MDC-T MP for Lobengula, Samuel Sipepa Nkomo has called on Zanu PF to stop using the late nationalist and former Vice-president Joshua Nkomo’s name for political expediency.
The late former PF Zapu leader died in 1999 after his party merged with Zanu PF following the historic 1987 Unity Accord.
Since then, several Zanu PF officials have cited the unity pact and his name to thrush any fresh calls for open dialogue on Gukurahundi atrocities against his former party members by a special army unit, Fifth Brigade in the early 80s.
“They should let the old man rest in peace and stop using his name to pacify the people,” said Sipepa Nkomo.
“I am one of the people who worked closely with him and no one can match his vision.”
He said Zanu PF officials wanted to pretend that the late nationalist worked harmoniously with his coalition government colleagues.
“At times he wanted to give up because of the frustrations that he went through at the hands of his Zanu PF counterparts in the unity government. I’m one of the senior politicians in this region. I am saying so because when I was in the National Democratic Party some of those who are considered as seniors in Zanu PF were not there. I am perhaps one of the few who refused to go into unity with Zanu PF.
“I do know Zanu PF and know that they broke away from Zapu on August 8 1963 when some of us were holding a conference in Harare. It is unfortunate and insulting for Zanu PF senior officials from the region to claim that there is no marginalisation in Matabeleland yet it has been going on for years starting with the Gukurahundi massacres.
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There could have not been development when there was war in Matabeleland, Midlands and not in other regions. Those who are occupying senior positions want to mislead people that there is no marginalisation in the region.”
