VP Nkomo: The family man
Saturday, 19 January 2013 21:17
Lincoln Towindo
“Our father was not the typical family man who returns home every night after work, or one who takes his children to school every morning. “In a sense, we had a father but never had a ‘father’ since we rarely enjoyed his presence.” Jabulani Nkomo, the son of Vice-President John Landa Nkomo, was close to tears yesterday as he recounted the few moments he
enjoyed with his father during his living years.
Many have described him as a committed leader, a fountain of knowledge, a unifier, a public servant and a man of the people, among other colourful adulations.
But, sadly for his family, they were condemned to sharing such qualities — in most cases at a disadvantage — with millions of other people.
But it is not with regret that his family looks back at the revolutionary’s life.
“Such was his commitment to fighting for the cause of liberating his people that we as his family had resigned to foregoing his regular companionship,” said Jabulani.
“We, however, came to understand that we had a political person for a father who would not stop at any cost until his vision of delivering a free Zimbabwean people was a reality.
“He always told us that everyone has a time to come and a time to go, but what matters is what you actually do when you are around.
“Although we are still trying to come to terms with what has happened, we are proud that we still have memories of his vast achievements and we will do all within our power to hold on to those memories.”
According to Cde Nkomo’s brother, Mr Sam Sipepa Nkomo, the late Vice-President’s leadership qualities and wisdom were a direct result of his astute upbringing. He was educated in the rare arts of humility, compassion, empathy and grace.
“My brother was a giant and today a giant has fallen,” he said.
“He was born a natural leader even from the days when we were growing up he would always stand shoulders above all his peers.
“The family has been devastated by such a harsh blow and will struggle to come to terms with the situation.
“He has always played the role of a father — a leader, but what struck me the most was his willingness to tolerate unity in diversity.
“As you know, we are members of different political parties, but he never allowed such a situation to upset family unity.”
However, for Jabulani, the memories from the days of the liberation struggle when his father was frequently in detention, in hiding or out of the country, remain the most poignant.
For a child who was barely an adult, it was a nightmare having to deal with news that his father was a wanted “terrorist”.
He remembers visiting Tsholotsho to alert the rest of the family that his father had actually survived a assassination attempt and was recovering in hospital.
“I remember arriving at our rural home only to find that a ‘funeral’ wake was already under way,” he said.
“They all thought I was hiding the truth from them until a friend of my father brought pictures of him recovering in hospital to Tsholotsho.”
As thousands of relatives, friends and colleagues of the late Vice-President thronged his Milton Park home in Harare yesterday to pay their last respects, an air of oneness was palpable.
Even in death, he managed to unite the nation.
MDC-T secretary-general and Finance Minister Mr Tendai Biti led a delegation from his party.
“He was a fatherly figure for all of us in the inclusive Government such that we could look up to him for the provisions of answers to difficult situations.
“His humane and accommodative character made him accessible to people from different persuasions and races,” said Mr Biti.
Jabulani summed up the sad last days of the late revolutionary: “What is sad for us is that in the days leading to his death, we were beginning to notice signs of recovery, but God had his way.”
Cde Nkomo made a seamless transition from being a firebrand trade unionist to liberation politics and, subsequently, going into Government.
Vice-President Nkomo died at St Anne’s Hospital on Thursday last week after a long battle with cancer.
He will be buried tomorrow at the National Heroes’ Acre.
Labels: JOHN LANDA NKOMO, ZANU-PF
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Mugabe in election peace call as Nkomo buried
Grief ... John Nkomo in Sept. last year, his coffin (centre) and his mother Gogo MaDube
21/01/2013 00:00:00
by Staff Reporter
PRESIDENT Robert Mugabe renewed his calls for peaceful elections this year in a graveside speech on Monday as Vice President John Landa Nkomo was laid to rest the National Heroes Acre.
"We derive some solace from the fact that Cde Nkomo died on the day that parties to the Global Political Agreement succeeded in narrowing their differences on matters that threatened our national interests," Mugabe said in reference to last Thursday’s breakthrough during negotiations for a new constitution.
"Peace, unity and harmony should prevail if we are to move forward. Peace begins with you, peace begins with me, peace begins with us, that is what Nkomo used to say," Mugabe told thousands of mourners.
"Let's carry the exhortation of peace forward by holding elections peacefully. We want peaceful elections. The overriding common denominator is that we are Zimbabweans.”
Nkomo died last Thursday at St Anne’s Hospital after a long battle with cancer. He was 79.
Heavy rains that fell during the burial drenched mourners and twice disrupted Mugabe's address after triggering power outages.
“Power has gone, how can power go?” said Mugabe.
After the first power outage, the Zanu PF leader called for music to be played instead.
Mugabe said Nkomo, whom he described as a “survivor”, would be missed in both the government and his Zanu PF party.
“There are many why’s we cannot answer. Why? Why? Why?, yesterday it was the bomb in Lusaka, January 1977, that killed his friend Jason Moyo, but he survived. This is why I call him a survivor,” he said.
Mugabe’s MDC rivals Morgan Tsvangirai and Welshman Ncube attended the burial, along with foreign dignitaries who included South Africa’s Vice President Kgalema Motlanthe and Tanzanian Vice President Abeid Karume.
Zanu PF national chairman Simon Khaya Moyo is the odds-on favourite to step in as the next Vice President.
Labels: FUNERALS, JOHN LANDA NKOMO
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Zim can apply to rejoin Club: Envoy
Tuesday, 07 June 2011 22:54
Herald Reporter
THE Commonwealth would want to see Zimbabwe rejoin the club but Harare should re-apply if it wants to be part of the club, Australian ambassador to Zimbabwe, Matthew Neuhaus has said.
Australia was instrumental in unilaterally suspending Zimbabwe from the Commonwealth in 2003 before Harare chose to withdraw from the grouping of Britain and its former colonies.
Mr Neuhaus was addressing the media after paying a courtesy call on Vice President, John Landa Nkomo, in Harare yesterday.
He said Zimbabwe would, however, have to be prepared to ascribe to the conditions set by the club.
But Zimbabwe's other reason for withdrawing was its refusal to be subjected to conditions, which were being selectively applied just to find fault with Harare.
Mr Neuhaus said the Commonwealth was distressed to see Zimbabwe withdraw from the club.
"It was distressing when Zimbabwe withdrew from the Commonwealth after they were suspended. We had hoped they would come back shortly after the suspension but they withdrew.
"Zimbabwe need to re-apply and there is big hope that they will rejoin the Commonwealth but they should be ready to ascribe to the conditions of the Commonwealth like free and fair elections and the rule of law and the elections roadmap," Ambassador Neuhaus said.
He said the Commonwealth had welcomed the Global Political Agreement adding that the club was following progress.
"At the last Commonwealth meeting, the membership generally welcomed the GPA and leaders would now want to review the GPA progress," he said.
Zimbabwe withdrew from the Commonwealth on December 7, 2003 on unfounded allegations of failure to hold free and fair elections.
Turning to his meeting with VP Nkomo, Ambassador Neuhaus said they discussed the need for peace and intolerance to political violence.
"The Vice President is a lead member of the Organ of National Healing, Reconciliation and Integration, so we talked a lot on the importance of the need to make sure there is no political violence.
"I told him I have been travelling all over the country and of the support that the Australian Government is giving to Bulawayo in areas of water," said Ambassador Neuhaus.
Labels: COMMON WEALTH, JOHN LANDA NKOMO, ZIMBABWE
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Nkomo applauds Zambia
Herald Reporter
Acting President John Landa Nkomo last night lauded the bilateral ties between Zimbabwe and Zambia saying they are set to strengthen following the introduction of a flight between Lusaka and Harare starting today.
Speaking at the launch of the Lusaka- Harare route by Zambezi Airlines, the Acting President said the strong and cordial relations of the two countries was evidenced by the presence of Zambian founding President Dr Kenneth Kaunda who touched down at 1700 hours aboard Zambezi Airline for the event.
"The journey for Dr Kaunda has been very long, but eventful. For Zambezi Airline, I say you have done us and Dr KK proud because this is the environment he wanted created. We in Zimbabwe join our Zambian counterparts in celebrating the efforts by the airline," said Acting President Nkomo.
He said the bilateral relations between the two had stood the test of time.
"When the whiteman came, he could not even distinguish between a Tonga person from the two countries (Zimbabwe and Zambia)," he said.
Dr Kaunda hailed Zambezi Airline, saying the launch was historic in that it enhanced trade between the two countries.
"The occasion is truly historic. The route will facilitate travel and enhance trade between people of our countries. It will facilitate people to people interaction as well as boost tourism for the two countries," said Dr Kaunda.
His speech was prefaced by singing of revolutionary songs and HIV and AIDS songs.
He said the introduction of the route was consistent with the spirit of the Abuja Declaration signed in 1981 during an Organisation of African Unity summit, which sought to enhance cooperation among member countries.
"This can only be realised through enhanced communication including air travel. There can be no doubt that enhanced regional cooperation can achieve what was envisaged in the Abuja Declaration," he said.
Zambezi Airline board chairperson, Dr Maurice Jangulo, said his airline would soon enter into code-sharing discussions with Air Zimbabwe. "We are now at an advanced stage with Air Zimbabwe on code-sharing on regional routes and international routes. I also want to thank our two governments for creating an enabling environment for our business," he said.
Transport, Communication and Infrastructural Development Minister Nicholas Goche and his permanent secretary, Mr Partson Mbiriri witnessed the event.
Zambezi Airline commenced operations as a domestic carrier on July 15 2008, servicing the main Zambian cities and towns of Ndola, Kitwe, Livingstone, Solwezi and Chipata with a 30 seater aircraft.
It then went regional, the first flight being the Lusaka–Johannesburg route in May 2009 and built a reputation for excellent in-flight service. This was after it leased two Boeing 737–300 series aircraft from GE Commercial Aviation Service.
Configured for 12 Premier Business class and 99 Economy class seating, the airline’s aircraft are powered by new technology, fuel-efficient engines that also offer passengers a quieter cabin.
Labels: AIRLINES, JOHN LANDA NKOMO, KENNETH KAUNDA, REGIONAL INTEGRATION, ZAMBIA, ZIMBABWE
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