John Nkomo funeral in pictures

THOUSANDS of Zimbabweans and leaders from the Sadc region thronged the National Heroes Acre yesterday for the burial of Vice President Landa John Nkomo who died last Thursday after a long battle with cancer. He was 79.

Sadc leaders who attended the burial include South African Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe, Zambia’s Vice President Guy Scott, Botswana’s Vice President Dr Ponatshego Kedikilwe, Tanzania’s Vice President Dr Mohammed Bilal and Namibia’s Prime Minister Hage Geingob.

Earlier in the morning, thousands camped at Stodart Hall in Mbare, Harare, to give the veteran nationalist a befitting send-off.

As early as 7am, people from across the political divide had gathered at the hall and nearby grounds before the hearse arrived to a resounding welcome by youths who were singing revolutionary songs. The crowd, led by Mbare Chimurenga Choir, sang and danced as dignitaries and service chiefs arrived.

Nkomo was born on August 22, 1934 in the then Gwaai Reserve (present day Tsholotsho) in Matabeleland North Province. He was the third child in a family of nine, four girls and five boys. He did his primary education at Manqe Primary School, St Nanian’s Primary School and then went to Solusi Mission.

In 1953 he moved to Bulawayo where he did private studies for his Junior Certificate and later enrolled to train as a teacher in Lower Gweru in 1955. Nkomo was the founding member of the African National Congress between 1958 and 1959.

He then joined the National Democratic Party in 1960 before joining the Zimbabwe African People’s Union in 1961. Nkomo was arrested on several occasions by the Ian Smith regime and was detained at Gonakudzingwa between 1966 and 1968.

In 1971 he joined the African National Council where he was deputy secretary-general. He was instrumental in the formation of the Patriotic Front, a union between Zapu and Zanu and attended the Geneva Conference on 1976.

He was, however, seriously injured by a parcel bomb that killed Jason Ziyapapa Moyo in 1977 and continued to suffer from the effects of the incident up to the time of his death.

After the country gained independence in 1980, he joined the new Government and served as Deputy Minister of Industry and Energy in 1981 and later as Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office.

He was appointed Minister of Labour, Manpower Planning and Social Welfare from 1988 to 1995 and then as Minister of Local Government and Rural Development in 1995 before being appointed Minister of Local Government and National Housing in 1997.

Between 2000 and 2001, he was Minister of Home Affairsand was then appointed Minister of State in the President’s Office Responsible for Special Affairs in 2002.

VP Nkomo became Speaker of the Parliament in 2005 up to 2008 and was then appointed Minister of State in the President’s Office responsible for National Healing, Reconciliation and Integration in 2009 after the inception of the Inclusive Government.He was appointed Vice President on December 14, 2009.