Online Reporter
Gibson Nyikadzino
Zimpapers Politics Hub
THE pioneering words to the struggle for Zimbabwe’s independence are attributed to Mbuya Nehanda. It is believed that Mbuya Nehanda’s last words before her execution on April 27, 1898, “My bones will rise again,” foreshadowed the Second Chimurenga of 1966-1979.
Hence, all that the national heroes and heroines had to say stemmed from her prophetic warrior spirit.
Zimbabwe’s war of independence was a characteristic fight that arose from many grievances, which all fed into one objective: freedom for the black man. It had many dimensions of grievances, ranging from economic marginalisation, abuse of women and people’s rights, political oppression, and racial segregation of blacks who bore the brunt of white domination.
Collectively, the educated and the uneducated blacks, those who owned businesses and properties, and those who owned no property, the rich and peasants of that time, all felt short-changed and decided to fight the racist colonial system, culminating in the attainment of Independence Day in 1980.
Very few Zimbabweans have had the precious opportunity to hear their freedom fighters and nationalist leaders speak about the country’s independence. The majority were killed for the freedom being enjoyed today. As the country commemorates its 46th Independence Day anniversary and with at least 75 percent of the population under the age of 45, the words of freedom spoken in the pre-independence days still echo today and share the same meaning and essence with those spoken today.
From trade unionists, nationalists, teachers, freedom fighters, lawyers and peasants, the echoes of liberty and independence have been heard in unison across generations. National heroes like the late Chairman Herbert Chitepo, General Josiah Magama Tongogara, Dr Joshua Nkomo, Cde Robert Mugabe and President Mnangagwa, among many others, have communicated an objective message about Zimbabwe’s independence.
In their own words, both the living and the dead, are recorded as having said this about Zimbabwe’s quest for independence:
“We fought for the land and we will never ever regret taking back our land. Neither will we ever betray our fellow comrades who paid the supreme sacrifice for this land and now lie buried in marked and unmarked graves within our boarders and beyond.” – President Mnangagwa on April 18, 2019
“So far what I see has been achieved by the liberation forces of Zimbabwe is that they have brought about the birth of a new Zimbabwe. That is one. Two, they have buried the so-called racial supremacy. This is important, that in the near future, the people of Zimbabwe will be proud to have their new Zimbabwe, and this will never be reversed anymore.” – the late Secretary for Defence and Commander of the ZANLA Forces, General Josiah Magama Tongogara at the 1979 Lancaster House Talks.
“I could go into the whole theories of discrimination in legislation, in residency, in economic opportunities, in education. I could go into that, but I will restrict myself to the question of land because I think this is very basic. To us the essence of exploitation, the essence of white domination, is domination over land. That is the real issue”. – the late ZANU Chairman Herbert Chitepo, speech in Australia, 1973.
“The march to our national independence has been a long, aarduous and hazardous one. On this march, countless lives have been lost and many sacrifices made. Death and suffering have been the prize we have been called upon to pay for the final priceless reward of freedom and national independence. May I thank all of you who have had to suffer and sacrifice for the reward we are now getting.” – the late (then) Prime Minister Designate Robert Mugabe’s Speech on the eve of independence on April 17, 1980.
“The rulers will go, the parties will go and so will men present and to come, but the independent Zimbabwe will never go … our children will inherit this country and it is our duty to build it in unity and have our children thankful to us for building the country instead of destroying it.” – the late Vice President Dr Joshua Nkomo on the need of unity in Zimbabwe on September 29, 1980
“I want to thank the leadership then, including His Excellency the current President, who came up with a vision that women should come together… and have discussions concerning the challenges they faced then during the colonial era. They were treated as children; they were not allowed to own any property or to inherit.” – Defence Minister Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri on Zimbabwe’s upholding of gender equity principles, April 17, 2024
“Independence to us actually brings back both pain and joy. The pain being that our colleagues whom we fought with for years, for about more than a decade, didn’t live to see this. How would they have felt if they witnessed this today? The best thing we can do to repay those who didn’t live to see a new Zimbabwe is to make a better Zimbabwe.” – Rtd Brigadier-General Abel Mazinyane, on April 18, 2023 independence celebrations in Mount Darwin.
“Inspirational figures, if you die for Zimbabwe, you live forever and not a minute without the movement, not an hour without the people, not a day without the struggle, Zimbabwe must be free at all cost.” – the late Jason Ziyaphapha Moyo, ZAPU vce president and founder of ZIPRA.
