THE funeral of the late Colonel (Rtd) Patron Khutshwekhaya Nketha Ndlovu have been marred by allegations of intimidation and restricted media access, with war veterans raising concern over what they describe as unusual pressure surrounding the mourning period.
Ndlovu, a former Zipra commander, Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) officer and Ibhetshu LikaZulu board member, died last Friday after a short illness.
Mourners are gathered at his Pelandaba home in Bulawayo, with burial arrangements yet to be announced.
Ndlovu was widely respected within liberation circles for his role in preserving liberation history and advocating for veterans’ welfare.
When the Southern Eye news crew arrived at his residence together with other journalists, a tense atmosphere palpable.
Journalists were initially turned away amid visible unease among mourners, but were later allowed back, but under restrictive conditions — permitted to conduct interviews with Zapu officials, while access to the family remained tightly-controlled.
Zapu national chairperson John Zolani Dlamini, who worked with Ndlovu in the ZNA and later in the Democratic Republic of Congo, said the situation was unprecedented in the history of liberation figures' funerals.
“We are seeing pressure and intimidation. This is not something we are used to at funerals. You can see it’s cracking apart — everyone is a suspect now in the country. We are no longer free. So this is what is happening. This family here has been heavily intimidated,” he said.
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Dlamini said engagement with journalists and public interaction at the funeral was controlled.
“The family has been put under pressure. Even speaking freely to the media has become difficult. What they are doing, we can’t blame them. They have been intimidated; also they’ve been promised that they will be given money,” he said.
“We were not even allowed to talk to you [the media]. You were not allowed to be here to interview us until such time as we had to beg them.
“This is because of intimidation. You know, the government, now, after it introduced the Constitutional Amendment Bill, has become aggressive and dangerous. It does not want to see people — even three people — moving as a team.”
Dlamini said there were fears that people would use the funeral to campaign against the Bill.
“You would have to get permission from someone, somewhere. Today, we are going for a service. You see, even when going to a funeral to bury a relative, we will now be asking for permission because Zanu PF is afraid of what it has created,” he said.
Meanwhile, Dlamini described Ndlovu as a disciplined and respected military commander who served in both the liberation struggle and post-independence armed forces.
“He was a professional soldier, very humble but firm. He would not take nonsense,” he said.
“He was educated, but his promotion in the army was very slow. Others who were less qualified were promoted ahead of him.”
Dlamini, however, raised concern that the State was only showing interest in Ndlovu after his death.
“When he was alive, there was no engagement from them. Now that he is gone, suddenly there is attention. That raises questions,” he said.
Zapu president Sibangilizwe Nkomo, who visited the family to pay condolences, said Ndlovu’s contribution to the liberation struggle and post-independence service were extensive.
He said Ndlovu was part of early political mobilisation in the 1960s before joining Zipra and undergoing military training in Tanzania.
“He moved from early resistance to organised armed struggle under Zipra. He dedicated his life to the liberation of this country,” Nkomo said.
“He never stopped serving even after independence.”
He also said Ndlovu remained politically active, including contributing to debate on the Constitutional Amendment No 3 Bill.
“He was always engaged in national issues until his last days,” Nkomo said.
He said while official recognition was debatable, Ndlovu’s hero status was not dependent on a State declaration.
“A hero is defined by actions, not declarations. He made himself a hero through his life’s work,” he said.
However, he said many liberation war veterans did not receive adequate recognition or support in their life time.
“It is painful that recognition often comes after death,” he said.
Bulawayo Metropolitan Provincial Affairs and Devolution minister Judith Ncube said the government appreciated Ndlovu’s contribution to the country.
She described Ndlovu as a dedicated cadre who served during and after the liberation struggle.
“As the government, we would like to thank the Ndlovu family for giving us Nketha, who worked for the country in the army and, above all, gave himself,” she said.
“His contributions started when he was fighting in the struggle and after independence he went into the army and later retired. We really appreciate this, the Ndlovu family.”
On allegations of intimidation and restricted access, Ncube said she was not aware of such claims.
“I haven’t heard anything regarding that,” she said.
Ncube added that the government respected the family’s position regarding burial arrangements.
“The family is the one that will decide when they want to lay him to rest. I’m actually going there to also hear from the family. The government respects the family’s decision — it is the one that takes the lead, then we follow,” she said.
