Sundaymail Editor
Dr Obert Moses Mpofu
THERE is such a thing called positive revisionism.
We are at a point where we have to take an evolutionary approach to the gains achieved thus far by the revolution.
This is essential for modern-day Africans, who live on a free and democratic continent. This is even more crucial for the Zimbabwean born in a free land.
Much of this country’s history remains untold, while stories that have been told were not presented correctly. We must visit parts of our history that were not told correctly. Of course, sometimes distortions happen when stories are retold, particularly by those who did not bear witness when the events unfolded. However, exceptions can be made.
Distortions and omissions make revisiting our history necessary and essential.
You see, truth is singular and its versions are mistruths. The wanton disregard of facts and generation of counter-narratives have oftentimes contaminated the true history of our great nation.
There has been a dangerous proclivity to omit and distort the most important aspects of this country’s history.
As the history of this nation has been carved by those without a deeper and true understanding of it, so much vital information has been pruned.
We may never recover some lost pieces of our history because of our former colonisers. It has become quite a noble but difficult task to unearth and reconstruct our history based on true accounts.
Much of our history has for long been told by our erstwhile oppressors, who have enjoyed unparalleled ownership of the true story of the Zimbabwean so much that even our heroes have their skulls displayed somewhere in museums in foreign lands. This is perhaps one of the greatest insults we have had to endure as a people.
This represents continued efforts to keep us beneath the soles of their boots. It is an insult to us as a people. We have been denied portions of our history by those who subjugated us for the longest time.
History plays an important part in our people’s lives. History is the compass that guides our people forward whilst leaning on lessons from the past. There is wealth in our history. Our history may perhaps be the most valuable thing we have.
As those who fought the liberation war struggle continue to be elevated to glory, there must be an active effort to capture their tales so that they can be shared with future generations.
Time is clearly not on our side.
His Excellency, President Mnangagwa, has been championing the cause of ensuring that our history is not lost. So, many memorials have been commissioned this year alone as a result of his efforts, chief amongst them the Pupu Battlefield Memorial Site.
The story that glorified the vanquished at the expense of the victors was finally corrected, which is quite refreshing.
There can be no doubt as to the enormity of the task that lies ahead of us, which is to correct the historical distortions.
Our people must be made aware of the importance of being in touch with our history, for a people without a history are a lost people. We will tell our own history.
We will document and make as much noise as we can on the achievements that ZANU PF has made, both past and present.
Such stories must and will be captured and immortalised, for what ZANU PF and its Government have been able to achieve in the face of adversity has been far beyond the realm of what our enemies deemed possible. We have done the impossible and the sun shines upon us once more.
As we continue exercising our right to self-determination and charting our path towards prosperity, there can be no doubt that Zimbabwe wakes up to a people so grateful for the achievements and strides that we have made so far.
Let us not shy away from documenting these wins, some small and others monumental. They indeed offer great lessons for the future and will be instrumental in making sure that the world knows Zimbabwe’s true story. Let us carve our history in our own image.
Dr Obert Moses Mpofu is an academic and the Secretary-General of ZANU PF. He writes in his own capacity.
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