Online Reporter
Elita Chikwati
AS Zimbabwe celebrated Heroes Day yesterday, farmers across the country have paid tribute to heroes and heroines who sacrificed their lives to usher in independence.
The hard-fought freedom enabled farmers to reclaim their land, which had been unjustly taken by the colonial regime.
Many people who used to farm on barren land now have access to fertile farms and are producing high grade tobacco, cotton and maize among others, contributing significantly to economic growth.
Zimbabwe Indigenous Women Farmers Association president Mrs Depinah Nkomo said Heroes Day was significant to most female farmers as it brought their emancipation.
“Women were oppressed during the colonial era and were not entitled to own land. Now because of the heroes, we own land, we can now apply for title deeds in our names and now we can sell our produce to the Grain Marketing Board using our names.
“It was never the case before independence; women were hard workers but did not have any entitlement to their produce. The emancipation was brought by the brave sons and daughters of Zimbabwe who fought the enemy. We now have equal rights. Now women are being recognised and contributing towards the economy,” Mrs Nkomo said.
Cotton Producers and Marketers Association (CPMA) chairman Mr Stewart Mubonderi said farmers valued the Heroes Day because it was through the sacrifice of the fallen heroes and heroines that they now have productive land.
“We have more than 300 000 people that benefited from the land reform, which came as a result of independence brought by the freedom fighters.
“Because of this sacrifice, we now have more than 140 000 tobacco growers when we used to have only a few white farmers producing the crop.
“Now that we are independent, we are getting support such as the Presidential Inputs Scheme, which has benefited many communal farmers. We now benefit from mechanisation programmes; farmers are accessing machinery; irrigation equipment and dams are being constructed. We would not have been here if it was not for the sacrifice made by the heroes and heroines of this country,” he said.
Mr Mubonderi urged the youths to emulate the sacrifice made by the freedom fighters.
“We have heroes and heroines from the liberation struggle and youths should learn to love their country. Our youths should now be heroes and heroines fighting against hunger and poverty through farming,” he said.
Goromonzi A1 farmer, Mr Boniface Chitate said he was commemorating Heroes Day.
“People are busy travelling to different areas because of this day. I wish people could know the significance of this day. We should not be concentrating on our social events but should take time to remember the fallen sons and daughters of Zimbabwe who perished to liberate us.
“Some of these heroes and heroines went to war at an early age, some could not get education because of the sacrifice, they made the sacrifice because of how the colonial regime was ill-treating the indigenous people.
“So some sons and daughters took arms and went to fight the colonialists. Now we are empowered, we have the land, we are now decision makers, we choose what to grow and we are making money,” he said.
Zimbabwe Young Farmers Trust president Mr Tanga Josephat said farmers were the major beneficiaries of the liberation struggle.
“Land was the major issue which forced many to fight the colonial government. The youths have also benefited from the land.
“We now grow high value crops such as tobacco and we are doing well. We are grateful that our country is peaceful and people can be productive under such an environment without any fear.
“We are being empowered through different Government programmes specifically for youths. Our Government is not leaving out the youths in developmental issues,” he said.
