The Sunday News
Mollet Ndebele, Sunday News Reporter
YOUTHS from Matabeleland region have praised the late former President Cde Robert Gabriel Mugabe saying his leadership was instrumental in uplifting young people across the country.
Matabeleland South Zanu-PF Youth League chairperson Cde Washington Nkomo said as a province they were touched by the passing of Cde Mugabe as they worked together in politics and matters concerning the youth.
“We are very touched by the passing on of the former President because we are where we are as a nation because of him.
“He advocated for black empowerment and after independence he made sure that as blacks we got land and equal rights as white people. He also made sure that black people were educated, that is why so many schools were built after independence,” he said.
Mr Nkomo said they respect the fact that he was a peaceful man as he signed the Unity Accord with former Vice-President Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo.
“Through the Unity Accord they taught us that peace was necessary for development therefore we will remember the two of them for advocating for peace. We will also remember him for putting Zanu-PF and the country as a whole on the spotlight as he was a great orator and he always stood for what he believed in,” he said.
Matabeleland North Zanu-PF Youth league chairperson Cde Tamuka Nyoni said as a province they will remember the former President as a great leader who always stood by his people regardless of what the white or neighbouring people said.
“Our hearts are torn by the passing of the former President. Our country is recognised as the most educated nation in Southern Africa because of his works and most black people are land owners today because of the land reform programme he championed,” he said.
Zimbabwe Congress of Students Union (Zicosu) president Mr Pijiwest Nhamburo said it is impossible to talk about Zimbabwe without talking about the late Cde Mugabe.
“During his tenure as Head of State from April 1980 to November 2017 he had so many notable successes that have shaped who we are as a nation today and his major success being education. He contributed greatly towards our education system and he is the only man who had a vision for the young people and he always advocated for their empowerment. He made sure there were universities, polytechnics and teachers’ colleges in almost every province which is one thing that we will always remember and appreciate as the students union. We will always remember Cde Mugabe and his history cannot be rubbed even in years to come because he left a mark and we always emulate his good works.”
Ushewekunze District Zanu-PF Youth chairman Cde Godknows Mdhari said Cde Mugabe will always be an important part among youths in Africa.
“The umbilical cord that binds the former President and the Zimbabwean youths can never be broken easily, he was a chief advocate for black youth empowerment and as youth we do not talk about this issue as a mere refrain but a reality that we have successfully translated into meaningful and visible tangibles. Even the current President Emmerson Mnangagwa continues to preach the gospel of youth empowerment and having youths occupying key positions even in his cabinet thus I think it is crucial that we remember him for that,” said Cde Mdhari.
