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Nqobile Tshili, Chronicle Correspondent
MR KENNEDY Kanguru, 24, an employee at Redcliff Mine in Gweru is one among thousands of youths whose lives have been touched by Joshua Mqabuko Nyongolo Nkomo’s empowerment vision, 17 years after his death.

Kanguru is one of the beneficiaries of the Joshua Nkomo Scholarships offered by the giant mobile company Econet.

Econet funds the scholarship in honour of the late Father Zimbabwe’s influence in them being awarded a licence to operate a mobile company.

In 1997, Joice Mujuru, then the Information, Posts and Telecommunications Minister, committed a grave political sin — defying instructions from the late Vice President Joshua Nkomo before questioning his sanity.

Nkomo, idolised countrywide for his leadership of the Independence war effort, and especially in Matabeleland his home, had directed Mujuru to issue Econet Wireless with a cellular network licence but instead she awarded it to Telecel.

In her defence Mujuru said she had defied the iconic former PF-Zapu leader, who was 80 then, after being “advised that the Vice President wasn’t at his best.”

“Dr Nkomo is ageing and doesn’t always understand or remember things as well as he used to,” Mujuru was quoted saying.

President Mugabe, who was out of the country, slammed Mujuru and ordered her to apologise to Dr Nkomo leading to Telecel’s licence being withdrawn.

The licence was given to Econet.

Today the country marks 17 years since Dr Nkomo’s death on July 1 1999.

Mr Kanguru spoke to Chronicle yesterday and narrated how his life changed through the Joshua Nkomo scholarship.

He said if it was not for Dr Nkomo’s empowerment vision  he does not know whether he could have managed to become the man he is today.

“I first came in touch with the Joshua Nkomo scholarship in 2009 when I was still a Lower Sixth pupil.

‘‘After doing well in my studies in Form Four I was selected for the scholarship and it catered for my fees at Mazowe High School leading to me excelling in my studies.

‘‘I progressed to University of Zimbabwe where I studied Civil Engineering and now I am an employee of Redcliff Mine in Gweru,” he said.

Mr Kanguru said although Dr Nkomo died a long time ago his works will never die as they will continue impacting on those he was in touch with.

He said Dr Nkomo vision for empowerment is being cherished today saying if it was not for the vision he had for Econet his life could be different.

“I was born in a large family of five children and payment of fees was always a challenge in our family.

‘‘But 2009 when I got the scholarship my life was transformed.

‘‘The scholarship didn’t just provide my fees but we also attended some career guidance seminars which guided me in choosing the ideal career for me,” he said.

Mr Kanguru said Dr Nkomo’s life will not only be celebrated for his empowerment ideals but his love for peace and unity as well.

“He brought about unity that everyone is talking about. Even though he is no longer there we also are appreciative of the life choices he made for us,” Mr Kanguru said.