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336 PROPHETIC SPEECHES suffered long years of imprisonment in their quest for justice and liberty and their crusade was not a selfish one. The struggle was for the country and the people. I do not wish to make our situation seem better than it is. In Matabeleland innocent people suffered and there was great distress, not only of the people but of the government also. It is significant that the Prime Minister sought out the leaders of the churches and spoke to them at length. He said, Accordingly, the struggle against political bandits and their collaborators will continue unabated until every corner of Matabeleland has been rid of every dissident element. If we are at one with the Church on this matt m ter, as indeed we are at one with the majority of the nation, then at least we will feel united in the spirit to create true justice and peace. I count myself fortunate to be a citizen of Zimbabwe. I am so fortunate to be able to look back over almost fifty years in Africa. As a young man I saw visions and as an old man I can dream dreams. I am upheld in my hope for the future of my country for I know that there is a host of young women and young men in Zimbabwe today whose vision is of a country where liberty and peace walk hand in hand. And as for me . . . I would a thousand times rather be a Senator in a free Zimbabwe than be Prime Minister of the Self-governi m ing Colony of Southern Rhodesia. Keynote Speech at the Celebration of Joshua Nkomo’s 72nd Birthday and 40th Wedding Anniversary This speech was delivered in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, on September 30, 1989. Todd was invited to give the after dinner speech at the celebrat m tion. The speech is extensively analyzed in chapter 6, “Todd’s Narr m rative Rhetoric: The Preacher of Democratic Virtues.” The speech is an important part of Todd’s prophetic narrative rhetoric where he narrates the meaning of Zimbabwe’s liberation for democracy in Africa. The speech also gives more information about the early Afric m can nationalist Masotsha Ndlovu. The text is from the Judith Todd file located in the Terrance Ranger papers, Rhodes House, Bodleian Library, Oxford University. Casey.Rhetoric.indd 350 1/9/07 11:13:07 AM This is a great occasion for Father and Mother Zimbabwe! and for me, for I am glad to have an opportunity to express my admiration for a man who has sacrificed so much for Zimbabwe: for us all. Also you are likely to gather from what I say tonight that Nkomo has had a greater influence on my life in Zimb m babwe than any other man, which will surprise him as greatly as it no doubt, surprises everyone else. You will judge for yourselves as we go along. I don’t really know Mrs. Nkomo except through the warm tributes paid to her by her husband, but he should know! As I read those tributes it occurs to me that Nkomo’s wife and my wife are peas from the same pod. Nkomo dedicated his Book to “My wife ma Fuyana, who stood by me through it all.” If I were ever to write a book it would have a similar dedication. When I arrived from New Zealand 55 years ago I knew even less than I do today and I remember asking a boy to tell me his Mother’s name. You can guess what he replied and so I learned that in African culture a Mother’s name is not to be mentioned lightly. In our culture it is slightly different. Anyway I have to admit that we had been married for 54 years and then I had to inspan assistance from the Prime Minister of New Zealand, the Prime Minister of Zimbabwe and the kind co-operation of her Majesty the Queen to make my wife a Lady: Lady Grace. As I look around this splendid gathering I am reminded of Desmond Lardner-Burke. In 1965 he wrote to command me not to leave Hokonui Ranch for twelve months because he believed that I had actively associated myself with members of Zapu. He admitted that his belief was founded on information which he was unable to divulge because of the confidential nature of its sources. I was furious and thought I would ask the opinion of my lawyer...

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