The Sunday News
Tendai Bhebe, Sunday News Reporter
VETERAN nationalist and former Zanu-PF Bulawayo provincial spokesman, Cde Effort Mackenzie Nkomo, has died.
Cde Nkomo (73) died last week on Tuesday at Hillside Premier Hospital after a short illness. He was declared a Liberation Hero and would be buried today at Hyde Park Cemetery in Bulawayo.
Cde Nkomo, who was also member of the Zimbabwe Ex-Political Prisoners, Detainees and Restrictees Association (ZEPPDRA), was born in Pelandaba suburb in 1946. He attended Luveve Primary School before proceeding to Solusi High School.
Cde Nkomo began his political journey, as a member of the Zapu Youth Wing in 1963 until 1975. Between 1975 and 1980, Cde Nkomo was Zapu Pelandaba branch chairman. After the signing of the Unity Accord in 1987, between 1988 and 1991 Cde Nkomo served as Zanu-PF Pelandaba chair. He rose through the ranks and between 1991 and 1994 he was the provincial deputy secretary for information and publicity in Bulawayo.
Between 1994 and 2008, Cde Nkomo was the secretary for information and publicity for Bulawayo Province.
At the time of his death, Cde Nkomo was deputy information and publicity secretary for Zanu- PF Pelandaba District.
Cde Nkomo’s wife Mrs Tracy Nkomo said her husband was a great man who played a pivotal role in promoting national unity.
“When we got married in 1977 it was difficult for our family because at that time he was in and out of Khami Prison since political tensions were high. His idea of promoting peace in the country will forever be remembered,” said Mrs Nkomo.
He is survived by his wife and four children.
