THE perpetual delays in completing projects aimed at honouring the late Vice-President Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo have been described as outright sabotage and a deliberate effort to wipe out his legacy.
LUYANDUHLOBO MAKWATI OWN CORRESPONDENT
Matabeleland political activists and commentators said it was highly suspicious that everything associated with the veteran nationalist was always shrouded in mystery.
Nkomo is referred to as Father Zimbabwe, but the way projects aimed at honouring the former freedom fighter were handled was not befitting his stature.
Mthwakazi Youth Joint Resolution spokesperson Mqondisi Moyo said some Matabeleland regional leaders were to blame for the stalling of all projects aimed at honouring Nkomo because they were busy trying to make a name for themselves at the expense of Father Zimbabwe’s legacy.
“I think people we have as our leaders are not bargaining faithfully because they only use his name towards elections and then afterwards anything associated with Nkomo is ignored,” Moyo said.
“We then wonder why leaders from our region don’t want to address this emotive issue,” Moyo added.
The veteran nationalist’s son Sibangilizwe Nkomo said he now believed that there was a plot to destroy his father’s legacy.
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“I think all these projects will never be finished and I think it is true that it is a plot to kill my father’s legacy,” Nkomo said.
Activist Dumisani Nkomo said the late nationalist was a unifier to the extent that his former bitter enemies in Zanu PF called him Father Zimbabwe, but it was shocking that the man they referred to by such a revered name was not accorded proper respect.
“Even some of the projects that he initiated so that people could benefit have failed to survive due to sabotage. They are always accusing central government for not releasing funds on time when some of the projects have nothing to do with money.
“I think there are a lot of people who are trying to bring him down, but what they must understand is that Nkomo’s legacy will live despite the fact there are systematic efforts in place to belittle his contribution to the liberation struggle and development of Zimbabwe after independence by both our regional and national leaders,” he said.
Nkomo said although the late Vice-President was a father figure in Zanu PF, he was a unifier respected by all the country’s political players.
“I strongly believe that there is no political will to develop any projects that are attached to Nkomo’s name,” he said.
The new Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo International Airport terminal took 10 years to construct and was only operationalised last week on Friday when President Robert Mugabe’s plane used the new facilities. He came to Bulawayo for the National University of Science and Technology graduation.
The new airport was only operationalised, but construction is still in progress and it is not known when it would be completed.
Another project associated with Nkomo’s legacy that is lying derelict is the Ekusileni Medical Centre in Hillside, Bulawayo.
The state-of-the-art 200-bed health centre has remained a white elephant since it was built in 2000 for unexplained reasons.
The hospital only operated for seven months in 2004 and was closed after failing to raise adequate working capital to buy medical and diagnostic equipment.
Since then, numerous re-opening dates have been given with nothing materialising.
The Nkomo statue has also been under construction for three years with confusion surrounding its completion.
