THE failure to finish work on the statue of the late Vice-President Joshua Mqabuko Nyongolo Nkomo at the intersection of Main Street and 8th Avenue in Bulawayo’s central business district boggles the mind.
The initiative to erect the statue as part of the nation’s efforts to preserve Nkomo’s legacy as a liberator par excellence of the people of Zimbabwe has taken three years.
The statue was initially erected at the same intersection in 2010, but was pulled down before being officially unveiled after the veteran nationalist’s family and some city residents complained that the pedestal on which it had been mounted was too small for a man of his stature.
Work to raise the pedestal started, but was later abandoned after the government cited lack of funds. Construction then resumed in August 2013, but at tortoise pace. It would again now appear the nation is in for another lengthy wait.
One flimsy excuse or another has been given by authorities as they duck and dive in what seems are desperate attempts to explain away the inordinate delays in honouring this illustrious son of the soil whose exploits against colonialism are legendary.
This newspaper has repeatedly revealed how a number of projects in the name of Father Zimbabwe are in limbo. There is not a single street is in his honour, even at his impoverished Kezi, his rural home.
Yes, we are aware the opening of the Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo International (JMN) Airport has finally been fast-tracked after 10 years of its construction, but questions abound why mounting a statue has taken so long unless there are people intent on using the late liberator’s name for political football as they seek to discredit his legacy.
Critics might be quick to accuse people of the south of having a penchant for politicising issues, far from it. People of the south are concerned Nkomo’s legacy is not being given the recognition it requires, period.
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If the African Union honoured Nkomo at its last summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, for the role he played in liberating Zimbabwe, why can’t we do so too? It took a directive for the JMN Airport to be completed before November 1 this year.
Why can’t a similar directive be given to end the circus playing out at the intersection of Main Street and 8th Avenue?
Citizens should not buy the authorities’ story that the statue is taking too long to be mounted because they want it to be properly done. We don’t believe this. We know that what is actually needed is just a phone call from Harare.
