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(SUNDAY MAIL ZW) President mourns Nkomo

President mourns Nkomo
Thursday, 17 January 2013 14:54
Herald reporter

President Mugabe has expressed shock at the death of Vice President Nkomo. Announcing the death at State House, President Mugabe who is also the Head of State and Government and Commander-in-Chief of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces President Mugabe said Vice President Nkomo who has been battling with cancer in the past few years passed on at St Anne’s Hospital this morning. “ "

The moment we are in are sad moments, we have lost our Vice President John Landa Nkomo."

“He was suffering for a long time from cancer and all of a sudden we heard the situation had deteriorated yesterday.

“He was taken to St Annes Hospital and he passed on sometime this morning. I would like to express on behalf of Government, our party Zanu-PF, my own self, Cabinet, our sincerest condolences to his family, to his dear old mother, relatives and his friends.

“We have lost a real revolutionary, a fighter for freedom, a friend of the people, a lover of children, he will be dearly missed by all of us,” President Mugabe said.

Meanwhile, the United States has also expressed its condolences to the family and the people of Zimbabwe on the death of VP Nkomo.

It said Vice President Nkomo was a patriot who dedicated his life to Zimbabwe’s sovereignty and prosperity, whether as a teacher, a politician, an advocate for Zimbabwe’s independence, or as a public servant,

"As a leader of PF ZAPU and ZANU-PF, Mr. Nkomo played an important role in shaping the course of Zimbabwean history. May he rest in peace," the embassy said.

Founding member of the African National Congress between 1958 and 1959.
Joined the National Democratic Party in 1960 before joining the Zimbabwe African People’s Union in 1961.

Arrested on several occasions by the Smith regime and detained at Gonakudzingwa in 1966-68.

Joined the African National Council where he was deputy secretary-general in 1971.

Attended the Geneva Conference as part of as part of the Zimbabwe African People’s Party (Zapu) delegation that was led by the late Vice President Joshua Nkomo in 1976.

Was seriously injured in a parcel bomb that killed Cde Jason Ziyapapa Moyo in 1977.

After the country gained independence in 1980, he became Member of Parliament for Matabeleland North between 1980 and 1985.

Served as Deputy Minister of Industry and Energy in 1981
Was Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s office responsible to the Deputy Prime Minister from 1982-84.

Became Member of Parliament for Tsholotsho between 1985 and 1990.
Was appointed Minister of Labour, Manpower Planning and Social Welfare from 1988 to 1995.

Served as MP for Bulawayo North between 1990 and 1995.
Was re-elected legislator for Bulawayo North from 1995 to 2000.

Was Minister of Local Government and Rural Development in 1995 before being appointed Minister of Local Government and National Housing in 1997.

Between 2000 and 2001, he was Minister of Home Affairs.
In 2002, he was appointed Minister of State in the President’s Office Responsible for Special Affairs.

He became Speaker of the Parliament in 2005 up to 2008.

Nkomo was appointed Minister of State in the President’s Office responsible for National Healing, Reconciliation and Integration, 2009 after the inception of the Inclusive Government.

He was appointed Vice President in December 14, 2009.

Labels: ANC, JOHN NKOMO, ROBERT MUGABE, ZANU-PF

posted by MrK @ 8:53 PM