Joshua Nkomo statue set to be erected this week

THE erection of the statue of the late nationalist Dr Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo is set for this week with the Nkomo family endorsing the project and commending Government for the progress so far.

The director of the National Museums and Monuments of Zimbabwe (NMMZ), Dr Godfrey Mahachi, said everything was now in place for the erection of the statue.

Although he could not give a date, Dr Mahachi said by Friday when they hold their weekly briefings the statue would already be up.

"To date our workers have completed work on the pedestal now what is left is the erection of the statue and I don't see anything stopping us from having it erected by the time we have our Friday weekly meetings so as it stands I can as much confirm that by the end of this week the statue will be up.

"I should, however, commend everyone who has been working with us in ensuring that the project is brought to finality, we have been meeting as relevant stakeholders on a weekly basis to access the progress and I can say we are satisfied with the progress so far and finally we will have the statue in honour of our late Vice-President," said Dr Mahachi.

Asked on the possible official unveiling of the statue, the director said it was now up to the Government to set the date.

"With the statue up we will have finished our part; it will be now up to the Government to decide when it will be officially unveiled," said Dr Mahachi.

Daughter to the late Vice-President Ms Thandiwe Nkomo-Ibrahim also confirmed that all was in place for the erection of the statue and further commended the Government for the progress saying they were satisfied as a family.

"As a family we are really happy with the progress. We have been involved from the onset, attending stakeholder meetings every Friday and honestly, now that the statue is set to be erected by the end of this week, I can say we are more than satisfied," said Ms Nkomo-Ibrahim.

She said they had endorsed the designs and specifications of the statue and they had long given a thumbs up to the project.

Bulawayo United Residents' Association (Bura) chairperson Mr Winos Dube said as residents they were happy that the statue would finally be erected as honouring the late Vice-President was long overdue.

He, however, said the relevant stakeholders now had to ensure that Main Street was also named in honour of the late Vice-President.

"This is one of the best news ever, we have always been waiting for this statue to be erected because honestly we need something to be put up in honour of the late Father Zimbabwe and our children need to be constantly reminded of such iconic leaders.

"We have, however, not heard anything concerning the renaming of Main Street in honour of the late Vice-President but our call as residents is that this happens at the same time when the statue is officially unveiled," said Mr Dube.

Efforts to get a comment from Home Affairs Minister Cde Kembo Mohadi on the possible official unveiling of the statue were fruitless as his mobile phone was not reachable.

The recent developments come against the backdrop of reports that another statue will be mounted at the Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo airport, also in honour of the late veteran nationalist.

Various projects in honour of the late Vice-President have stalled due to a number of reasons, with calls from ordinary Zimbabweans for the responsible authorities to move with speed in implementing these projects almost 13 years after his death.

Dr Nkomo was befittingly named "Father Zimbabwe" for his enormous contribution to the country's struggle for independence from British colonial rule and his post- independence role of ensuring unity among Zimbabweans.

He died on 1 July 1999.