If we are united as a region we will be strong and be able to achieve development. We would be able to say no to the closure of companies in Bulawayo."
Dr Mpofu said people from the region should emulate the lives of people like Nkala, Joshua Nkomo, John Nkomo and Welshman Mabhena, whom he described as great leaders from the region.
"The history of this country is not complete without Nkala. He was one of the few people who left Zapu and joined Zanu, which shows that he was not a tribalist. If he is not buried at the National Heroes' Acre who else can? His footsteps are all over," said Dr Mpofu.
"He never deviated from the revolution. That is why some of us joined Zanu in the 1980s because I liked the way they did their things. I saw that they were people who wanted to take the country forward."
He said Nkala was a man of truth who spoke his mind out without fear and stood his ground despite opposition.
Dr Mpofu said he joined the Government in the early 1980s when he worked in the Customs Department and worked under Nkala who was the Minister of Finance at that time.
He said he worked closely with Nkala even after he had left Government and constantly visited him in hospital whenever he fell ill.
Several speakers also described Nkala as a vibrant leader who wanted things to be done in a perfect manner.
Harvest House International founder member Apostle Sarah Nyathi said the church had lost a father figure in Nkala whom she described as an exemplary leader, a loving brother and an intelligent man.
"We have learnt a lot from him as a church. He was a brilliant man with a sharp mind despite old age. He was an honest man of integrity who loved Christ," she said.Reverend Margaret Mkhwananzi from Stand in the Gap Ministries said the evangelists had a tough time trying to convince Nkala to turn to God in the early 1990s.
"When he was first told about Christ he resisted fiercely and at some point we feared that he was going to assault the preachers. After a long engagement he knelt down and wept. The atmosphere changed when he accepted Christ in his life. Even his house was turned into a church," she said.
Pastor Mlungisi Mhlophe from Hope International Ministries said Nkala's repentance was an inspiration to many. Friends described him as a man who had a forgiving spirit and never held grudges.
At the end of the church service at about 12.30pm mourners viewed the body after which it was flown back to Harare ahead of today's burial at the National Heroes Acre.
Nkala's body arrived in Harare in the afternoon aboard an Air Force of Zimbabwe helicopter at Manyame Airbase before it was taken to One Commando Barracks on a gun carriage.
Speaking on behalf of Home Affairs permanent secretary Mr Melusi Matshiya, Mr Alouis Matongo said the funeral cortege will depart at around 7am for Stodart Hall in Mbare where body viewing ceremony will be done. Harare acting Governor Mr Alfred Tome said 30 buses would be available in Harare to ferry mourners to the national shrine. He urged Zimbabweans to come in their thousands to give Nkala a befitting send off.
"The buses will be found at the usual pick up points and we call upon our people to come out in numbers so that we bid farewell to this great icon," Mr Tome said.
"He is a founding member of Zanu-PF and as such we respect him for that and the job he did for the country. We also encourage the youths to come and listen to the wise words of President Mugabe as they are the future leaders of this country."
The outspoken Zanu-PF founder member and former Defence, Finance and Home Affairs Minister, Nkala, succumbed to renal failure last week at the age of 81 and was declared a National Hero.
Nkala, who was born in Filabusi, Matabeleland South, was one of the founders of Zanu as the party was formed at his house, 4449 Highfields, Harare in 1963.
He was detained by the Rhodesian government for 12 years with leaders such as Ndabaningi Sithole, Leopold Takawira, Edgar Tekere, Morris Nyagumbo, all late and President Mugabe. At independence in 1980 Nkala was appointed Minister of Finance and later Minister of National Supplies. He also served as Minister of Home Affairs and then Defence.
Nkala resigned from Government in 1989 at the height of the Willowgate scandal, which involved the acquisition of several motor vehicles from Willowvale Mazda Motor Industries by individuals in Government.
The vehicles were then sold at exorbitant pricess.
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 than appear before the Wilson Sandura Commission because he was not wrong.
Since then he was not active in politics until his death.
Nkala is survived by wife, Thandiwe, eight children, six grandchildren and two great grandchildren.
Source - Chronicle
