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VP Phelekezela Mphoko

Nduduzo Tshuma, Political Editor
VICE President Phelekezela Mphoko has said that the best way of honouring the memory of one of the founding fathers of Zimbabwe’s liberation Dr Joshua Mqabuko Nyongolo Nkomo is to push for the economic advancement of the people.

VP Mphoko, the fourth Vice President from the former PF Zapu side, said Dr Nkomo, who died on this day 17 years ago,  cherished the political and economic liberation of the black majority.

The Vice President said Dr Nkomo was also a selfless leader who wanted to see unity among Zimbabweans.

“Umdala uNkomo, I know him in and out, he was a leader of high quality. If he was moved by some of these small little things, this country would have gone into a civil war but he said NO because he was a mature leader.

“It’s good to celebrate his day because he was a leader of note. To celebrate him, we’ve to follow his legacy and protect it which is what we’re doing. President Mugabe and Nkomo are the ones, in actual fact, who liberated this country,” said VP Mphoko.

“Even if you go to the constitution of Zanu PF, this country was liberated by Zapu and Zanu and not by Ndebeles or Kalangas, no, but Zapu and Zanu, that is the fundamental point which is very critical.

“If you hear people saying they want a position because they’re Ndebele or Karanga, that person is mad because this country was liberated by two parties Zapu and Zanu. That’s what we’re there for and nothing else.”

VP Mphoko said in pursuit of Dr Nkomo’s dreams, the Western funded opposition pose as an irritant in their attempt to frustrate people oriented programmes.

“The legacy of those elders was first the liberation of this country which was achieved and economic advancement of the people which we’re working on but our enemies are working very hard to reverse that.

“All these parties being formed are trying to throw spanners in the works so that we don’t succeed because the whites want to continue benefiting from our resources,” said VP Mphoko.

“They’re fighting for a bone, all these political parties, there’s nothing new that they’ll bring, they’re just fighting for a bone. Everyone should work for the economic advancement of the country, in other countries all opposition parties have a meeting point with the government but are separated by the need to rule as individual parties.”

VP Mphoko said the opposition parties were specialists in making a lot of promises that are never delivered.

The legacy of those elders is that people are free and are given land and work.

Commenting on his relations with the late Dr Nkomo, VP Mphoko said:

“uMdala u Nkomo, we used to call him uMdala, I worked with him, in fact I was one of his bodyguards during the struggle, we separated when I went to war and they were going to Gonakudzingwa.

“After their release in 1974, we were together outside and I went to Mozambique and I was a special representative co-ordinating the two leaders of the patriotic front President Mugabe and umdala uNkomo. I also co-ordinated umdala uNkomo and (then Mozambican President) Samora Machel, that was my function in Mozambique.

“From 1976, after the formation of the Patriotic Front, I was with President Mugabe up to the Lancaster House negotiations  until we came back home.”