Story by Grace Sibanda
TODAY marks 11 years after the demise of the late Vice President Dr John Landa Nkomo, a key figure in Zimbabwe’s liberation struggle, who left a legacy of unity and peace.
The history of Zimbabwe`s liberation struggle is incomplete without mentioning the late Vice President Dr John Landa Nkomo, who was instrumental in the birth of an independent Zimbabwe.
The late Vice President`s son Jabulani Nkomo notes how his father sacrificed family interests for a unified Zimbabwe.
“My father was a selfless man. He sacrificed time with his family for the greater good of the country. I remember he left us to go and join the liberation struggle and continued being away from home on many occasions as he was on different duties for the country. We are proud of his contribution and the amazing legacy he left,” he said.
Colleagues have described him as a man who was dedicated to advocating for peace and unity.
ZANU PF Politburo member Tshinga Dube said, “John was a good leader who excelled in all duties assigned to him. He was an advocate of peace as he lived by the motto “Peace begins with me, peace begins with you, peace begins with all of us.”
“I first met John Landa before we joined politics and we went on to be colleagues during the liberation struggle and what I can say about John Landa is that he believed in the ideology of free Zimbabwe and believed the people of the country should be educated as well. He was a dedicated leader who was humble and selfless in all that he did. As we remember John Landa today, let’s remember him as a great statesman,” said ZANU PF Politburo member Angeline Masuku.
John Landa Nkomo Trust board member, Nyararai Sibanda said “I was his aide and what I can say is that he was an amazing man. He cared about the people of Zimbabwe, he cared about unity and peace. He was instrumental in bringing attention to people of the San community, a community which was relegated for a long time and he built them a school where they have gone and excelled in all walks of life. He was a person of the people.”
The late Vice President Landa Nkomo served the nation in different capacities, with one notable mark being that of uplifting the San community of Tsholotsho, whose contribution will forever be etched in their hearts.
