Ndabaningi Sithole: Man who ignited revolutionary spirit through his writings
TO err is human, to forgive is divine!
These were the sentiments echoed by the people in Chipinge following the posthumous conferment of National Hero status on the late nationalist, Reverend Ndabaningi Sithole.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa said a maturing democracy like Zimbabwe should be able to objectively confront its past and re-look at what is generally accepted as the truth.
He said Rev Sithole was one of the key pillars of the liberation struggle.
“One man who looms large in the ranks of early leaders of our nationalist movement, but is not at our National Shrine is Reverend Ndabaningi Sithole, the inaugural leader of Zimbabwe African National Union at its formation after the 1963 split in the nationalist movement,” recently wrote the President in his weekly column in The Sunday Mail.
“Whatever his mistakes and missteps later in the Struggle, he deserves mention and acknowledgment in national annals.
“Popularly known as “Musharukwa”, this leading nationalist, scholar and firebrand in fact gave our Struggle its intellectual grounding and depth, thus making it understandable to the wider world.
“His seminal “African Nationalism”, published in 1959, just a few years before the end of the Federation and the onset of UDI, crystallised African thoughts and ideas in the Struggle. For ZANU, it became a key resource book, out of which we capsulised our thoughts into timeless slogans,” said President Mnangagwa.
Following President Mnangagwa’s announcement of Rev Sithole’s posthumous conferment of national hero status on Heroes Day, the people of Chipinge, where the late hero’s remains are interred at his Freedom Farm in Mt Selinda, received the news with gaiety.
Former ZANU president and Chipinge South legislator, Cde Wilson Khumbula said the move shows President Mnangagwa’s great leadership qualities.
“We welcome the development. Everyone I am talking to is overjoyed with this development. This shows that President Mnangagwa has great leadership qualities.
“Everyone knows the inspirational role played by Rev Sithole in the liberation of the country. As locals, we were taken aback by the First Republic’s failure to honour Rev Sithole as a liberation war stalwart. These were politicised personality issues.
“However, President Mnangagwa’s announcement has helped to pacify our souls. As leaders, we should be able to forgive and embrace each other. Hatred destroys people, yet we want everyone to contribute towards building a prosperous Zimbabwe,” said Cde Khumbula.
He added: “Traditionally, opposition parties have been winning here because they felt unwanted by the First Republic. People here were questioning the gravity of the late Reverend’s misdeeds that saw him being spurned like that.
“The Movement for Democratic Change led by the late Mr Morgan Tsvangirai then leveraged on the disgruntlement of the
Ndau people to win elections on promises that they would exhume Rev Sithole’s remains and bury them at the National Heroes’ Acre if voted into office. And yet there was dead silence over the issue when they were part of the Inclusive Government from 2008 to
2013, which shows that they are good at grandstanding with little or no deliverables,” said Cde Khumbula.
A member of the famous Crocodile Gang and Rev Sithole’s neighbour at Sithole contributed immensely towards the liberation of this country.
“I was excited when I heard that Government had honoured Rev Sithole. Everyone makes mistakes in life, but forgiving is divine. Even in the Bible, we have kings who made mistakes, but God found favour in them and forgave them.
“It is undisputed that Rev Sithole contributed immensely towards the liberation of this country. In a relay race, you cannot complete the four by four race on your own. It is team work, you can have a poor start, but the team can recover and win the race.
“We thank President Mnangagwa for remembering our liberation icon, Rev Sithole, as he inspired a lot of us to take up arms and fight the oppressive Rhodesian regime,” said Cde Mtetwa, popularly known as General Musa or Muhlate.
Cde Mtetwa, who in the 1960s also worked with the late national hero, Cde William Ndangana in Chimanimani and Chipinge added: “This new development will help address the issue of the protest votes by the people of Chipinge as they opted to associate with opposition parties out of spite.
“Now that the country’s leadership has led the way in respecting our hero, this will go a long way in healing the wounds of the locals. Everyone traces their roots to ZANU and I am sure that even the hardliners among us will embrace this development,” said Cde Mtetwa.
Mr Johannes Mtisi of Chako said: “This is what we have been eagerly waiting for. By extending a hand of reconciliation to former foes, we expect the country to move forward, with peace prevailing. The honouring of Rev Sithole is a welcome development and we are over the moon.”
War veteran and Chipinge Rural District Council Ward 12 Councillor, Alderman Dakarayi Sambo said Rev Sithole’s sermons inspired many people to join the liberation struggle.
“Rev Sithole led demonstrations against the white settler regime, which culminated into the liberation war. While stationed here at Mt Selinda Mission, he was instrumental in stopping the Portuguese from forcibly recruiting locals to join them in the fight against Frelimo in Mozambique. This recruitment process was referred to as toropa.
“Having a person of Rev Sithole’s stature being buried at his farm did not go down well with most of us. He did a lot towards the successful execution of the liberation struggle. We want to salute and hail what has been done by President Mnangagwa to acknowledge Rev Sithole’s contributions. We are confident that going forward, there will not be any distortions of the country’s history. This will help to foster unity and development in the country,” said Alderman Sambo.
Ms Rhoda Sithole of Mandaa Village said: “We welcome this because as a united nation, a lot is achieved. We want to see a prosperous Zimbabwe and this can only be achieved if we all speak with one voice and share the same vision. We should all honour and respect the country’s founding fathers.”
Mrs Pedzisai Makhuyana of Tonhorai area of Chimanimani also echoed similar sentiments and said Manicaland feels honoured by having its heroes recognised for the sterling work done to ensure a free Zimbabwe.
“Manicaland suffered the brunt of the liberation struggle. Recognising the efforts of the gallant sons and daughters of this province will help bring closure to some of the outstanding liberation struggle issues. This will go a long way in inspiring people to bury the hatchet and move forward,” said Mrs Makhuyana.
A retired army major, Alderman Phibion Machuwaire said the history of the country is not complete without including the late politician’s contributions.
“The President has been inclusive since assuming office. It is without any iota of doubt that Rev Sithole was among the founding fathers of the armed struggle and therefore he is indeed a national hero,” said Alderman Machuwaire.
A war collaborator, Ms Munyiso Mlambo, said Rev Sithole deserves the special honour.
“Growing up, we heard how he emasculated a Portuguese man who used to be carried by his African servants as they passed through Mount Selinda Mission. His bravery made us believe that removing the racist regime was possible,” said Ms Mlambo.
Mr Sifelani Tonje, a historian and philosopher, said the posthumous conferment of national hero status on the late nationalist is a step in the right direction as more research will now be conducted to establish how the liberation struggle was mooted in rural Chipinge.
“Certain rituals were performed before the onset of the liberation war, with Rev Sithole being the leading light. Posterity needs to know about these things,” said Mr Tonje.