Online Reporter
Gibson Nyikadzino
Zimpapers Politics Hub
THE late Cuban leader and Commander-in-Chief Fidel Castro was a revolutionary whose ideas inspired young Zimbabweans to join the liberation struggle and fight for independence, ZANU PF National Political Commissar Cde Munyaradzi Machacha has said.
On the sidelines of commemorations marking the centennial of Fidel Castro organised by the Embassy of Cuba in Harare yesterday, Cde Machacha paid tribute to Castro for playing a key role before and after Zimbabwe’s independence in cementing relations between the two countries.
“The late Commander-in-Chief Fidel Castro Ruz was a revolutionary who inspired most of us young people at that time to go and join the liberation struggle and fight for our independence. A lot of our young people were trained by Cubans during the liberation struggle and post-independence; that relationship was strengthened.
“We received a lot of assistance from Cuba by opening up their universities to our Zimbabwean students to gain advanced education.
“On the international scene, our anti-colonial, anti-imperialist stand was common and we were advocating for a freer, more balanced international economic and social order,” Cde Machacha said.
He praised Cuba for always backing Africa’s position on international fora, and for playing an impactful role in Angola’s resistance against aggression from apartheid South Africa, leading to the independence of Namibia.
“The influence of Castro on the African continent was infectious, and it was massive,” Cde Machacha added.
Cuba’s Ambassador to Zimbabwe Susellys Perez Mesa described Fidel Castro as a “tireless defender of just causes” who dedicated his life through sacrifices to the people of Africa whose ties to Cuba are “unbreakable”.
“He had a deep and special relationship with Africa, which materialised in military support for liberation movements against colonialism and apartheid, as well as in support for their subsequent development and numerous visits to these sister nations,” Ambassador Mesa said.
Fidel Castro, who died in November 2016 at age 90, is one of the celebrated influential historical figures from the Global South known for his strong anti-imperialist and internationalist ideals.
The commemorations were attended by Senior Government officials, ZANU PF Politburo members, diplomats accredited to Zimbabwe and representatives from organisations that stand in solidarity with Cuba.
