Online Reporter
Wallace Ruzvidzo
Herald Reporter
Veterans of Zimbabwe’s liberation struggle remain important actors in advancing the country’s national goals, including the attainment of an upper-middle-class economic status by 2030, President Mnangagwa has said.
In his address at the Presidential Interface with War Veterans and launch of their empowerment schemes in Harare last Friday, the Zanu PF First Secretary said war veterans continue to play an integral part in the country’s development trajectory.
During the liberation struggle, they confronted the colonial regime, but are now ready to fight for economic emancipation, said the President.
“Together, we delivered Independence, freedom and democracy; we also realised peace and unity. Our role is not done, we vowed to fight for Zimbabwe,” he said.
“In the past the fight was in the battlefields; takarwa hondo mumasango akasiyana siyana; from our operational war zones of Gaza, Tete, to Manica; from the terrains of Sipolilo, Hwange, Gokwe, Plumtree, to Hurungwe and Kariba.
“No part of our country was spared. In Highfield, Makokoba, Mtapa and Sakubva, the whole country bore the brunt of the racist Smith regime. Nhasi tinosungirwa kurwa muminda, kuma factory, tichivaka migwagwa yedu, zvikoro zvedu, mahospitals edu.
“Tichishanda kumigodhi yedu, tichitambira vaenzi munyika medu, zvese izvi, kuti nyika yedu ibudirire; sevana veZimbabwe, tigare zvakanaka. This is what we must continue to fight for.”
President Mnangagwa said the country’s shared history and resilience, as well as the war veterans’ strong political awareness and vigilance, would ensure the country’s triumph.
“The scars of liberation we carry and the bond that unites us, and our unparalleled political consciousness and vigilance are all ensuring that we remain a victorious people.
“I congratulate you Comrades for continuing to expose rogue malcontents and opportunists. Let us boldly continue to weed them out, for the purpose of our revolution and in the interest of our great motherland Zimbabwe,” he said.
All Zimbabweans, said President Mnangagwa, took pride in the war veterans for remaining vigilant, unwavering and persistent, resolutely defending the gains of the liberation struggle.
War veterans, including ex-detainees, war collaborators, and non-combatant cadres, took up arms, to fight and dismantle the white colonial regime.
“Zvange zvakaoma, asi takatsunga, tikazvipira kusunungura nyika yedu yeZimbabwe. Some of our comrades never made it back, indeed their precious blood is etched on our national flag.
“Under our ruling ZANU PF party in the Second Republic, us, the veterans who fought to liberate our great motherland, Zimbabwe, remain critical and important actors in advancing of our national vision.
“The veterans are forever an integral part of the people’s revolution led by our party, ZANU PF. Maramba muri musimboti wemusango, nekutonga kwedu kweZANU PF. Tinokutendai mose maComrade. Siyalibonga lonke maComrades,” he said.
On the country’s erstwhile detractors, the Zanu PF First Secretary said “no matter the type of machinations and disinformation, ticharamba tichizvitonga, tichizvitonga, tichingozvitonga, tichizipirwa nenyika yedu”.
“As we are aware, not all features of neo-colonialism have fallen.
“These include the illegal economic sanctions imposed on our country and the onslaught on our party, ZANU PF, and its leadership, on various platforms by our detractors,” said President Mnangagwa.
