BULAWAYO — Joshua Nkomo’s son has called for his father’s remains to be dug up from the National Heroes’ Acre for reburial in Matobo District, claiming his father did not die a happy man and is not resting in peace.

Sibangilizwe Nkomo, the nationalist leader’s only surviving son, told a low key commemoration marking his father’s death yesterday that in his last days, the late Vice-President was not happy and complained bitterly about the route the country was taking.

“We betrayed him and even denied him his very last wish”, Sibangilizwe said.

“My father wanted to be buried at Entumbane, near King Mzilikazi’s grave or at the family shrine at St Joseph’s near his mother.”

He drew parallels with the Biblical Joseph who told his people that when they were leaving Egypt they should take his bones for reburial in Israel and should not leave them in a foreign land.

Sibangilizwe said only if Nkomo’s remains were exhumed, would his father rest in peace.

He said Nkomo had expressed dissatisfaction with the way President Robert Mugabe was running the country fearing a decline due to poor leadership.

“My father said he had tried to mould him (Mugabe) into a proper leader but he feared that his efforts were to no avail,” Sibangilizwe said.

Among the issues that really touched Nkomo, popularly known as Father Zimbabwe, was Mugabe’s decision to intervene in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s civil war.

Sibangilizwe said his father had asked, “Why does this boy (Mugabe) like shedding blood?” when he heard that troops had been sent to the Great Lakes region.

He raised concern that nothing of significance had been done to recognise the role Nkomo had played in liberating the country and advocated for an annual Joshua Nkomo holiday.

Nkomo’s family has rarely spoken about the treatment the veteran nationalist received from Mugabe’s leadership.

The outburst may be a sign of increasing frustrations over the failure by government to meaningfully honour Nkomo.

There is simmering discontent in Matabeleland over plans by government to erect Nkomo’s statue at Karigamombe Centre.

Critics say it would be an insult because the name of the building in Harare’s Central Building Centre extols Mugabe’s brutal clampdown on Zapu under Nkomo’s leadership.

Former Bulawayo Archbishop Pius Ncube, who was also at the commemorations, bemoaned that a bad leadership culture had emerged and it was responsible for the rot in the country.

Without mentioning names, but in apparent reference to Zanu PF, Ncube said they were evil, disrespectful and greedy.

“They are self-centred, selfish, arrogant, cruel and evil. They have no respect and honour and that is affecting our country,” he said.

“These people have the national cake and want to keep it for themselves so how do we progress as a nation.”

The people who gathered for the commemorations, organised by pressure group, Ibhetshu Likazulu, bemoaned lack of interest by the government in maintaining Nkomo’s legacy.

Deputy Foreign Affairs minister, Moses Mzila Ndlovu was the only minister to attend the meeting.
Nkomo died on 1 July 1999 and was buried at the National Hero’s Acre in Harare.

By The Standard