Members of the cultural group last week put portraits of the late nationalist at the pillar meant for the installation of the statue as a way of advertising the Joshua Nkomo memorial celebrations which take place today in Bulawayo at the historic Stanley Square.
Son of the late nationalist, Sibangilizwe, was present when the posters were put but declined to comment.
Leader of Matojeni, Albert Nyoni said the group wanted to send a clear signal to the authorities, that people of Matabeleland were eagerly waiting for Nkomo’s statue to be installed to recognise his contribution for the liberation and development of the country.
“We want to show the powers that be, that we want the statue to be installed soon, as long as it is not from North Korea,” he said.
Nyoni said the rejected North Korean made statue rekindled bad memories of what happened in Midlands and Matabeleland region when the Korean trained Fifth Brigade army unleashed the Gukurahundi massacres in the early 1980s.
“We would not want our people here to be reminded of that experience,” said Nyoni.
The group also wanted Bulawayo’s Main Street to be named after Nkomo who died 13 years ago.
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“How can a veteran nationalist fail to have a road named after him in the city in his region,” asked Nyoni.
Plans to install Nkomo’s statue have been dragging since 2010, but recently Home Affair co-minister Kembo Mohadi indicated that the process was expected to begin soon.
Nyoni said traditional beer has been brewed for the Nkomo commemorations, while Ingwebu breweries have pledged opaque beer, with the local business community chipping in with food stuffs. He said no party regalia would be allowed at the celebrations.
