1724: President Mugabe ends his speech.
1723: This exercise could not have been done on a better day other than the Unity Day. There’s is no Zimbabwean who is more important than any other Zimbabwean even the President.
1721: Now as I unveil the statue, It is my expectation that we all view the two events as a national reference point for Zimbabweans as they continue to make a better Zimbabwe for present and future generations. The President officially announces that the statue has been unveiled and the street has been renamed Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo Street.
1719: Statues can not be exact but they should have features of the individual and this statue is just that.
1717: You stand here, you look at it, the man who fought for the country. Let us not disobey him, I take this opportunity to thank all the people through whose effort has led to the day.
1717: We will ensure to the best of our abilities that war veterans and their families get what they deserve.
1715: The ideology on which we based our struggle where we were friends with the Soviet Union or China as they say, you settle your differences by sitting down.
1714: Now that he is gone you think he can be disobeyed even though you took instructions from him.
1713: It’s treason of the worst kind.
1712: We say, especially to those who are walking with the enemy that can’t u realise the suffering that the people had to bear, the death and injuries upon them as they waged the struggle. And you to dare today to walk with the British. I’m talking of the stances of MDCs. We don’t mind an internal opposition.
1709: President Mugabe says were you have been given the land, take care of it and make sure it does not slide back to those we took it from.
1708: During his life he pursued many national roles. The statue and Street remind us that this country was not given on a silver platter, it was never given but we took it.
1707: Our struggles and aspirations as a people, that story is embodied in DrJoshua Mqabuko Nkomo.
1706: President Mugabe says the heros of the First Chimurenga gave them the determination to wage the war of liberation.
1705: He says he wanted Cde Nkomo to be President and him Prime Minister but he turned down the overtures and then they had to turn to Canaan Banana.
1704: We went to the elections as separate parties, Zanu had 57 seats, Zapu had 27 seats.
1703: We allowed Smith to live his full life even though we were blamed as being lenient but we didn’t want to spill more blood.
1702: He said the freedom fighters agreed that when Zimbabwe wins independence and the Smith regime was to respect that they would not be punished by let bygones be bygones and foster reconciliation.
1700: He describes the ambushes by the Rhodesian army on people who could not fight back like children and the elderly was a brutal way of fighting.
1658: President Mugabe said it was an honour that he is the one unveiling the statue of Father Zimbabwe.
1646: He says Cde Nkomo’s legacy lives on. He hated tribalism, he hated regionalism and he hated colonialism.
1645: Cde Mohadi invites Senior Minister in cabinet Cde Cde Simon Khaya Moyo is now on the podium to invite President Mugabe to make his speech.
1643: The liberation struggle was propagated in the urban areas as much as it was in the rural. The statue is gesture to show how we cherish the sacrifices of people like Father Zimbabwe.
1638: He describes the late Cde Nkomo as revolutionary par excellence. The statue is a befitting memory to Bulawayo and the nation at large. It is pertinent to put it on record that the war of liberation was a joint effort considering how supportive nations played a role.
1635: Minister of Home Affairs Kembo Mohadi is now addressing the gathering.
1620: Cde Chombo thanks the Nkomo family for giving Zimbabwe Cde Nkomo.
1618: People are now gathered at Bulawayo’s Main Street which is set to be renamed Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo Street. Currently, Minister of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Cde Ignatius Chombo.
1402: I’m sorry for starting late, I couldn’t make it as I had other engagements. He admits to have been working very hard lately.
1400: President Mugabe declares that the Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo airport officially opened.
1359: The airport should be a constant reminder of the sacrifices made by Father Zimbabwe.
1358: Civil aviation and tourism authorities should work together. Government is determined that Bulawayo is resuscitated. It should reaffirm its position as the industrial hub
1355: The Ministry of transport was urged to refurbish other airports like the one in Kariba, Mutare among others.
1349: Initially penciled to take two years, it was bedeviled by hyperinflation, one of those p[projects severely impacted on by the illegal sanctions.
1347: In 2002, Government took the decision to rename the Bulawayo Airport after Cde Nkomo. In 2003 a Ground Breaking ceremony was held.
1346: President Mugabe urged the people to go for health checkups once in a while.
1345: That was the sacrifice anyway.
1345: The struggle was hard, suffering in prison and we didn't feel it. The cumulative effect of it does show later, look at the people who have left. Of-course some lived their full lives but others left before their time.
1343: He says he is speaking from his heart
1342: The significance of the struggle that was fought, All of us in playing a part in defending our hard won independence and defend our unity. It doesn't mean to be come a soldier but have the faith in that Zimbabwe is your country. You should be able to boast about it's unity, fights. struggles that have been waged from the 1890s to the present day. This ensures you don't feel shy to be Zimbabwean even if you visit Britain. Don't try to avoid who you are, "I'm a Zimbabwean"
1339: The youths should hear the speeches of the late Vice President saw they understand the country's history.
1336: Speaking at the unveiling of Father Zimbabwe Cde Joshua Nkomo's statue and also the commissioning of the Inter Airport in is name, President Mugabe says by the time Zimbabwe won the liberation war the majority of whites had left from a population of 250 000 to slightly over 100 000 were left in the country. It was good because we had not raised a gun.
President Mugabe and the late Vice President Joshua Nkomo secured a model realm for generations to come by ending years of political-ethnic attrition