admin
It is my singular honour and privilege to address those here gathered and the nation at large on this annual occasion where we remember departed comrades, brothers, sisters, mothers and fathers who took the fate of this nation into their own hands.
These are the brave warriors who went to war and paid the ultimate sacrifice in order to liberate our great country.
They took a pledge to perish rather than yield to a brutal and oppressive colonial settler system so that today, we may live in happiness, freedom, independence and prosperity. It is to them that today we pay this sacred homage of remembrance.
As we do so, we accept the responsibility of stewardship over the rich national wealth that they bequeathed to us. As a nation, we remain forever emboldened and inspired by the devotion and patriotism of these selfless men and women, to build an inclusive, equitable and prosperous society encapsulated in our Vision 2030.
The warrior spirit that runs through our national bloodline must evoke within us, the requisite desire and resolve to claim our destiny of national development, growth and prosperity. Our collective trait as a hardworking and honest people must be deployed at all levels and in all sections of the society.
These should also engender innovation, build resilience and ultimately lead to the realisation of a developed, modern and prosperous Zimbabwe. Our country is a constitutional democracy. We will continue to project this as we entrench justice, fairness and equity, which were rallying aspirations, during the protracted liberation struggle.
The development of our nation should never be deterred or retarded by those bent on derailing the gains recorded since the advent of the Second Republic. With wisdom, courage and boldness let us stand firm against that which seeks to harm our national character, culture and institutions.
In this regard, it is incumbent on us who remain to be the torch bearers and emerge as new heroes and heroines guided by the ethos of our forebears who laid the firm foundation for our country’s development, freedom and independence. These include the late Sekuru Kaguvi, Mbuya Nehanda, Queen Lozikeyi, General Mtshane Khumalo, Herbert Chitepo, Jaison Ziyaphapha Moyo, Josiah Magama Tongogara, Dr Joshua Nkomo, Dr Simon Vengesai Muzenda, and Cde Robert Gabriel Mugabe, among others.
In honour and remembrance of our heroic comrades from Zambezi to Limpopo, and Plumtree to Mutare; we pledge to remain true to their exemplary gallantry and patriotism.
We commemorate the 41st Anniversary of our Heroes Day, we are mindful that our war of liberation was fought and won with the support and solidarity of the friendly international community. These diverse, long-standing, fraternal relations have informed the Second Republic’s Engagement and Re-engagement Policy. It is the freedom which we enjoy that enables us to think-in-big picture terms, with regards to international relations with other nations.
As we engage and re-engage, let no one think they can impose their perspectives or lecture us. The outside world should, therefore, embrace who we are, our rich history and unique national realities. This is how we honour the heroes we celebrate today.
Fellow Zimbabweans, today’s 41st Heroes Day Anniversary celebrations are being held in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic environment. Regrettably, the pandemic has caused the loss of lives of many of our loved ones, including some who were conferred with the status of national heroes and heroines.
Most recently we lost the revered nationalist and trailblazing female freedom fighter, Cde Jane Ngwenya who passed away on the 5th of August, 2021. May their souls rest in eternal peace.
In response to the pandemic, my Government has instituted a robust National COVID-19 Vaccination Programme, lockdown measures as well as provided a recovery and stimulus package, to mitigate the negative impacts of the pandemic on the economy and on livelihoods.
Allow me to thank all our brave frontline workers for their commitment and diligence in the provision of basic services during this period. On our part as citizens, there is need to remain vigilant by observing the World Health Organisation public health guidelines and protocols, including maintaining social distance, sanitising and wearing masks.
My Government will continue providing vaccine doses for free as we journey towards attaining herd immunity. We have broadened the vaccination inoculation centres to include private sector institutions. This should increase access and convenience to members of the public.
Fellow Zimbabweans, Emboldened by our Constitution and rich cultural heritage, new horizons for the empowerment of all categories of Veterans of the Liberation Struggle have been opened up.
Hence, in their honour and to uphold their dignity, the Veterans of the Liberation Struggle Act (Chapter 17:12) was enacted. The Act establishes the Veterans of the Liberation Struggle Fund, which among other things, embarks on investments in various sectors of the economy on their behalf. To date, this has led to my launch of the Veterans of the Liberation Struggle Economic Empowerment Programme and Vetting Exercise.
As we try to match the stature and heroic achievement of our gallant heroes and heroines, the nomination and conferment for national honours and awards has been for the first time extended to civilians.
An Office of the Registrar of Honours and Awards has since been established to superintend the national honours and awards system, within the context of present and future national realities.
Accordingly, the Order of the Great Zimbabwe Award in Diamond has been introduced as Zimbabwe’s new highest honour. The award is reserved for revolutionary luminaries who performed feats seemingly beyond human capability and comprehension.
I shall preside over the investiture of awards of the Highest Order nominees, while I have delegated the rest to the Ministers of State for Provincial Affairs.
Other awards that will be conferred today include the:
Grand Commander of the Zimbabwe Order of Merit;
Grand Officer of the Zimbabwe Order of Merit;
Order of Great Zimbabwe in Silver;
Historical Legacy Award;
Silver Cross of Zimbabwe;
Jairos Jiri Humanitarian Award; and
Order of the Star of Zimbabwe in Gold and Silver.
The exceptional sacrifices made by some of our leaders, with a view to extolling their motivational, epoch-defining feats and enduring attributes deserve immortalisation.
In this regard, awards have been created in their honour. The Robert Gabriel Mugabe Commendation Award for Outstanding Service Delivery in Human Capital Development will be awarded on the 21st of February each year.
The Joshua Mqabuko Nyongolo Nkomo Commendation Award for Outstanding and Consistent Transformative Service in the Promotion of National Development, National Unity and Nation Building, will be awarded on the 19th of June each year.
In the same token, the Herbert Chitepo Commendation Award for Outstanding and Excellent Service to the Community in the Field of Justice will be awarded on any international justice-related day. These various awards re-affirm our unique, diverse, resilient and innovative character as the Zimbabwean people, against all odds.
Ladies and Gentlemen, True to the culture and work ethic of the Second Republic, we have made strides towards honouring the heroes and heroines of the First and Second Chimurenga.
The Mbuya Nehanda Statue was erected and now towers over Harare’s Central Business District. The memorialisation of our liberation battle sites, shrines, and restriction camps is ongoing in various parts of the country.
At continental level, the construction of the Museum of African Liberation has started. The Museum will ensure the documentation, protection and preservation of the history of African liberation struggles and help the celebration of the Continent’s achievements.
I once again express Zimbabwe’s profound gratitude to the African people, the African Union and other progressive nations and governments for supporting this landmark project.
Ladies and gentlemen, comrades and friends, the best way to show our appreciation for the supreme sacrifice paid by our heroes and heroines is to build the modern, industrialised, developed and prosperous society envisaged in the country’s Vision 2030.
This 2021 Heroes Day Anniversary comes at a time when my Government’s economic reform programme, guided by the National Development Strategy-1 is bearing fruit, with unprecedented successes.
Our economy is projected to grow by 7,8 percent, surpassing the 2021 National Budget target of 7,4 percent. The resultant healthy public finances have allowed more resources to be channelled towards infrastructure development and rehabilitation, health and education, as well as a raft of social protection programmes.
At the centre of this positive performance is the agriculture sector, which is expected to grow by a remarkable 34 percent.
Government will support this positive performance towards guaranteeing sustainable livelihoods and dignity to our people through the implementation of the various programmes under the Agriculture Recovery Growth Plan.
We will indeed honour the sacrifices made by our heroes and heroines for the land through the optimal utilisation of this sacred, infinite resource.
On the back of the bumper harvest, the prevailing macro-economic stability, localisation of value chains and uninterrupted power supply, has seen the rebound of the manufacturing sector. These developments place our modernisation and industrialisation agenda on a firm footing.
The performance of the mining sector is on track and is expected to grow by 11 percent in 2021, buoyed by favourable international prices and expansion programmes aimed at increasing production. My Government is determined to facilitate the sector to go beyond exploration and extraction towards value addition and marketing that guarantees optimal value for our mineral endowments.
The Second Republic is implementing a vast array of infrastructure projects which are meant to create an enabling environment for socio-economic growth. I challenge our media and information sector as well as the general public to take a keen interest in these developments.
We celebrate the emerging heroes and heroines, young sons and daughters of Zimbabwe who have accepted the mantle to rebuild, develop and modernise our country in these and other spheres.
In line with the dictates and requirements of the modern Zimbabwe we envision, energy self-sufficiency remains a priority. The completion of the multi-pronged energy related projects are being accelerated. Currently, the country’s roads are being attended to under the Emergency Road Rehabilitation Programme, which is funded by Government. Tremendous progress has also been achieved on the Harare-Masvingo-Beitbridge Highway.
Fellow Zimbabweans, in honour of all heroes and heroines who came from all parts of the country, the Second Republic is striving to ensure that no one is left behind, through the Devolution Agenda. Hence, resources amounting to $2,2 billion were disbursed to local authorities and provinces. These were channelled towards various infrastructure projects such as the construction of schools, clinics, water and sanitation facilities, roads and other amenities. Informed by the discourse of health economics and the nexus between a healthy and productive population, efforts have been intensified to increase domestic funding for health.
With regards to education, my Government has put in place robust policies to ensure effective development and deployment of the nation’s capabilities to address present challenges and future prospects for our great country. Similarly, the arts, creative and cultural industries as well as the media and information sectors continue to grow through the enabling environment created by the Second Republic. I urge these sectors to benchmark their creative works and outputs against the patriotism and national liberation ethos imparted to us by our heroes and heroines.
Meanwhile, constitutionalism, good governance and the respect for the rule of law are some of the key principles our heroes and heroines fought for. Hence, under the Second Republic, my Government is ensuring that legislation is sound, the administration of justice is impartial and that law enforcement is strict.
Corruption has no place in our society. Good corporate governance, high public etiquette and ethical standards, transparency and accountability should be pursued in the public, private and non governmental sectors. For together we serve the people of Zimbabwe and collectively advance their development and the prosperity of our great country.
The freedom fighters who waged the war of liberation were mere youths; it is therefore, apt that in commemorating their sacrifices we pay particular attention to our current generation of youths. Government has remained resolute in creating a supportive environment for our youth to thrive. We celebrate the team of athletes who participated at the Olympics in Tokyo, Japan. They too are our country’s emerging heroes of today.
The war of our independence was fought by both men and women. Policies and programmes are underway to accelerate gender equity, equality and the empowerment of women across all sectors. Women remain our everyday heroines. I want to take this opportunity to specifically recognise and salute our emerging economic heroes of Zimbabweans in the Diaspora who continue to proudly identify with and support our beloved country.
Fellow Zimbabweans, we are a nation of heroes, past and present. We have never let the scale of the challenge defeat us. Our liberation heroes and heroines saw a well-funded enemy, with sophisticated weaponry and said, “we will fight them; we will not give in; we will overcome!” As the emerging heroes of today, our enemy is poverty, hunger, disease, corruption as well as retarded and delayed development.
Let us also fight, overcome and win. The developments in the country’s socio-economic sectors under the Second Republic are a reflection of what we are capable of achieving when we are united and peaceful. Following the example set by our gallant heroes and heroines we are remembering today, whose exploits we reflect upon, we are our own liberators. Nyika inovakwa nevene vayo.
As we honour yesteryear heroes, let us march forward together in peace, unity, love and singleness of purpose to build a more prosperous Zimbabwe. Aluta Continua!
I wish to conclude by wishing you all memorable commemorations of Heroes Day in your respective Provinces and Districts. Mindful of the havoc still being caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, I once again urge all Zimbabweans to display the resilient spirit we are known for by acting responsibly and safeguarding the health and well-being of not just our immediate family members, but the entire community and, ultimately, the nation at large.
Happy Heroes Day Zimbabwe.
Long Live our Heroes and Heroines!
Long Live Our Unity, Peace and Freedom!
Long Live Zimbabwe!
God bless you.
God bless Zimbabwe.
Online Reporter