Home Affairs co-minister Kembo Mohadi Wednesday said his ministry was yet to receive an application by the Matojeni Cultural Society to have July 1 declared a national holiday in honour of the late nationalist and former Vice-President Joshua Nkomo.
Nkomo, a pioneer of Zimbabwe’s armed liberation struggle who is affectionately referred to as “Father Zimbabwe”, died on July 1 1999.
He was buried at the National Heroes’ Acre in Harare. Early this week, the Matojeni Cultural Society, organisers of the Nkomo commemorations, said they were lobbying the government to declare July 1 a national holiday.
“I don’t know anything about them (Matojeni Cultural Society). But if anybody wants to have a day declared a national holiday they can apply to me and I will consider the application,” said Mohadi.
“I cannot say what my opinion on having July 1 declared a national holiday is because ultimately I will have to consider and decide on such an application.”
But the leader of the society, Albert Nyoni, said they had written to the three principals in the coalition government — President Robert Mugabe, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, and Welshman Ncube — asking that July 1 be declared a national holiday.
“We are like a school child whose school fees is $5 after every six months. Will that child be asking for a lot if they ask for $5 school fees from their father? There are 365 days in the year and we are asking for just this one,” he said.
Officials from the two MDC parties confirmed receiving the proposal.
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Nyoni said they had also asked the Bulawayo City Council to name one of its streets after the late former PF Zapu leader, who at the time of his death had joined the government after signing the December 22 1987 Unity Accord.
Bulawayo mayor Thaba Moyo said council had already passed the resolution and was only waiting for erection of the late nationalist’s statue along Main Street before renaming it Joshua Nkomo Street.
