Independence Day is a national event for all patriotic citizens to celebrate

WHILE his colleagues from the opposition attended the Independence Day celebrations in different parts of the country last Thursday, Bulawayo Mayor David Coltart snubbed the event claiming that his office did not get an invite.

It was an excuse quickly dismissed by right-thinking minds with analysts who spoke to our sister paper Sunday News condemning Mr Coltart’s attempt to personalise the Independence Day celebrations.
Some even went to the extent of concluding that perhaps Mr Coltart had not changed from his ideology during the days of the liberation struggle where he fought against the country’s liberators.

Notable opposition leaders who travelled to Buhera, Manicaland province, for the main 44th Independence Day commemorations on Thursday include CCC co-president Professor Welshman Ncube, Harare Mayor Jacob Mafume and legislators Mr Charlton Hwende, Ms Maureen Kademaunga, Mr Shakespeare Hamauswa and Senator Sengezo Tshabangu.

Also in attendance was Labour, Economists and African Democrats leader Ms Linda Masarira and National Constitutional Assembly leader Professor Lovemore Madhuku.

To further expose Mr Coltart, the Bulawayo celebrations were not only attended by his colleagues but also traditional leaders like Chief Dakamela from as far as Nkayi District in Matabeleland North.

It is clear therefore that Mr Coltart had, for reasons known to himself, no intention to attend the Independence Day celebrations and the issue of the so-called invitation was his convenient excuse.

And while Mr Coltart was hiding behind the excuse of not being invited to White City Stadium, his Harare counterpart Clr Mafume, in an interview with the Sunday Mail, said the presence of opposition members in Murambinda was not merely symbolic.

“We are keenly aware that to be in the positions we are, some people had to make sacrifices.

“We will not take for granted the fight for independence and the need to celebrate and commemorate our Independence Day,” he said.

“Yes, we might oppose each other in terms of how we improve the day-to-day lives of our people, but for me to be mayor and for us to have councillors is because of the sacrifices made towards our independence.”

Prof Madhuku said Independence Day is an event for all Zimbabweans.

“It supersedes political differences. The oneness of a country is demonstrated by attending Independence Day, so we have attended the celebrations to demonstrate the fact that it’s a national event, not for a political party or leader,” said Prof Madhuku.

Sen Tshabangu said Independence Day was a powerful reminder that “progress is best achieved when the nation stands together”.

“I am here in Buhera because this is not a Zanu-PF event, but a national event for all patriotic citizens,” he added.

Mr Hwende, who is the Member of Parliament for Kuwadzana East, said: “I attended the independence celebrations in Buhera.

“To me, we can differ but on Independence (Day), I go to pay my respects to the gallant fighters who paid the ultimate price to liberate us from the oppressive colonial regime.”