Mandela with Joshua Nkomo (Pictures)
After his release from prison Nelson Mandela travelled to many countries in Africa and abroad to thank those who had supported the ANC during the years of struggle and to implore them to continue to pressurize for democratic transformation in South Africa.
In this picture Mandela greets Joshua Nkomo during his state visit to Zimbabwe. To the left of the picture is President Robert Mugabe. Nkomo (19 June 1917–1 July 1999) was the leader and founder of the Zimbabwe African People’s Union (ZAPU) and vice-president of Zimbabwe.
Nkomo first met Mandela and other regional nationalist leaders at the University of Fort Hare, though he did not attend that university.
When Nkomo died in 1999, Mandela described him as a comrade in the black liberation struggle.
“He was one of those freedom fighters who stood up for justice at the most difficult time in the course of our struggle,” Mandela said of Nkomo.
