By Promise Dube
Thandiwe Nkomo Ebrahim, daughter of the late national hero Dr Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo, has issued a rallying call to Zimbabwean youths to rise, speak out, and take charge of their future.
Speaking at the Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo Memorial Lecture held in Bulawayo on Tuesday in honour of the former Vice President, she urged young people to stop waiting for change and instead be the ones to bring it.
The late Father Zimbabwe died on 1 July 1999.
“If you feel like there is a problem, solve it in your own way,” she told an audience of students and educators. “We had problems with the whites and they were removed in a way that we used. We are grown up now, and it’s time for you to take action.”
In a powerful and emotional address, she reflected on her father’s values and leadership, describing him as a man of peace, transparency, discipline, and humility. She reminded the audience that Joshua Nkomo fought for independence and unity and not for personal power.
She urged the youth to take responsibility and not remain passive in the face of corruption and other challenges.
She also revealed that there are ongoing efforts to have July 1 declared a national holiday in his honour.
The lecture delivered by Kwanele Hlabangana, attended by students from JW Mthimkhulu, Foundation College, Riverdale Academy, Lighthouse College, Sizane High School, and Zenith College, was part of an annual tribute to Nkomo’s legacy.
The event provided young people with an opportunity to learn about the life of one of Zimbabwe’s founding fathers, with many students taking a tour of the Joshua Nkomo Museum.
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