ZAPU has called for the late Retired Colonel Dallas Patron Khutshwekhaya Nketa Ndlovu Mlevu to be declared a national hero, describing him as a gallant liberation fighter whose contributions before and after independence are beyond question. Nketa, 74, died last Friday following a sudden illness. He is remembered not only for his role in the armed struggle but also for his continued political activism and outspoken stance on national issues long after independence.
However, Nketa’s death has also exposed underlying tensions, with ZAPU officials accusing Zanu PF of attempting to “hijack” his funeral proceedings, despite them describing his well-known critical stance toward the ruling party. Speaking at Nketa’s home at Pelandaba on Monday, ZAPU leader Sibangilizwe Nkomo said the late liberation war hero’s record speaks for itself and should earn him national recognition regardless of political considerations. “We are here to pass our condolences to the family of Retired Colonel Dallas Patron Khutshwekhaya Mlevu,” Nkomo said.
“More importantly, I am here to speak about Nketa’s heroic acts when he was alive.” Nkomo said Nketa was among the early nationalists who took a stand against colonial rule in the 1960s, participating in protests and direct confrontations with white settlers before later joining the armed liberation struggle under ZAPU’s military wing, ZPRA. “He was one of the first men to stand up and say we must liberate ourselves from white oppression,” he said. “He went on to train and fight using arms as part of the liberation struggle until the country was free.” After independence in 1980, Nketa integrated into the Zimbabwe National Army and continued serving in various missions, including deployments in Mozambique, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Somalia. Despite his extensive service, Nkomo lamented that Nketa, like many liberation war fighters, did not materially benefit from his sacrifices.
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