adminAs the delegates arrived in the city, the party was also busy erecting two towering signposts on either side of Heany Junction flyover, near Ntabazinduna, about 30km from Bulawayo along the Bulawayo-Harare Highway in memory of the late nationalist and national hero, Dr Samuel Tichafa Parirenyatwa.
The signpost has the inscription “Parirenyatwa Tichafa Samuel. The assassination of the Deputy President of the Zimbabwe African People’s Union (Zapu) in 1962 was carried out by the Rhodesian security forces here at Heany Junction level crossing.”
The Zanu-PF senior leadership recently visited the place to pay their respects to Dr Parirenyatwa who was gruesomely murdered for his boldness against colonial rule.
In an interview at the place of tragedy, Zanu-PF National Political Commissar Cde Webster Shamu said the erection of the signpost was meant to remind Zimbabweans who pass through the place of the sacrifice made by the late Dr Parirenyatwa for the liberation of the country.
“This is an indelible mark in the history of our country. We want everyone who passes through this place to remember that someone sacrificed his life for them to travel safely here. It should be a reminder that the independence of this country did not come on a silver platter,” said Cde Shamu.
“To Zanu-PF, this is a reminder that we have gone this far because of the leadership of people like Cde Parirenyatwa and President Mugabe who is the embodiment of the spirit of unity in this country. We want to preserve this unity and ensure that it remains permanent.”
Cde Shamu paid tribute to the late liberation heroes such as the late Vice President Dr Joshua Nkomo, saying they taught Zimbabweans that there is no other party that knows the value of unity, peace and development other than Zanu-PF.
“It is only when we have this truth in our minds that we can talk about good governance. We need to uphold the principle of the right of every nation to be the master of its destiny. We want political stability to ensure effective socio-economic and political development,” said Cde Shamu.
He said the party would erect similar signposts across the country as a way of reminding the people about the sacrifice made by the liberation fighters to bring freedom.
Cde Shamu said there was a need for concerted efforts in preserving the history of the country especially with regards to the liberation struggle.
“We cannot wish away that some people sacrificed their lives for this country. Today we still have living testimonies such as Cde Joice Mujuru who shot down a war plane and Cde Emmerson Mnangagwa who derailed a train,” he said.
“When our delegates deliberate on issues during this conference let them base their thoughts on this reality. Let them remember that they are not here for a holiday. This is a significant gathering in the history of Zimbabwe.”
By yesterday afternoon, the Bulawayo city centre was congested with the large volume of traffic as delegates comprising senior Zanu-PF officials, members of the Women and Youth Leagues as well as party members from different provinces, arrived in the City of Kings and Queens using private cars, buses and commuter omnibuses.
derick.khumalo