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Obituary Mthulisi Hanana
The death of Zanu-PF Politburo member, liberation fighter and educationist, Cde Sikhanyiso Duke Ndlovu, has left a lot of aching hearts as he was such an affable character. A lot has been said and written about this gallant son of the soil ever since news of his death on Tuesday morning broke. True to most tributes, Cde Ndlovu, who will be buried at the National Heroes’ Acre in Harare today, was an outstanding education giant, a scholar par excellence and a luminary in the development of Zimbabwean education. No one can dispute that he is unparalleled in that area, especially distance learning and adult continuing education.

His passion and dedication for education can never be doubted as it was exceptional. The Zimbabwe Distance Education College (ZDECO) and its subsidiaries, ZEDCO, a full time college which I had the privilege of heading for five years; ZCI; the computer institute and ZTTCO (established in line with the Nziramasanga Commission) are the vocational training centres that stand witnesses of Cde Ndlovu’s passion for education. Sikhanyiso Ndlovu Primary School and Zimbabwe Open University (ZOU) also bear testimony that truly Cde Ndlovu was an educator of note. The name Sikhanyiso Ndlovu is emblazoned at the core of not only Zimbabwe’s education system but also Africa as a whole.

He lived for education. His inaugural project in education was the establishment of Gonakudzingwa Education Programme while in detention. Ian Smith viewed it as a Communist “University of Crimes”. Ironically “the Duke”, as Cde Ndlovu was affectionately known, was to play a significant role in the establishment of universities and their charters in post-independence Zimbabwe. One hopes that his last project, Zimbabwe University Without Walls, will one day see the light of day together with Gwanda State University. The likes of Willie Musarurwa, Boyson Mguni and many others are graduates of that “university of crimes”. The school faced a lot of hardships but its “chancellor” persevered. At some point study material was confiscated.

Though Cde Joshua Nkomo intervened, Cde Ndlovu’s courage to defend education was clearly exhibited. Sikhanyiso Ndlovu became the Father of the Zimbabwean Education Revolution in much the same way as Joshua Nkomo was Father Zimbabwe.

There is, however, more to this son of the soil. His towering stature as an icon of education should not by any means dwarf his other capabilities. Neglecting his other skills is a great injustice to the history of Zimbabwe and future generations. Cde Ndlovu often reminisced with great pride and joy his days as a guerrilla. During the liberation struggle he was an urban guerrilla of tact and great diplomacy. Under the pseudo name “General Hokoyo” he commanded Umgandane, an underground demolition squad. He trained his regiment in urban guerrilla warfare and in the making of petrol bombs. They excelled immensely in all their sabotage missions.

He would never talk of himself and fail to mention Gonakudzingwa where he was incarcerated with Zimbabwe’s other iconic sons who include the likes of Joshua Nkomo, Umdala Wethu, his mentor. There also was his close friend Joseph Msika, Josiah Chinamano, Dan Madzimbamuto and many others. It was at Gonakudzingwa where he became Joshua Nkomo’s errand boy- umfana kaNkomo. This is one task he relished so much. He spoke of it with great pride. While at Gonakudzingwa he became Mdala’s praise poet and motivated other detainees every Friday before “General Josh” would address them. Cde Ndlovu loved poetry. He still remembered these detention poems and would recite them to us in independent Zimbabwe. I remember one time when he recited the popular Ndebele poem, Mhla Ngifayo to students at ZDECO.

Cde Ndlovu was a veteran of the struggle of note, a revolutionary stalwart and a man of great intellect. He was a man of great insight and always told us of the times when Cde Joshua Nkomo would tell him, “Uhlakaniphile wena mfana”. One of his greatest contributions to the struggle involved the numerous times where he outmanoeuvred the colonialists who wanted to assassinate Cde Nkomo. He would get wind of it and find a hideout for his leader. Each time Cde Nkomo’s residence was bombed Cde Ndlovu would have long moved him to a new place. Without him possibly Umdala might not have seen independent Zimbabwe. Cde Ndlovu loved and looked up to Cde Nkomo. He followed his footsteps to the letter. He would once in a while don the African headgear and carry intonga similar to that Father Zimbabwe used to carry. Rarely would he pass a comment and not mention Cde Nkomo.

As a man who enjoyed being flattered, I often would tell him how smart he was. One time he said to me, “iturn up ngayifunda kuNkomo, yikho ngismart”. After some of his Zapu colleagues left to revive the “Zapu” project led by Dumiso Dabengwa I quizzed him why he remained and his answer was simple: “Umdala wangitshiya ngila”. Arguably Cde Ndlovu became to Bulawayo a microcosmic representation and reflection of Cde Nkomo.

Cde Ndlovu was a man of peace. He believed in dialogue and not violence. He always chose to be rational, diplomatic and intellectual. He proved himself to be a man who worked for reconciliation. I remember one time when the youth were baying for the blood of the then Bulawayo ruling party provincial chairperson, Cde Isaac Dakamela, Cde Ndlovu was not too quick to pass a comment. He confided in me that a culture of expelling and suspending leadership is bad as it weakens the party. He said the expelling and suspending of leaders should only be adopted when all else had failed. He called it the principle of greater good. “We ignore trivial matters for the greater good of the party”, that was his stance.

Each time he was faced with numerous disputes he approached them with great tact. He did not live in denial of Gukurahundi but instead chose to refer to it as post-independence crisis so as not to incite the masses.

Some viewed him as spineless, and recently, as President Mugabe’s lapdog. I strongly differ without begging!

Cde Ndlovu exhibited a rare virtue, now almost extinct in Zimbabwean politics: loyalty. He was loyal to the struggle, loyal to the revolution, loyal to the President, loyal to the Unity Accord and loyal to Zanu-PF. Loyalty to him was not a weakness but strength. He scoffed at these accusations sarcastically. He remained astute and solid. I at times queried why he never responded to most criticism and he would laugh saying, “As a doctor in education I can’t respond to accusations from a Grade Two graduate, osehlanya ngubani?’’ That settled it.

Cde Ndlovu was a man who was loyal to his legacy. He could have joined any new political outfit; many did invite him I suppose. He could not go as this would have been detrimental to his political legacy and mar everything he had fought for.

He loved Zanu-PF and was loyal to it. He was Zanu-PF through and through. Cde Ndlovu sacrificed himself, his family, ZDECO and his resources to prioritise the party. I remember one time in Harare when somebody said “VaNdlovu madyiwa ka imi…” he laughed and said “Sikhanyiso didn’t lose, it’s Zanu-PF that lost”.

Cde Ndlovu could have remained in parliament as an independent member or under a new political party but he did not. He believed in sticking together no matter what. He was a man who did not care who got the glory or position. All he wanted was to see the people being served. It did not bother him if he were overlooked as long as the job got done.

He was not in it for personal aggrandisement but for the people. Politics was his calling and education his volition.

Cde Ndlovu was indeed a man of the people, a nationalist, an unflinching revolutionary, a loyal servant of the people, a social worker and an avid Highlanders supporter. He pushed for the development of Matabeleland. What we feel he did not do I think he deliberately left for us to do.

Indeed a man of diverse abilities, strong will and a true son of the soil has departed.

Ndlovu!

Gatsheni!

Boya benyathi

Busonga busombuluka

Mpongo kazingelwayo

Nina bakaNdlovu Zidl’ekhaya ngokuswela abelusi!

Zazezeluswa Intombi UDemazane

Nina bakwa Demazane Ntombazane

Nina bakakhumbula amagwala

Nina bakasihlangu sihle,

Mthiyane

Ngokuthiya amadoda emazibukweni

Mdubusi

Gatsheni bo!!!!

Rest in Peace. Lala ngokuthula. Zororai murugare.

Mthulisi Hanana, is a former principal for ZDECO in Bulawayo