The late Dr Nkomo, Dr Muzenda honoured

Nyemudzai Kakore Herald Reporter
Government has gazetted the changing of two major streets in Harare and Bulawayo to honour two former Vice Presidents and national heroes Dr Joshua Mqabuko Nyongolo Nkomo and Dr Simon Vengai Muzenda. According to a notice gazetted yesterday, Fourth Street in Harare has been renamed Simon Vengai Muzenda Street, while Main Street in Bulawayo will now be called Joshua Mqabuko Nyongolo Nkomo Street.

The names were altered to honour the country’s two foremost nationalists Dr Muzenda who was also called Soul of Nation and Dr Nkomo, who was Father Zimbabwe.

The changes were made in terms of section 4 (1) of the Names (Alteration) Act (Chapter 10:14).

Veteran nationalist Dr Nkomo died on July 4, 1999, while Dr Muzenda died on September 20 2003 and were both declared national heroes and were buried at the National Heroes Acre in Harare.

“It is hereby notified that the Minister of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing has, in terms of Section 4 (1) of the Names (Alteration) Act (Chapter 10 :14), made the following notice: The Schedule to the Names (Alteration) Act (Chapter 10:14), is Amended in Part V11 by the insertion in the item relating to roads in (a) Harare of the following —Old Name Fourth Street, New Name — Simon Vengai Muzenda Street. (b) Bulawayo of the following — Old Name Main Street, New Name — Joshua Mqabuko Nyongolo Nkomo Street.”

The renaming of the streets in the country’s two biggest cities was part of a nationwide process to break away from symbols of Rhodesia’s white-dominated past and a call has been made to change more colonial names to local icons.

Some major roads were named after icons of the struggle in many cities and towns such as Robert Mugabe, named after the President, Josiah Tongogara, Herbert Chitepo, Jason Moyo, George Silundika and Josiah Chinamano.

Other roads were named after regional leaders such as the late Nelson Mandela of South Africa, Kwame Nkurumah of Ghana, Julius Nyerere of Tanzania, Kenneth Kaunda of Zambia, Samora Machel of Mozambique and Sam Nujoma of Namibia.

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