Father Zimbabwe Turning in His Grave over Son's Statement

NKOMO turning in his grave over son's statements

Umdala Wethu, Chibwechitedza, Father Zimbabwe as the late Vice President Joshua Nkomo was affectionately known must be turning in his grave following sentiments by his son Sibangilizwe, that the commemoration of this national icon should remain a preserve of the Ndebele people only.

Sibangilizwe uttered the sentiments during the celebrations to commemorate the life of the late Vice President at Stanley Square in Makokoba on July 2, 2011 organised by the little known Matonjeni Cultural Arts Group with 300 people in attendance.

The event had unfolded in the true spirit of the revolutionary icon, until Sibangilizwe spoilt it.

Taking to the stage Judith Todd, a remnant of the Rhodies was quoted, "Dr Nkomo always preached politics of non-racism referring to the late liberation icon as a true visionary and non realistic leader who represented people from various tribes and races."

Albert Nyoni, the chairman of the Matonjeni Cultural Arts Group weighed in with suggestion that one of the streets in the City of Kings be named after the legend. He applauded the Government of Zimbabwe for christening Bulawayo airport as Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo International Airport. Nyoni also challenged the authorities that a day be declared as public holiday in remembrance of the late Vice President.

Then, entered Sibangilizwe who opined that the commemoration of his late father Dr Joshua Nkomo be for the Ndebele people only before he went on to say that the people of Matabeleland should first unite as a region before uniting with other people, a complete climb down to the aspirations of his late Father, our Father.

Sibangilizwe, what is in a name? The name Sibangilizwe literary translated means fighting for the country and there is no reasonable doubt that when the late liberation icon christened his son that name, he meant exactly that, nothing less nothing more.

The next question would be which country is it that Dr Nkomo sought to liberate, which of cause with other nationalist such as President Mugabe, the late Josiah Chinamano  among others went on to liberate.

The country is Zimbabwe, whose geographic boundaries are with Zambia to the north, South Africa to the south, Botswana to the west and Mozambique to the east. Inside this country are ten provinces namely Matabeleland North, Matabeleland South, Bulawayo, Manicaland, Midlands, Masvingo, Harare, Mashonaland Central, Mashonaland West and Mashonaland East.

Beside the flora and fauna that decorates these provinces we have men and women speaking a host of languages such as Ndebele, Soto, Kalanga, Xhosa, Nambya, Tonga, Venda, Shangani, Karanga, Ndau, Korekore and Zezuru. All these people and provinces make up the country that the late Vice President sacrificed to see free. It is from the same that Sibangilizwe's name is derived.

To then restrict the celebration of Dr Nkomo to the Ndebele people is not only trivialising the role the late liberation icon played but the distortion of history. If he were for the Ndebele people only where then did the name Chibwechiteza come from? Where did the name Father Zimbabwe come from? If he were for Ndebele he should have remained Umdala period!

Sibangilizwe should be reminded that because of our Fathers anti-tribalist approach to the liberation of the country he earned himself respect of all the people, hence earning himself respectable names like Chibwechiteza, Father Zimbabwe and Umdala Wethu. His works brought people from all walks of life together and for Sibangilizwe to try and undo that is treasonous.

Our Father we know, throughout his life  he preached the simple gospel of non-tribalism, racial mix and equal opportunities hence the commemoration of his life is for all those who fall under the geographical boundaries that demarcate the country called Zimbabwe, inclusive of those beyond whose lives were influenced by his Pan African Ideals.