Njabulo Ncube, Assistant Editor
ZANU Ndonga has implored the three principals in the government of national unity (GNU) to review the hero status of the late nationalist, Ndabaningi Sithole, who was buried at his farm in Mount Selinda. Reketayi Semwayo, ZANU Ndonga’s national chairperson, has approached Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai requesting that the coalition government grant Sithole a national hero status post-humously.
“I would like to remind you about our meeting with you at your Munhumutapa offices on 15 February 2009, after your inauguration as the Prime Minister of the Republic of Zimbabwe.
“At this meeting Hon-ourable Prime Minister, we talked at length about our request and utmost need to have the hero status of the late Reverend Ndabaningi Sithole, one of the founding fathers of ZANU, reviewed,” reads part of a letter Semwayo wrote to the premier, which was copied to President Robert Mugabe and Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara.
“At this meeting, which we held in the presence of Deputy Prime Ministers Thokozani Khupe and Professor Arthur Mutambara, you promised to look into the issue in consultation with President Robert Mugabe under the aegis of the inclusive government.
“As you already know, Honourable Prime Minister, ZANU Ndonga’s position is that the treatment that the late Reverend Sithole got when he passed on was not reflective of the role that he played in the struggle for the liberation of this country. The fact that Reverend Sithole played a significant role is not an over-statement as you also echoed similar statements at his burial at Freedom Farm in Mount Selinda, Chipinge on the 18th of December 2000,” said Semwayo,
The Prime Minister’s Office this week confirmed receipt of ZANU Ndonga’s letter.
One of the pioneers of Zimbabwe’s liberation struggle, Sithole died in the United States in December 2000 at the age of 80 after a long battle with high blood pressure, but was denied a hero’s status.
Sithole spearheaded the struggle for independence in Zimbabwe in the early 1960s and until the late 1970s when he was ousted, forcing him to form ZANU Ndonga.
Critics say the conferment of the hero’s status is biased against those outside ZANU-PF, regardless of their contributions to the nation.
Currently, there is heated debate on the granting of hero or heroine status to Zimbabweans.
Presently, the ZANU-PF politburo has the sole responsibility of deciding on who should be buried at the National Heroes Acre.
But with the consummation of the inclusive government last year, expectations have been that the awarding of such a status in the current political dispensation would reflect the letter and spirit of inclusivity.
The death last month of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC-M) vice-president, Gibson Sibanda, sparked a hullaballoo after the ZANU-PF politburo refused to grant him a national hero status, but instead a State-assisted funeral despite the fact that the former trade unionist served as secretary for ZAPU during the liberation struggle.
The monopolisation of the issue by ZANU-PF has created further fissures in the GNU.
In one of his acerbic articles in a State-owned newspaper, ZANU-PF central committee member, Jonathan Moyo, said it would not be possible for anybody associated with or involved in the formation of the MDC to ever be a national hero.
“That is impossible and there is no need to waste time about that. In summary and by definition a national hero in Zimbabwe is somebody who, in their lifetime, persistently and consistently opposed imperialism, colonialism and neo-colonialism in a heroic fashion involving recognisable personal sacrifice,” said Moyo.
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written by Givem*re, September 17, 2010
written by Givem*re, September 17, 2010
This is a peace of advise to Mr. Reketayi Semwayo, on his proposal for the late Ndabaningi Sithole to be accorded National Hero's status. First and foremost is that the National Shrine is a National Symbol to recognise the n*ble role played by those who fought for the liberation of Zimbabwe, under the leadership of ZAPU and ZANU. As a metter of procedure therefore it might be better for Mr. Reketayi Semwayo's first call should have talked to President Robert Mugabe in his capacity as First Secretary of ZANU PF which combines ZAPU and ZANU, than to deal with him through a copy of a letter Semwayi wrote to Mr. Tsw**girai an outsider in this framework, whose political party has its own brand of heroes of which Mr. Tsw**girai was trying to push for their recognision. Ndabaning Sithole, James Chikerema, and many other's roles in the liberation of Zimbabwe are well known and doc*mented. Mr. Semwayi should remeber also that at independence in 1980, immotions between political parties were very high than they are now thirty years after. In years to come things will be different. Even now Mr. Semwayo should open a daillogue with President Mugabe and ZANU PF for better results on the issue.
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written by marondera, September 16, 2010
written by marondera, September 16, 2010
In my own opnion, I think Sithole deserves heroes status, differencies that later emerged should not erode that he did for our nation. He was a visionery , part of the initiators of a movement which led to the collapse of the repressive white regime.He is and forever will be a part of Zimbabwes history.
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