adminThe Zhuwao Brief congratulates the nation on the occasion of our Heroes and Defence Forces days.
These holidays serve to remind us, as Zimbabweans, of not only the supreme sacrifice that our gallant sons and daughters of the soil made to ensure that we are a free and liberated people.
We must also respect, with gratitude, how our uniformed men and women continue to toil to safeguard our hard-won Independence, territorial integrity and national sovereignty.
Whilst these holidays appear to be focussed on celebrating our heroes and our uniformed men and women, the Zhuwao Brief believes that the holidays offer us, as the political leadership, an opportunity to re-evaluate the manner in which we conduct ourselves.
Consequently, this week I borrow from the theme of the liberation war song titled “Nzira dzemasoja”.
“Nzira dzemasoja” is premised on Chairman Mao’s three rules of discipline and eight points of attention.
This was a military doctrine issued in 1928 for the Chinese Red Army as they were fighting the Kuomintang.
Chairman Mao’s three rules of discipline and eight points of attention provided the foundational values that enabled the Red Army to secure the support of the Chinese masses.
In a similar vein, “Nzira dzemasoja” served to provide the footing that saw Zimbabwe’s war of liberation being a collective effort between the trained liberation fighters and the masses of Zimbabwe.
“Nzira dzemasoja” provides the root for the discipline that is quintessential of a well-trained soldier who is able to resist the temptation of abusing the massive fire power inherent in the arms of war he/she carries.
The combination of Heroes Day and Defence Forces Day into two adjacent holidays represents the celebration of the effort that saw Zimbabwe becoming independent, together with the need for that constant effort which is required for safeguarding our cherished Independence.
“Nzira dzemasoja” is particularly apt for this particular holiday season.
It is a song that explains the discipline that resulted in Zimbabwe becoming independent. It is also a song that outlines that discipline is also a necessary and requisite condition for safeguarding that hard-won Independence.
The leadership in Zanu-PF needs to remember that the ruling party was founded for the specific purpose of waging an armed liberation war against the oppressive white settler colonial regime.
That means Zanu-PF was established to be a military party. It is a party whose ethos revolves around military-style discipline.
This is amply demonstrated by its rites and rituals, some of which include saluting senior leadership.
Consequently, Zanu-PF’s leadership must be reminded that Chairman Mao’s three rules of discipline and eight points of attention as articulated in “Nzira dzemasoja” apply to them as the leadership of a military party.
It is gratifying to note that Zanu-PF youths have taken to reminding each other of these three rules of discipline and eight points of attention.
One finds this particularly so on social media where the youth correct each other should one of them err in terms of their comments and debates.
Unfortunately, the Zhuwao Brief cannot vouch for the behaviour of some of the senior leadership who appear to have abandoned Chairman Mao’s three rules of discipline and eight points of attention.
This is particularly disheartening when one considers that some of these members of senior leadership were trained militarily. They have lost direction.
The first line of “Nzira dzemasoja” reminds the leadership at all levels that there is a certain manner in which they are required to conduct themselves.
The leadership is further extolled to abide by the rules of discipline and the points of attention.
The three rules of discipline require, firstly, that all orders are obeyed promptly; and secondly, that the leadership must never appropriate property and assets that belong to the masses.
The third rule requires everything that has been captured should be turned in. It is unfortunate that some members of the senior leadership are ignoring the rules of discipline.
As the 6th Zanu-PF Congress was concluding, delegates resolved to strengthen a unitary centre of power so as to avoid the shenanigans associated with the putschist Gamatox cabal.
That unitary centre of power was reposed in President Mugabe.
President Mugabe has since pronounced himself on how the leadership is expected to behave.
Some of the pronouncements that President Mugabe has made include advising the leadership not to congregate around the two Vice-Presidents in ill-conceived plots of succession.
In His Excellency’s words, such actions would be tantamount to a “second Gamatox”.
President Mugabe re-affirmed the principles that leaders should abide by at the recently held Zanu-PF Central Committee and National Consultative Assembly meetings.
The Zhuwao Brief considers the pronouncements by President Mugabe as orders that must be obeyed in accordance to the three rules of discipline and eight points of attention.
Furthermore, the behaviour of some of Zanu-PF leaders in terms of their engagement with citizens leaves a lot to be desired. Ordinary men and women are being fleeced of their hard-earned money by land barons who hide behind Zanu-PF’s name.
Some of these unscrupulous scoundrels have gone to the extent of abusing the name of the First Lady.
“Nzira dzemasoja” was created to ensure that soldiers behave responsibly in light of the massive fire power they have at their disposal.
During these times of peace “Nzira dzemasoja” is relevant to the leadership in light of the massive amounts of power and authority that the people have reposed in them.
Icho!
Patrick Zhuwao is chair of the Zhuwao Institute, an economics, development and research think tank focused on integrating socio-political dimensions into business and economic decision-making, particularly strategic planning. He can be reached at [email protected]
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