adminTomorrow, the nation celebrates 35 years of independence, a milestone achievement which calls for all Zimbabweans to jubilate in unison as we reflect into the future.
Yes, the past 35 years have witnessed tremendous transformation of the nation from a settler colony, Rhodesia, where white supremacist superintended the affairs of the nation with utter disdain for the owners, the black majority, to the modern day Zimbabwe where all citizens regardless of race, creed and status enjoy equal protection of the law.
A nation in which all its citizens have equal opportunities which are abundant and ready for tapping. Indeed a far cry of the tortuous era of the racist Ian Douglas Smith who had sworn that blacks would never rule the country in a thousand years.
Smith was to swallow his shallow racist sentiments as the gallant sons and daughters of the soil, some who have painfully departed, some living, taught a lesson or two with the barrel the gun which pummelled Smith into submission resulting in the hard-earned independence on April 18, 1980.The past where the racist imperialist viewed all black people as animals without any dignity, as people hardly deserving any respect should always remind us that it is only unity which can compel the outside world to respect us.
The West has always been moved by the notion of permanent interest and to them permanent friendship is a utopia. Their principle of permanent interest is the weapon which they employ as they seek to dominate world affairs, all in the hope of looting and plundering natural resources wherever they are domiciled. The nation should never trust such elements rather it should consolidate its friendship with the East who soldiered with us when we took the gun to liberate ourselves from these very criminals who seek to lecture on so-called human rights, the very same human rights they trampled with impunity as the black men and women were viewed and treated as lesser human beings. The nation has therefore to remain vigilant as the enemy remains ready to devour the progress which the nation has made and continue to unfold for the benefit of the people.
The present state of affairs should never be amputated from the gruesome past at the hands of the diabolic settler as narrated above. The strides that have been made in infrastructure development, the architectural designs epitomized by world class high rise buildings, the giant steps which have been made in education sector, the lofty health standards which the successive Zanu-PF governments have made, the great strides which have been made in the Information Communication Technologies (ICTs), all for the enhancement of the populace’s livelihoods.
Then the land which has been redistributed to its rightful owners, the indigenous black majority, a revolutionary programme which has changed the economic complexion of Zimbabwe by creating a broad middle income group which will ultimately help in injecting momentum to the nation’s already robust new economy.
Add the empowering initiatives targeting all the age groups; the result is a formidable nation which is truly independent. It is a testimony of political independence which has given rise to a new economic order where the indigenous people have the economic levers in their hands. That is a hallmark of economic independence, a phenomenon which Africa’s luminary son, Nkwame Nkurumah, yearned for today’s generation to taste and enjoy.
Zimbabwe is fortunate for it is led by an illustrious son of Africa, President Mugabe, the current chairperson of the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) and the African Union (AU), a staunch advocate of economic empowerment who has made the Zimbabwe story worth emulating by all progressive people of the world. The current gains which the Zanu-PF-led Government continues to unfold to the populace should be guarded jealously.
The future is bright given the solid base which the revolutionary leadership has made for today’s generations and posterity. The youths and the entire citizenry have the onerous responsibility to safeguard these economic gains which have made this far. The responsibility has to be extended to the vigilance on our natural resources which are globally sought by the predatory West. The Western vultures will leave no stone unturned in their bid to wrestle resources from us without even paying a cent. Zimbabweans should never allow such a scenario to happen under their watch.
Having given such a deep introspection our past, our present scenario and the future, the time is ripe for us to celebrate in unison on this momentous occasion of our 35 years of independence. Happy 35 years Independence anniversary Zimbabwe.
Online Reporter