Zimbabwe Vice-President John Landa Nkomo has died in the Southern African state. He had battled cancer for an extended period of time., a photo by Pan-African News Wire File Photos on Flickr.
VP Nkomo memorial service set for Sunday
Tuesday, 07 May 2013 00:00
Innocent Ruwende Senior Reporter
Zimbabwe Herald
A memorial service for Vice-President Dr John Landa Nkomo has been set for Sunday at the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair Hall 4 in Bulawayo.
Dr Nkomo succumbed to cancer in January this year and was declared a national hero.
“The office of the late Vice President Honourable Dr John Landa Nkomo wishes to advise the general public and Zimbabweans at large of a memorial service to commemorate the life of national hero, peacemaker, the late Vice-President Dr John Landa Nkomo,” read part of a statement from his office.
VP Nkomo was a founding member of the African National Congress between 1958 and 1959.
He joined the National Democratic Party in 1960 before joining the Zimbabwe African People’s Union in 1961.
The veteran nationalist was arrested on several occasions by the Smith regime and detained at Gonakudzingwa between 1966 and 1968.
He joined the African National Council where he was deputy secretary-general in 1971.
VP Nkomo attended the Geneva Conference as part of the Zimbabwe African People’s Union (PF-Zapu) delegation led by the late Vice President Joshua Nkomo in 1976.
He was injured in a parcel bomb that killed Cde Jason Ziyapapa Moyo in 1977.
After the country gained independence in 1980, he became a Member of Parliament for Matabeleland North between 1980 and 1985.
He served as Deputy Minister of Industry and Energy in 1981 and was Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office responsible to the Deputy Prime Minister from 1982-84.
VP Nkomo became a Member of Parliament for Tsholotsho between 1985 and 1990.
He was appointed Minister of Labour, Manpower Planning and Social Welfare from 1988 to 1995.
Between 1990 and 1995, he served as MP for Bulawayo North and was re-elected legislator for Bulawayo North from 1995 to 2000.
VP Nkomo was Minister of Local Government and Rural Development in 1995 before being appointed Minister of Local Government and National Housing in 1997.
Between 2000 and 2001, he was Minister of Home Affairs. In 2002, he was appointed Minister of State in the President’s Office Responsible for Special Affairs.
He became Speaker of Parliament in 2005 until 2008. VP Nkomo was appointed Minister of State in the President’s Office responsible for National Healing, Reconciliation and Integration in 2009 after the inception of the inclusive Government.
He was appointed Vice President on December 14, 2009.
No comments:
Post a Comment