Zimbabwe’s Parliament is calling on President Emmerson Mnangagwa to declare 1 July a national public holiday in tribute to the late Vice President Joshua Nkomo, revered as “Father Zimbabwe.”
Nkomo, who passed away on 1 July 1999 after battling prostate cancer, is widely honored for his critical role in uniting the country post-independence and for his leadership of the Zimbabwe African People’s Union (ZAPU).
In a statement presented in the National Assembly, Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) MP Charles Moyo appealed to the President to formally designate the date of Nkomo’s death as Joshua Nkomo Day, under the Public Holidays and Prohibition of Business Act [Chapter 10:21].
“We owe much of our nation’s identity to the selfless leadership and peace-building efforts of Dr. Joshua Mqabuko Nyongolo Nkomo, known affectionately as Father Zimbabwe,” Moyo said.
“I respectfully urge His Excellency, President Mnangagwa, to declare the 1st of July a public holiday to honor his legacy.”
Nkomo is credited with helping to bring an end to the Gukurahundi massacres, a period marked by state-led violence primarily targeting ZAPU supporters in Matabeleland and parts of the Midlands. The signing of the Unity Accord between Nkomo and then-President Robert Mugabe on 22 December 1987 helped usher in a period of relative stability and reconciliation.
Following the remarks, Speaker of Parliament Jacob Mudenda acknowledged the request and committed to relaying the proposal to the Head of State.
“I will communicate that sentiment to His Excellency, the President, as expressed in your statement,” said Mudenda.
Nkomo’s contributions to peace, nation-building, and unity remain widely celebrated, and the growing calls for a dedicated holiday reflect his enduring significance in Zimbabwean history.
