The Chronicle
By Dosman Mangisi
21 January 2013
THE recent remarks by self-exiled MDC-T treasurer general Roy Bennett over the death of Vice-President Landa John Nkomo are insensitive and animalistic and expose the former farmer’s bitterness towards Zanu-PF.
The utterances he made over the messages of condolence mourning the late liberator, unifier, patriot and peace-maker, VP Nkomo are also disrespectful and derogatory. They are not only an insult to the departed national hero, his family and Zimbabwe, but also an unforgivable insult on the millions of comrades with whom he shared the same principles. It goes without saying that Bennett’s attack is an unprovoked political one; an attack on Zanu-PF.
What is wrong with the condolence message given by David Coltart, the Minister of Education, Sport, Arts and Culture, Trudy Stevenson Zimbabwe’s Ambassador to Senegal and the United States Embassy in Zimbabwe? What is wrong with what the American embassy said about Cde Nkomo? The answer is nothing at all; they are deserved compliments to him.
It is enlightening to quote some of Bennett’s nonsensical views on VP Nkomo.
“Every time a prominent figure in Zanu-PF dies it becomes the occasion for all sorts of nonsense and stupidity. We recall the ridiculous things that were said when Vitalis Zvinavashe died. We are now seeing the same with John Nkomo’s death. The US Embassy is reported saying: ‘Whether as a teacher, a politician, an advocate for Zimbabwe’s independence, or as a public servant, Vice-President Nkomo was a patriot who dedicated his life to Zimbabwe’s sovereignty and prosperity.’ Excuse me. We may not like to speak ill of the dead, but let’s not tell lies.â€
He continued:“I’m not sure what the American agenda is, but this is total rubbish. How can anyone with any sense say that John Nkomo dedicated his life to Zimbabwe’s prosperity? Since 1980, he has sat at the heart of the heart of the beast that destroyed Zimbabwe’s economy. He has held the hand of the dictator that has obliterated our hopes and freedoms. He must now be remembered by the choices he made. He chose to oppose people than to serve themâ€.
Now Bennett has to answer key questions. What good has he done to the citizens of Zimbabwe? Was he not part of the heinous Rhodesian machinery that killed thousands of innocent people in Zimbabwe during the liberation war? His hands are dripping with blood of innocent citizens of this country –this violent remnant of Rhodesia who floored fellow MPs in Parliament. How much diamond did he amass from Chiadzwa, bartering sugar for diamonds in the area and spiriting it out of the country for personal benefit?
Why is he craving to be back in this land if he has lost hope for Zimbabwe? He knows that Zimbabwe is well endowed with natural resources which he hungers for not his preposterous claims that he is Zimbabwean.
If Bennett cannot see the dedication that defined VP Nkomo, fighting the liberation war he (Bennett) opposed but fortunately lost, then he cannot see anything.
Vice-President Nkomo was a teacher, politician, advocate for Zimbabwe’s independence, and a public servant. He is a known patriotic son of Zimbabwe who dedicated his life to the country’s sovereignty and prosperity. He nearly lost his life as a result of that. The revolutionary was there when Rhodesia sent a parcel which exploded on that horrific day in Zambia, killing fellow comrade Jason Moyo. A brave fighter, VP Nkomo survived that covert Rhodesian assault and more overt ones in the war of liberation.
His credentials are there for all to see. Bennett recognises them, no doubt but because he is a bitter man, he seeks to tarnish them for political reasons with no success.
I must put it that Bennett is worse than a witch who respects the dead, even offering condolences by day although he prowls in the dark to pounce on graves.