Meanwhile, President Mnangagwa described the late Nleya as a hardworking cadre, who was dedicated to the cause of his country until his death.
“The nation is indeed gradually losing its pioneering crop of freedom fighters that inspired and recruited many others who participated in the armed struggle for our national independence. Today as we lay Comrade Nleya to rest among his late comrades, I challenge us to ask ourselves individually and collectively the question, what is the role that I must play in building my country? What is the role that we must all play in building a brighter future for the next generations to come?”
“He trained freedom fighters to become a united force, to be patriotic, futuristic and never pessimistic despite all the setbacks faced during the protracted liberation armed struggle. He inculcated in them a culture of patriotism, hard work, integrity and honesty. The fact that we have some of the people he trained as senior commanders of our Zimbabwe Defence Forces is testimony of the late national heroes’ astuteness as an instructor and a mentor.
“I challenge all of us in leadership, all positions of influence, at whatever levels in the various sectors be it in industry, business and commerce, medical, legal and teaching fields, politics, religious and cultural arena, media and the sports sector, among others, to always strive to mould and mentor those that are around us to be dependable, to be honest, to be loyal and patriotic citizens of our motherland.”
Mnangagwa added: “Let us all introspect and ask ourselves as leaders in our various fields if we can be counted on for the advancement of the cause of our nation. Can you, as businessmen and women, as civil servants of our nation be deployed to advance the present national development agenda? Are you dependable, can you put national interests and the interests of the majority ahead of your own interests? In the face of the Covid-19 pandemic, can you be trusted to direct operations in the fight against the spread of the scourge?
“Can you be counted on to reject and expose practices which are contrary to the interests of the people? Learning from the life of the late comrade Nleya, our youth must utilise the empowerment and economic space that was created through the sacrifices of our departed heroes, they must grow our economy through hard work and productivity that will result in food self-sufficiency and increased exports of goods and services.”_New Ziana
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