New trust formed in honour of Joshua Nkomo

AN ex-Zipra combatant, Linganiso Mdabuko Nyathi, has founded a new organisation to honour the late Vice-President Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo and project a correct historical record of Zipra fighters' role in the liberation struggle.

Nyathi recently said the newly-formed Lalangwe, Mbambangwe Memorial Trust, led by a seven-member board, will also be tasked with documenting all political developments that took place before and after independence.

"This trust is formed in honour of late VP Nkomo and through it, we want to honour all liberation struggle war veterans by setting up facilities such as the national heroes memorial scholarships with each province expected to have its bank account and appoint provincial information officers and fundraising committees," he said.

Nyathi said the trust has been officially registered and will be headquartered in Matobo District, Matabeleland South province.

He said the trust will set up a national tourism and hospitality school, national heroes recreational facilities to be used by sports clubs and schools for a fee. Nyathi said plans were also under way for the introduction of the heroes' memorial library, which will capture the history of those who participated in the liberation struggle.

"I am happy because my trust has been officially registered. My call is for all political party leaders, war veterans, and citizens to support the trust by donating or pledging to the cause, which will make our history to be recorded and kept safe for generations to come," he said.

He joins several other former Zipra members and close relatives, who have formed various trusts in honour of the late Father Zimbabwe, who died of cancer in 1999.

Nyathi said during the liberation struggle, he had short stints at Trust Camp, Nampundu and Freedom Camp before he went to Military Democratic Camp in Zambia for his military training. He later was deployed to the war front and operated in the Tsholotsho area until cease fire in 1979.