Online Reporter
Langalakhe Mabena, Sunday Life Reporter
AS Zimbabwe prepares to host the 46th Independence Day celebrations in Maphisa Town, celebrated author and educationist Ezekiel Hleza has released a new song titled, When the Country Calls, to welcome the festivities in Matabeleland South Province.
The song is performed in multiple languages, SiNdebele, English, Shona, Tshangani, Sotho, Venda, Kalanga, Jahunda, Tswana reflecting the region’s rich cultural diversity.
In producing the song, Hleza, a native of Gwanda District, collaborated with award-winning musician Madlela Sikhobokhobo and his cousin, Themba Honest Mlilo.
He revealed that the song was inspired by how President Mnangagwa is answering the call to work tirelessly for national development, guiding citizens under his philosophy that “a country is built by its own people.”
The composition of the song also calls for self-reliance, patriotism and active participation of citizens in economic development, infrastructure, in order to achieve Vision 2030.
“The decision to host the national Independence celebrations in Maphisa inspired me to thank President Mnangagwa for introducing the rotational system that brings these events to different parts of the country.
With that in mind, I wrote ‘When the Country Calls’, reflecting how the President answered the call to bring the celebrations to the people of Matabeleland South.
“This is deeply meaningful, as even the late Vice-President Joshua Nkomo once answered the call to lead the nation in its liberation.
Through this song, I urge citizens not to disappoint our leaders and liberation heroes, who have done so much to inspire us to build our nation,” he said.
Hleza, the headmaster of Hlanganani Secondary School in Mangwe District, said the province welcomes the Independence celebrations wholeheartedly, noting that the events have spurred development across Matabeleland South.
“President Mnangagwa is indeed leaving no one and no place behind in terms of development, as the celebrations in Maphisa have stirred development. The Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo Vocational Training Centre is being built at Nyongolo village. The Mama MaFuyana suburb is also electrified.
“The roads are being upgraded and a stadium is even under construction to host the celebrations. All of this shows that as a province, we are not forgotten,” he said.
Hleza, a graduate of the University of Zimbabwe and keen student of liberation literature began writing books and poems in 1982, drawing inspiration from the liberation struggle.
He has published five works, including Impi eGungwe le Mawaza (1982) through Mambo Press, the anthology Izigigaba Zempi Yenkululeko (1984), Uyangisinda Lumhlaba (1991), Emfuleni Wezinyembezi (1992) and Luthuli Detachment: The Hwange Thunderbolt.
