adminGentlemen, Comrades and friends.
Today we gather to commemorate another anniversary of our National Heroes Day.
It is not a day that someone, somewhere, out of pity, decided to give to us.
Like Independence Day in April and Defence Forces Day which we will mark tomorrow, National Heroes Day belongs to a special, sacred set of days which tell the story of how our people, in firm opposition to racist settler colonialism, took up arms and in protracted liberation struggle vanquished imperialism.
The Liberation Struggle was at the start derided, at times, by some among us.
As it happened, the arms and weapons we used were often donations from those countries who believed in the goals we were fighting for and, in the end, our people, having lent their full support, emerged triumphant.
It was that victory which gave us back our land, indeed, Zimbabwe our country and the joy and celebration we share over our Independence today.
Every year, even as we start the year, these three sacred days, described in our calendar as Independence, Heroes and Defence Forces Day, are automatically marked for celebration.
And yes, to them you add Unity Day, to show our people’s determination to put our nation and its collective good above any other sectarian interests.
As thousands of Zimbabweans gather around various Shrines for similar ceremonies across the country, at Provincial and District levels, we remember with a sense of national pride and honour, that our liberation heroes fought an oppressive, cruel and unjust colonial system which sought to deny our people equal opportunities.
Through the sacrifices of our heroes, we are now able to speak of self-determination in a peaceful, democratic and sovereign country.
Some have accused us of dwelling on the past for too long; but let them note, today and always, that the victory we celebrate is the unforgettable foundation of our nation.
When we salute our fallen and living heroes for their unyielding tenacity, untold suffering and unflinching courage, we do so with an overarching declaration that says that no longer shall our people be called second class citizens, no longer shall they be labourers of imperialism and colonialism, for now they can as a sovereign people go into agriculture as farmers, and elsewhere as free entrepreneurs for others will be absorbed in other forms of economic occupation through our policy of empowerment.
Nothing is as beautiful as to see our indigenous farmers tend their fields, harvest their crops and, in the case of tobacco farmers, assemble on the auction floors to seek a fair price for their produce.
As a nation, we need to take heed of the fundamental lessons of the history of our liberation struggle, since the First Chimurenga of the 1890’s, which lessons have been characterised by the core values of singularity and unity of purpose, self-determination, fearless resolve and an enduring spirit.
Surely, we cannot allow this legacy to slip away, much less, to be stolen from us ever again.
Instead, we should guard against those who wish to divide us as a nation, as a people so they can plunder our God-given resources for their selfish benefit.
Among our people, let us be warned about those who wear black skins but are ever-ready to work with white imperialist exploiters in undermining our indigenisation and empowerment policy programmes.
In all democratic dispensations all over the world, the regular holding of general elections is an important measure of a people’s right to choose their political leadership.
We are, therefore, delighted that at long last, the curtain is coming down on the constitution-making process whose proposed draft is currently under consideration by our various parties.
We have agreed that irrespective of the lessons and help we may have received from others who have worked on their constitutions, their experiences can only be illustrative and never supplant or replace our perspectives as Zimbabweans.
Our constitution should unashamedly reflect Zimbabwean values no less, no more!
If I may go on a bit longer; once there is consensus, the draft will be subjected to a referendum.
During the referendum, people will be afforded the opportunity to vote for the adoption or rejection of the proposed constitution. It is our expectation that elections will follow soon after the referendum.
Once again I wish to urge all Zimbabweans, all political parties, religious groups, civil society and other institutions to desist from engaging in violent campaigns during the elections. Let us fully embrace peaceful, tolerant and non-violent ways of campaigning before, during and after the actual conduct of elections.
We do not need to be reminded that economic stabilisation and sustainable economic growth cannot be achieved unless there is peace in the country.
The promotion of a culture of sustainable peace is therefore important for the social cohesion of our nation.
The Organ for National Healing, Reconciliation and Integration thus remains a critical institution for ensuring a framework for lasting peace and sustainable development.
Through the indigenisation and economic empowerment policy, Government is pursuing development strategies aimed at integrating the majority of the people into the mainstream of the economy, thus enabling the majority of the population to be key economic players in a democratised national economy.
Our economy continues to experience challenges arising from the illegal sanctions imposed by Britain, The United States of America and the European Union and other Western nations.
Our steady economic recovery efforts have been severely retarded, particularly by the calculated refusal for Zimbabwe to access critical concessionary financing facilities such as lines of credit, which are crucial for the rehabilitation of our industry and infrastructure. We continue to call for the unconditional lifting of these illegal sanctions on Zimbabwe.
In the fight against the effects of drought, Government has extended the Grain Loan Scheme and put in place food deficit mitigation programmes until the next season so as to assist people in food deficit areas.
The Government has already launched Community Share Ownership Trusts for people in Mhondoro-Ngezi, Chegutu and Zvimba community (Zimplats based), Tongogara Community (Unki based), Zvishavane (Mimosa Mine based), the Gwanda community and most recently, in Marange.
Efforts are underway to ensure that every district has a registered Trust for purposes of cascading empowerment to the grassroots population.
Further, Employee Share Ownership Trusts are a similar vehicle with broad based economic empowerment.
Thus Government has encouraged the establishment of Employee Share Ownership Trusts.
Various other employee trusts are in the process of being established.
Youths are an integral part of the struggle for economic emancipation and the future of the country.
Youth unemployment and under-employment present one of the biggest challenges facing the nation, which if not addressed, is a potential threat to national peace and stability.
Recognising this, the Government has established the Youth Development Fund (YDF) to help give credit and loans to young people to start up and grow their businesses. Since the Youth Development Fund started three years ago, many young people have benefited and are becoming noticeably productive, responsible and respected members of their families and communities.
A number of businesses and banks have partnered the Fund and committed their funds to support businesses spearheaded by the youths.
Their involvement in this initiative is applauded and other businesses and banks are encouraged to participate in the initiative.
The Government continues to pursue various initiatives to cushion vulnerable groups in our society. Following the promulgation of the National Heroes Dependants Assistance Act (Chapter 10:06) in 1984, the National Heroes Dependants Assistance Fund for dependants of declared heroes was established.
Government is committed to reviewing this assistance which is in the form of monthly maintenance allowances, education, health and accommodation allowances for all dependants of our national heroes.
On the international arena, Zimbabwe’s foreign policy continues to be governed by the principles for which we fought a long and bitter armed struggle.
These include, among others, the protection of the country’s sovereignty; territorial integrity; and the national interest; non-interference in the affairs of other nations, and the amicable settlement of intra-and inter-state disputes.
In this regard, Zimbabwe steadfastly adheres to the founding principles of our regional and continental organisations, that is, the Southern African Development Community (Sadc), the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (Comesa) and the African Union (AU) respectively. Zimbabwe actively participates in the furtherance of the objectives and goals of these organisations, which include socio-economic development, regional integration, peace and security, good governance and gender equality.
As a founder member of Sadc, Zimbabwe celebrates the deserved election of Honourable Dr Nkosazana Dhlamini-Zuma to the post of African Union Commission Chairperson. This election is historic in that this is the first time in the 49 years of the OAU/ AU that Southern Africa has occupied the post.
It is also the first time that we have a woman as the Chief Executive Officer of this Pan-African body.
Dr Nkosazana Dhlamini-Zuma is herself a very admirable South African liberation icon and freedom fighter. We wish her well indeed.
As a responsible member of the community of nations in the global village, Zimbabwe continues to actively participate in UN Peacekeeping Missions. These missions bear testimony to the mettle and professionalism of our security forces. We are indeed proud that the Zimbabwe Defence and Security Forces are in high demand and are currently deployed in Cote d’Ivoire, Sudan and South Sudan, Liberia, Timo-Leste and, more recently, in Syria.
Allow me, finally, to pay tribute to our defence, police, security and prison services for their continued dedicated service in guaranteeing and maintaining the peace and security of our free and sovereign Zimbabwe.
We are proud of their committed and vigilant work in the service of our country.
Today as we remember and reflect on the selfless and supreme sacrifice paid by those who lie at this sacred shrine and elsewhere within and outside our borders, let us re-dedicate ourselves and reaffirm our commitment to the ideals and sacred values that our dear departed fought, lived and died for.
Let us cherish forever the freedom and independence bequeathed to us as a nation by these heroes and heroines who today make us proud masters of our own destiny.
Today, we also pay tribute to yet another hero, Comrade Kantibhai Patel, whose remains are being interred at the National Heroes Acre. Comrade Patel, who died in 2011, was a selfless and dedicated liberation cadre who represented the non-racial nature of the struggle in the same mould as Comrade Guy Glutton-Brock did.
They are worthy examples to be emulated. Their national hero status is testimony of our just, non-racial and democratic disposition.
May I now wish the country enjoyable and memorable National Heroes and Defence Forces holidays. For those who will be travelling, please exercise caution on the roads and save precious lives.
I thank you.
l This is an address by His Excellency the President and Commander-In-Chief of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces, Cde R.G. Mugabe, on the occasion of Zimbabwe’s National Heroes Day celebrations, August 13, 2012.
Online Reporter