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President Mugabe bemoans the loss of great people who have contributed immensely to our Independence. He says it is now the duty of every Zimbabwean to defend national interest, our resources as well as the legacy that we won through the barrel of the gun

1415: President’s speech ends.

1412: Urged widowers to choose new partners discreetly and take people they really love and avoid actions that are against social and moral expectations. Urged all Zimbabweans to emulate the good that Cde Nkala did.

1409: Described Cde Nkala as an unyielding individual who had sacrificed his life for others. He castigated homosexuality urging men to marry women and women to marry men and not the other way that he described as unnatural allowing marriages of the same sex.

1407: Nationalists sacrificed their lives so that the people of Zimbabwe could re-gain their lost sovereignty, said President Mugabe. We have the right to determine our own destiny and foreigners must respect that, he said.

1400: President Mugabe had assured Cde Nkala that they would pray for him on his visit, which ironically became the last time he talked to him.

1359: Cde Nkala’s house in Highfield is regarded as the place where Zanu was formed. I went to see him on the morning of the Tuesday he died, said President Mugabe. He told President to continue the fight as they used to do.

1353: Lancaster House conference brought in a new constitution for a new government. Exiled nationalists returned to start new life with their families. Incarcerations had wrecked havoc to marriages, families had broken down, said President Mugabe.

1351: Cde Nkala was abrupt, short tempered and would not listen to any nonsense but knew his morals, said President Mugabe. He urged Zimbabweans to be morally upright.

1347: President Mugabe said Cde Nkala also had intellectual and divine prowess besides his other gallant achievements. Never divorced their actions from those of people doing religious activities.

1341: 1979- Lancaster House- October to December. This brought the constitution that was changed recently. Cde Nkala was on the Zanu side alongside Leopold Takawira, Reverend Ndabaningi Sithole, President Mugabe- Only five cadres remained in Zanu after the Pierce Commission and these included Morton Malianga, Enos Nkala, Edgar Tekere, Maurice Nyagumbo and President Mugabe. Introduced a policy of education and those who did not have formal education managed to do so.

1339: February 1977- nationalists produced a document outlining their agreement and ways of operations. Herbert Chitepo was later assassinated in Zambia via  a letter bomb.

1332: In 1963 Cde Nkala and the likes of Nathan Shamuyarira initiated some movement. It was Announced over the BBC. It was the Zimbabwe African National Union led by Ndabaningi Sithole. Cde Mugabe was to be Secretary General. President was in prison then and only released in 1964 in the run-up to another congress. Cracks surfaced once again and the nationalists fought each other primarily due to differences in opinions. Cde Nkala offered to handle the situation. In 1976 Julius Nyerere advised the nationalists to unite and so they formed the Patriotic Front from Zapu and went to attend the Geneva conference as the Patriotic Front.

1326: Cde Nkala remained imprisoned even after his colleagues detained in 1959 under the Prevention and Detention Act were freed in 1963. Other nationalists moved to Zambia with intentions of forming a government in exile. Chikerema’s influence started causing cracks within the nationalist movement.

1322: By 1963 there was no real functioning party but all the nationalists identified themselves as Zapu. Most of the nationalists condemned to house arrest- detained in their homes.

1318: Cde Nkala and colleagues decided to form another party- Zapu. Chikerema and Nyandoro were in prison. Cde Nkala did not participate in Zapu, he was in prison. Zapu was banned within a year of its formation.

1312: Meetings involving Cde Nkala were known to be very active- he did not want to see any whites nearby. Recalled a meeting in Chinhoyi where Cde Nkala called one white man a dog. Had the “I dare you” spirit despite living under serious subjugation from the whites. Cde Nkala always wanted to show that the white man was not better than blacks and could even be beaten up. People began talking his language too and declaring the country theirs. Called it the country of Munhumutapa. The NDP was banned in 1961.

1308: Cde Mugabe asked to chair the NDP congress on his return from Ghana. Was elected the Publicity Secretary at the congress and was forced to terminate his teaching contract in Ghana. He joined the likes of Morton Malianga, George Silundika, Joshua Nkomo and Leopold Takawira in the party structures.

1304: The Prevention Detention Act of the 1960s saw many nationalists like Joseph Msika, Maurice Nyagumbo and Jason getting incarcerated.

1258: President Mugabe saluted everyone gathered. Described Cde Nkala as a great friend and an unyielding fighter. Worked with him from 1960 to the present. Said Cde Nkala had been involved in the formation of the National Democratic Party alongside the likes of George Silundika, Jason Moyo and Leopold Takawira who had wanted to be a priest during his school days at Kutama Mission. NDP was successor to the African National Congress.

1256: President Mugabe delivers his speech.

 

1255: Co-Home Affairs Minister Cde Kembo Mohadi described Cde Nkala as founding member of the nationalist movement in Zimbabwe before inviting President Mugabe for his speech.

1244: Family relative said Cde Nkala had never left Zanu-PF as had been previously said adding that President Mugabe had remained his closest friend up to the time of his death. He said Cde Nkala fought a good fight and thanked President Mugabe for being Cde Nkala’s friend for over 50 years. Thanked Zanu-PF for giving Cde Nkala the honour of being recognised as a national hero.

1239: Described Cde Nkala as a loving family man, a religious figure and role model for both family and nation. Cde Nkala leaves behind a legacy of abundant love, said the family relative. He added that Cde Nkala leaves behind a legacy of self sacrifice through his making of inflammatory remarks against the colonial regime even after being released from detention. Cde Nkala was the voice of the voiceless.

1232: Family relative invited to address the gathering. Thanked Government for declaring Cde Nkala a national hero. Said Cde Nkala had made it clear to his family that he wanted to buried at the Heroes Acre contrary to alleged previous indications that he did not want to be interred there.

1222: Minister of Religion opened the proceedings with a prayer and some wise words from the scriptures. He said Cde Nkala was a church goer who had totally surrendered his life to God and had even acquired a Bachelor’s degree in Theology. He described Cde Nkala as both a national and spiritual hero.

1210: The hearse transporting Cde Nkala`s body has arrived at the National Heroes Acre. The President has also arrived to kick start the official proceedings

1150: Vice President Joyce Mujuru has arrived at the National Shrine

1149: MDC-T official Mrs Sekai Holland, Mr James Makore and Mr Makuyana have joined other mourners at the National Heroes Acre

 

1140: Zanu PF national chairman Cde Simon Khaya Moyo and the Service Chiefs have arrived at the National Heroes Acre

 

 

1116: President Mugabe and Amai  have arrived at  Stodart and will lead viewing of  the body of  the late Cde Enos Nkala

1106: MDC 99 leader Job Sikhala has arrived at the National Shrine to bid his farewell to Cde Nkala

1056: VP Mujuru has arrived at Stodart Hall

1020:

0944: The body of Cde Nkala has arrived at Stodart Hall

0942: Some senior Zanu PF officials who are already at the National Heroes Acre include Secretary for Administration, Cde Didymus Mutasa, Secretary for Womens Affairs Cde Oppah Muchinguri, Bulawayo Governor Cde Cain Mathema and Cde Joseph Made among others

0925:

0913: Meanwhile,other mourners have started arriving at the National Heroes Acre

0911: Several Zanu PF officials have started arriving at Stodart Hall

0900: Hundreds already at Stodart Hall in Mbare to bid farewell to veteran nationalist and Zanu-PF founder member Cde Enos Nkala.