News / Local
'Declare Tafi Moyo national Hero,' says Zanu-PF
10 Dec 2014 at 07:55hrs | Views
Zanu-PF Bulawayo Province has recommended that prominent Bulawayo businessperson and Highlanders benefactor, Tafi Moyo, who died on Monday at the age of 108 be declared a national hero for his contribution to the liberation of the country from colonial bondage.
In an interview yesterday evening, the ruling party's provincial chairperson for Bulawayo, Professor Callistus Ndlovu, described Moyo as a magnanimous character who made an immense contribution to the liberation of the country and "we think as a province he deserves a national hero status".
He said his provincial executive has written to the party's national leadership recommending that Moyo be granted the national hero status honour.
"After Joshua Nkomo took over the leadership of the Southern Rhodesia African National Congress from Reverend Samkange, Moyo helped in funding the party," said Prof Ndlovu. "Moyo also funded the travel of Nkomo to London for a conference during the struggle. He was supportive in terms of funds and material support during the liberation struggle. At one time when I was detained with him at Khami Maximum Prison in Bulawayo in 1967 and remember he was detained several times for political activism- I observed that he was a generous person sharing food that would be brought for him with other inmates. He continued to assist in the struggle for liberation without projecting his person doing it undercover and selflessly."
Moyo's contribution to the struggle was personally acknowledged by the Zanu-PF leader, President Robert Mugabe, when the veteran businessperson and politician celebrated his 100 th birthday at the Zimbabwe International Grounds in Bulawayo in 2006.
Mugabe chronicled the types of support that the centurion gave in the fight for the country's independence.
Apart from being a guru in liberation politics, Moyo is credited with "being the first transport operator to bring a diesel powered bus to Matabeleland".
Empretec recognised Moyo's contribution to the country's economy after the business organisation turned 20.
A persevering character Moyo owned a retail chain called Try Again, the name he also christianed his fleet of buses.
He was a keen football fan, supporting Highlanders from its genesis as Lions FC.
Infact, so passionate about Highlanders FC was Moyo that legend has it that he bet on his fleet of buses for Highlanders FC to win a match against Mashonaland United, later to be called Zimbabwe Saints FC and won the bet.
In 1987, Moyo was granted civic honours by the Bulawayo City Council for his contribution to the development of the country's second capital.
Moyo was born in Kezi, also the late Vice President Joshua Nkomo's home area, in June 2006.
The bonds between the Nkomo and Moyo families were strengthened when Father Zimbabwe's son, Sibangilizwe Michael Nkomo and Tshukani Moyo tied the knot in the 1990s in the city.
Mourners are gathered at the Moyo family residence on 91 Matopos Road in Famona.
In an interview yesterday evening, the ruling party's provincial chairperson for Bulawayo, Professor Callistus Ndlovu, described Moyo as a magnanimous character who made an immense contribution to the liberation of the country and "we think as a province he deserves a national hero status".
He said his provincial executive has written to the party's national leadership recommending that Moyo be granted the national hero status honour.
"After Joshua Nkomo took over the leadership of the Southern Rhodesia African National Congress from Reverend Samkange, Moyo helped in funding the party," said Prof Ndlovu. "Moyo also funded the travel of Nkomo to London for a conference during the struggle. He was supportive in terms of funds and material support during the liberation struggle. At one time when I was detained with him at Khami Maximum Prison in Bulawayo in 1967 and remember he was detained several times for political activism- I observed that he was a generous person sharing food that would be brought for him with other inmates. He continued to assist in the struggle for liberation without projecting his person doing it undercover and selflessly."
Moyo's contribution to the struggle was personally acknowledged by the Zanu-PF leader, President Robert Mugabe, when the veteran businessperson and politician celebrated his 100 th birthday at the Zimbabwe International Grounds in Bulawayo in 2006.
Mugabe chronicled the types of support that the centurion gave in the fight for the country's independence.
Apart from being a guru in liberation politics, Moyo is credited with "being the first transport operator to bring a diesel powered bus to Matabeleland".
A persevering character Moyo owned a retail chain called Try Again, the name he also christianed his fleet of buses.
He was a keen football fan, supporting Highlanders from its genesis as Lions FC.
Infact, so passionate about Highlanders FC was Moyo that legend has it that he bet on his fleet of buses for Highlanders FC to win a match against Mashonaland United, later to be called Zimbabwe Saints FC and won the bet.
In 1987, Moyo was granted civic honours by the Bulawayo City Council for his contribution to the development of the country's second capital.
Moyo was born in Kezi, also the late Vice President Joshua Nkomo's home area, in June 2006.
The bonds between the Nkomo and Moyo families were strengthened when Father Zimbabwe's son, Sibangilizwe Michael Nkomo and Tshukani Moyo tied the knot in the 1990s in the city.
Mourners are gathered at the Moyo family residence on 91 Matopos Road in Famona.
Source - Zim Mail
