By Ndumiso Tshuma
The ZPRA Veterans Association has called on the Zimbabwean government to take meaningful steps toward national healing and justice as the nation marks 26 years since the death of liberation hero Dr Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo.
In a statement, ZPRA Veterans Association spokesperson Petros Sibanda appealed to authorities to confront unresolved national issues chief among them, the Gukurahundi atrocities, and to protect the liberation legacy of ZAPU and ZPRA.
“We call upon the Government of Zimbabwe and all stakeholders to take meaningful steps toward truth, justice, and healing,” Sibanda said. “That includes recognising and protecting the historical legacy of ZAPU and ZPRA and ensuring that future generations know the real story of Dr Nkomo’s life and contribution.”
Dr Nkomo, affectionately known as Father Zimbabwe, died on 1 July 1999.
He led the Zimbabwe African People’s Union (ZAPU) and its military wing, the Zimbabwe People’s Revolutionary Army (ZPRA), during the liberation struggle. He later served as Zimbabwe’s Vice President, but his legacy remains most potent in his role as a champion of peace, unity, and inclusion.
“As ZPRA Veterans, we honour his memory not just with words, but through our continued commitment to the ideals he stood for, justice and truth in addressing unresolved national wounds, including the Gukurahundi atrocities; National unity and reconciliation through inclusive dialogue, not one-sided narratives; empowerment of the marginalised, especially in regions long neglected; and preservation of the true liberation legacy, free from distortion or political hijack,” Sibanda said.
Sibanda described Nkomo as “a symbol of integrity, peace, and unity,” and said the late nationalist’s values continue to shape Zimbabwe’s national consciousness.
“We will not betray the struggle. We will not forget. We will continue to walk in the footsteps of Father Zimbabwe,” Sibanda said.
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