Positive revisionism

Dr Obert Moses Mpofu

THERE is but such a thing as positive revisionism. We are at a point where we have to take an evolutionary approach to the gains sustained so far from the revolution. This is essential for the modern day African, existing in a free and democratic Africa. 

This is even more crucial for the Zimbabwean child born in a free land. Much of the history of this country has not been told and some of the parts that have been told, were not told correctly. 

This offers an interesting case for consideration. We must visit parts of our history that were not told correctly and ensure that truth is revealed. Of course, there is often a risk of distortions when stories are retold particularly by those that were not there to bear witness when and as events unfolded. However, exceptions can be made. 

The distortions and omissions from Zimbabwe’s history make revisiting our history a necessity and quite essential. You see, truth is singular and its versions are mistruths. There are no two versions of one singular truth. There has been some misguided and blind wanton disregard for facts and counter narratives have been generated and regenerated. Such an unideal scenario has contaminated the true history of our great nation. There has in fact been a dangerous proclivity to omit and distort the most important aspects of this country’s history.

As the history of this nation has been carved, by those without a deeper and true understanding of it, so much has been pruned and shredded away. We may never recover some of the lost pieces of our history and we have our erstwhile former colonisers to thank for that. 

It has become quite a noble, but difficult task to unearth and reconstruct our history based on true accounts. Much of our history has for long been told by our erstwhile oppressors who have enjoyed unparalleled ownership of the true story of the Zimbabwean, so much that even our deities have their skulls displayed somewhere in museums in the heart of their lands. 

This is perhaps one of the greatest insults we have had to endure as a people. This is a symbol of trying to keep us beneath the soles of their boots and is plainly an insult to us as a people. 

We have been denied portions of our history by those that subjugated us for the longest time. History plays an important part in the lives of a people. History is the compass that guides our people forward while leaning on the lessons from before. There is wealth in our history. Our history may perhaps be the most valuable thing that we have. 

As those who fought the liberation war struggle continue to be elevated into glory and into the ancestral plane, there must be a scramble to capture their tales so that these can be shared with future generations. 

There are so many important stories that comrades are in possession of and these stories have never been shared. Deliberate efforts should be made towards capturing these stories for the sake of the future. This offers us the opportunity to tell our history and capture it as we experienced some of these moments. Time is clearly not on our side and all efforts should be placed towards ensuring that this task is carried out properly. 

President Mnangagwa has been championing the cause of ensuring that our history is not lost. So many memorials have been commissioned this year alone as a result of President Mnangagwa’s efforts, chief among them the Pupu Memorial, which offers some valuable lessons in our country’s history. 

The story that glorified the vanquished at the expense of the victors was finally corrected and this is quite refreshing.

There can be no doubt as to the task that lies ahead of us, which is to correct the historical distortions. Failing to do this will lead to our history being lost and our people losing their ways. Our people must be made aware of the importance of being in touch with our history, for, a people without a history are a lost people. 

We will carve our own history and we will no longer place ourselves at the mercy of those who are given to distort our own story for their benefit. We will document and make as much noise as we can on the achievements that Zanu-PF has made, both past and present. Such stories must and will be captured and immortalised, for what Zanu-PF and its Government have been able to achieve in the face of adversity has been far beyond the realm of what our enemies deemed possible. 

We have done the impossible and the sun shines upon us once more. 

As we continue exercising our right to self-determination and charting our path towards prosperity, there can be no doubt that Zimbabwe wakes up to a people so grateful for the achievements and strides that we have made so far. Let us not shy away from documenting these wins, some small and some monumental. 

They indeed offer great lessons for the future and will be instrumental in making sure that the world knows Zimbabwe’s true story. Let us carve our own history in our own image. 

Dr Obert Moses Mpofu is an academic and the Secretary- General of Zanu-PF. He writes in his own capacity.