The annual lecture commemorates the late influential and revolutionary leader, who led the first political movement against the white minority government of Rhodesia.

The lecture entitled, "Celebrating 40 years of Independence – Back to the future" coincides with the country's ruby anniversary. Revered human rights lawyer Siphosami Malunga, son of the late PF ZAPU stalwart, Sydney Malunga, is set to deliver the lecture, which will be broadcast on online platforms including Twitter and Facebook at 10AM.

JNM Director General, Mmillili Tapela said the reason behind the online broadcast is the ongoing lockdowns meant to limit the spread of the ravaging COVID-19 pandemic. 

Zimbabwe and South Africa, the two countries that have previously hosted the series, are both on lockdown as part of measures to curb the spread of the coronavirus epidemic.

"The platform is for encouraging citizens to interact and discuss with technocrats, politicians, and other interested parties to share evidence-based solutions on political, economic, and social problems affecting the development of the country as it turns 40," Tapela explained.

He added that this year's edition of the lecture series was aimed at reflecting on the efforts of the former Vice President to promote sustainable development and improve the lives of ordinary Zimbabweans.
The lecture series is an academic and intellectual platform for exchanging ideas on entrepreneurship, economic, technological, political, and social development principles that Dr Nkomo stood for.
According to Tapela, the series is premised on objectives including stimulating research on development themes such as entrepreneurship, economic development, democracy and human rights.

He said Dr Nkomo was a development-oriented man, who, among other things, fought for the economic emancipation of Zimbabweans.

"His initial focus was on land development and agronomics but later expanded into mining, construction, agro-processing, real estate, wood processing and health care.

He also believed in promoting entrepreneurship and it's because of him that big companies like Econet Wireless are operational today," he said. 

Previous speakers have been Dr Dumiso Dabengwa, Dr Sipho Moyo, Vice President, Dr Constantino Chiwenga and Dr Sabelo Gatsheni-Ndlovu. 
This year's speaker, Malunga is the Executive Director of the Open Society Initiative for Southern Africa (OSISA) and a human rights lawyer with extensive experience in justice and governance in Africa.

Malunga obtained his LLB from the University of Zimbabwe in 1994 and a Master's in International Law (Cum Laude) from the University of Oslo, Norway in 2007.

He is a regular contributor to leading continental and global publications on political, social and economic issues in Africa.