Editorial Comment: Time to celebrate our unity in diversity, move on

leadership has made it clear that this is an event for everyone and no political regalia is permitted at the venues. This is a time to celebrate our unity in diversity.
But what really are we celebrating? Is there anything to celebrate, our detractors would ask. We are celebrating freedom to be who we want to be. Freedom to unleash our true potential as Africans, something we could not do under the colonial yoke of bondage. Freedom comes with responsibility, freedom is not a licence to promote anarchy. Hence it often comes with boundaries, but ones which we put ourselves as a society and nation.
Freedom comes with empowerment, hence this year’s theme “Indigenisation and Empowerment for Economic Transformation”.
After attaining political authority in 1980, the battle has been to achieve economic transformation so that the wealth of the country moves into the hands of its rightful owners. This has turned out to be yet another protracted struggle as the resistance from those that hold our wealth has been stiff. In fact, we have felt the full weight of the global might that imperialism is, confirming that what we are seeking to control is what will truly make us great.
We salute President Mugabe and the revolutionary leaders of this country for remaining focused on the need to control our economy and be masters of our destinies.
Most Zimbabweans were so excited in the first decade of our independence in having a vibrant economy, a strong currency and low levels of inflation, that they lost sight of whose economy it was. But those that had led the liberation struggle knew very well why they had to abandon their families, careers and education to live in the bush. It was not for cosmetic political power. It was so that Zimbabweans could exercise unchallenged dominion over their God-given resources.
Freedom also brings sovereignty over all our affairs. This means we don’t brook external interference in our affairs. Obviously those that had gotten used to running us would not accept this, hence the torrid decade of economic sanctions that Zimbabwe has endured. But as we celebrate our 32nd anniversary, Zimbabwe is still standing strong despite the economic strangulation. The difficult years have forced us to look within ourselves and our borders to find the hidden talent and resources to keep us going.
The discovery of the diamonds in Marange is one such result of looking inside to discover ourselves and what we have. We continue to discover and be amazed by what God has put in our boundaries, which explains why our erstwhile colonisers cannot let go of Zimbabwe. Indeed our boundaries have fallen in pleasant places and we have a good heritage. Independence means we are free to realise our true potential. In almost every area, there is a sense that we are yet be become what we were freed to become. We are yet to see the full splendour of Zimbabwe, a nation in full bloom. It is not about yearning for the fading glory of the Rhodesian economy, but pressing on to a permanent state of prosperity that comes from creating a truly Zimbabwean economy, which we fully control.
This is why it is imperative that we move from an imposed state of crisis that our enemies want to keep us in, to a more stable political environment that enables us to rise to our greatness. To achieve this we have to hold credible elections that will ensure consistency in policy decisions. The power-sharing arrangement has worked well as an ad hoc measure to stabilise the economy and bring healing and reconciliation to a feuding nation.
But the longer it lasts, the longer it will take for Zimbabwe to make meaningful progress. The parties in the inclusive Government disagree and differ on most fundamental positions that are at the heart of Zimbabwe. We would have hoped that the three-year marriage would by now have produced a common position on issues such as land reform, indigenisation and economic empowerment in order to send a clear signal to foreign investors and partners that this is what we stand for.
Let the 33rd year see us conclude the constitution-making process and resolve the political impasse in a way that moves us forward as one nation that desires greatness.
If only we can eliminate the external factor, we can find ourselves and work together to bequeath to posterity a Zimbabwe of their dreams.