Bulawayo gives Ndlovu rousing send-off

NATIONAL hero Sikhanyiso Ndlovu was yesterday given a rousing send-off by Bulawayo residents as they came in their numbers to pay their last respects to the revolutionary and educationist. His body was later flown to Harare for burial at the National Heroes Acre today. The former Cabinet Minister and Zanu-PF Politburo member died aged 78 at Mater Dei Hospital on Tuesday morning where he had been admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) after an asthma attack and subsequent stroke last week.

Speaker after speaker spoke glowingly of the former Higher Education Deputy Minister and Minister of Information and Publicity during a service at his Sunninghill home. The city came to a standstill as the police escorted the convoy accompanying Ndlovu's body on its way from his home to the Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo International Airport where it was flown in a military plane to the capital.

Ndlovu's wife Rose, Politburo member Absolom Sikhosana and Angeline Masuku accompanied the body. Party officials from Matabeleland South and North including Zanu PF politburo member Obert Mpofu, his wife and legislator Sikhanyisiwe, Home Affairs Deputy Minister Obedingwa Mguni, Matabeleland North provincial administrator Lathiso Dlamini and provincial service chiefs were among those who attended the service at Sunninghill.

Also present were Zanu PF Matabeleland North provincial chairperson Richard Moyo, the provincial chairperson of the Women's League Medeline Bhebhe, Central Committee member Alice Dube and Matabeleland South provincial youth chairperson Washington Nkomo as well as Central Committee member Richard Ndlovu also from Matabeleland South and Zapu president Dumiso Dabengwa.

Daughter to the late Vice President Joshua Nkomo, Thandiwe Nkomo-Ibrahim, and son to the late VP John Nkomo, Jabulani were among other notable figures. Ndlovu's friend and wartime colleague, Saul Gwakuba Ndlovu said the former minister was a selfless cadre who could have become rich working for any international organisation after completing his studies but chose to liberate his people.

He said blacks at the time, including the educated, were treated inhumanly hence Ndlovu's resolve to fight the colonialists. "Sikhanyiso joined the liberation struggle when many blacks were still afraid and Joshua Nkomo gave us the courage to become freedom fighters. He was very close to Nkomo who consulted him on a number of things because he was loyal," said Gwakuba Ndlovu who was master of ceremonies at the launch of Zimbabwe Distance Education College soon after Independence.

"Education helped him to leave the country better than he found it when he was born. He added value to the people with education through his colleges." Gwakuba Ndlovu challenged the people of Bulawayo and Matabeleland to put their heads together and come up with something to perpetuate the passion of Ndlovu's life.

In Harare, Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa described Ndlovu as a patriot who cherished national unity. "We worked with him in the national leadership at national level and he was one of the comrades who cherished unity and cooperation among members of the party and the nation as a whole. "I know him as an individual who did not feel issues of tribalism and regionalism, he was above that. He was a person who mixed with everyone across the breadth of the country. He was at home anywhere," VP Mnangagwa said.

The Vice President said the late Ndlovu valued education and played a role in the development of the sector even during the liberation war. "He served in government and was doing well and in the Politburo. He served in various positions particularly as secretary for education. I feel as a party, nation and government we have lost a colleague, a patriot with a wealth of experience.

"He could have done a lot by writing about the history of the country because of his wealth of experience," he said. He added that Ndlovu's passion for education resulted in his founding of the Zimbabwe Distance Education College that has seen thousands of Zimbabweans attaining various academic and professional qualifications.

VP Mnangagwa said he got to know Ndlovu in the early 1960s. "I came to know Duke in the early 60s when he was at Gonakudzingwa together with the late former Vice President Joshua Nkomo when we ourselves were also in prison. "After he left Gonakudzingwa, he went to the US to study and during his stay we were fully aware of his activities as a Zapu activist. He came from the Midlands in Mberengwa and was personal friend of mine for over 40 years," the Vice President said.

Mpopoma Pelandaba legislator Joseph Tshuma said Ndlovu never abandoned the constituency despite losing it to MDC in 2000. "He never turned his back on the people. He was always there giving a helping hand either to children who couldn't afford fees or finding scholarships for some to further their education," said Tshuma.

"The MDC continued to dominate in the city and we have been asking ourselves what was wrong. Recently, however, we managed to win back five seats in Bulawayo one of them being Mpopoma Pelandaba constituency. Ndlovu died a happy man because we have brought the constituency back home to Zanu-PF."

Veteran educationist Stanley Hadebe challenged the community to pursue Ndlovu's dream of a University Without Walls. He said the documentation was ready but the project failed to take off because of economic challenges. Hadebe urged parents to honour Ndlovu by instilling discipline in their children after reports of the students taking part in the infamous Vuzu parties that paint a bad picture about Bulawayo.

Zanu-PF Bulawayo provincial chairperson Dennis Ndlovu said Ndlovu was dedicated to the party and always preached peace and unity. The provincial chairperson bemoaned what he termed a trend where the city had become fertile ground for people to launch projects that are not beneficial to the people.

He said such projects were run by people who love occupying positions but never to the benefit of the masses. Dennis Ndlovu called for unity among the leadership in the province saying the party could only forge ahead when there was unity of purpose. He called on broader unity with the Matabeleland saying the region would benefit if the leaders worked together.

Bulawayo provincial affairs minister Eunice Nomthandazo Moyo paid tribute to the community for giving Ndlovu a hero's send-off. She echoed suggestions on the need to make sure that Ndlovu's legacy never dies, saying the university without walls project was one that would keep his name alive.

"It is our task to see that Ndlovu's legacy never dies," she said. Ndlovu is survived by wife, two sons, a daughter and seven grandchildren.