Online Reporter
Joseph Madzimure
Zimpapers Politics Hub
YOUTHS must preserve the legacy of living and departed heroes for their courage, sacrifice, and contribution to freeing the country from colonial bondage during their youthful days, Zanu PF Deputy Secretary for Youth Affairs, Cde John Paradza, has said.
Speaking at a Press conference this morning ahead of National Heroes Day commemorations slated for Monday next week, Cde Paradza said the nationalists and liberation fighters who waged the armed struggle against colonial rule were the architects of an independent Zimbabwe, and their acts of bravery should be preserved for future generations.
“It is the duty of the youth to preserve the legacy of the heroes and heroines who bravely fought fierce battles against the well-organised Ian Smith regime’s army,” he said.
“They joined the war and participated in the liberation struggle during their youthful years. They sacrificed their lives to liberate this country; therefore, it is our duty today to take empowerment programmes seriously, to transform the nation’s economy at village level.”
He urged the youth to emulate the sacrifices made by the heroines and heroes by shunning drug and substance abuse.
“We cannot drive the economy as youth by engaging in drug and substance abuse. Zimbabwe can only be built by sober minds and committed youth ready to engage in empowerment programmes initiated by the Government,” he said.
He stressed that President Mnangagwa launched the US$2 million Presidential Youth Empowerment Revolving Fund to support youth-led projects in agriculture, mining, and manufacturing.
The initiative includes distributing practical equipment like tipper trucks and front-end loaders to all provinces.
“As the youth, we must march forward with Vision 2030, consolidating the gains of the struggle and building for generations yet unborn”.
Cde Paradza highlighted that since 2017, under President Mnangagwa, Zimbabwe has embarked on a transformative journey.
He said the Transitional Stabilisation Programme (TSP) laid the groundwork for reform. National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1) and now NDS2 have charted the path to Vision 2030, projecting Zimbabwe as an upper middle-income economy.
“We are expecting the youth across the country to visit party district offices to secure loans to start their business”, he stated.
He appealed to the youth to take a leaf from the heroes and heroines of this country, who left the comfort of their homes at their tender ages to liberate the country from the colonial masters.
“We are expecting our youth to participate at the National Heroes Day commemorations in their numbers across the country,” he said.
“They need to attend the commemorations in their respective provincial heroes’ acres, where Ministers of Provincial Affairs will lead the proceedings of the day.
“As the youth, we will always remain grateful and appreciative of the heroes, both men and women, young boys and young girls and war collaborators who made the ultimate sacrifice and paid the ultimate price of death to liberate our country. They deserve honour and respect.
“We take this opportunity, which is the 10th of August, to remember them and also appreciate the living, including President Mnangagwa, Vice Presidents General (Rtd) Dr Constantino Chiwenga, Colonel (Rtd) Dr Kembo Mohadi, Minister of Defence Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri and all who participated in the liberation of this country.”
This year’s National Heroes Day commemorations will be held on August 10 under the theme, “Lest We Forget”, with Government continuing efforts to preserve the country’s liberation heritage through the rehabilitation of historic liberation war sites.
The main Heroes Day commemorations will be held at the National Heroes Acre on August 10.
