Online Reporter
Gibson Mhaka
Zimpapers Politics Hub
THE legendary Pan-Africanist and founding President of Ghana, Dr Kwame Nkrumah, once famously remarked: “Seek ye first the political kingdom, and all else shall be added unto you.”
When Dr Nkrumah uttered these words, he was speaking to a continent shackled under administrative and colonial bondage.
The “political kingdom” represented sovereign control over the state apparatus.
His argument was a tactical one: As long as Europeans controlled the laws, the borders and the executive halls of power, Africans could never hope to improve their economic or social standing.
To Dr Nkrumah, political power was the master key that would open every other door of development.
However, the passage of time has added a layer of sobering complexity to this vision.
Decades later, as Zimbabwe marks its 46th anniversary of Uhuru, the nation is awakening to a profound contemporary truth: The political kingdom was merely the gateway.
The real battle lies in the relentless pursuit of economic sovereignty.
As the Independence Flame traverses the seven districts of Matabeleland South province — from the Zezani Assembly Point in Beitbridge through Gwanda, Insiza, Umzingwane, Bulilima, Mangwe and finally to Maphisa Stadium in Matobo district — it serves as a burning reminder that without the power to control our resources, determine our markets and feed our people from our own soil, political liberty remains an incomplete promise.
This year’s celebrations, to be hosted in Maphisa, serve as a manifestation of this new struggle.
By rotating national celebrations to rural service centres, President Mnangagwa has ensured that the festivities are a true reflection of the devolution of power to communities.
The Second Republic has shifted the national discourse from the rhetoric of grievance to the reality of production, understanding that the only way to safeguard the first liberation is to win the second.
Media expert and political analyst Mr Methuseli Moyo observed that the struggle for the economy is the final frontier.
“Political independence without economic independence is hollow. Independence goes beyond political liberties. Zimbabwe needs to be independent and self-sufficient as a country, not to rely or look back on former colonisers and Western-controlled global finance institutions and leaders,” Mr Moyo said.
He noted that it is pleasing that the current political leadership “understands that principle and has never entertained compromises on that front, starting with the armed struggle itself, to land reclamation and mental decolonisation of the people”.
According to Mr Moyo, the international community’s reaction to Zimbabwe’s bold moves reveals the high stakes of this economic war.
“If you look closely, the sanctions were meant to dissuade Zimbabwe from taking land back. That was the real issue. The rest was a smokescreen. We must be proud as a nation that we have gone through the worst and remained steadfast in the midst of adversity, and have consolidated land ownership,” he said.
The country, he added, must continue “indigenising the economy in all its spheres”.
National Organisation for Development and Empowerment Bulawayo provincial chairperson Mr Eddie Benson Muchenje said the real battle is ensuring that the wealth beneath our feet translates into the well-being of the person on the street.
He said the current battle involves a structural shift where the Zimbabwean worker is no longer a mere labourer for foreign capital but a shareholder in the national wealth.
But the battle requires a “production-first” mindset that aligns with the Government’s push for a self-reliant economy.
President Mnangagwa, who has consistently reminded the nation that “a nation is built by its own people”, has been the chief architect and advocate of this economic offensive.
The President argues that vast mineral wealth and fertile land are the weapons required to defeat poverty and achieve the status of an upper middle-income society by 2030.
The President’s vision is a lived reality for the youth.
ZANU PF City Centre District in Bulawayo youth chairperson Cde Joseph Majoni views the 46th anniversary as a time to reflect on the revolutionary gains that have brought economic and social freedom to the younger generation.
He highlighted that the youth are currently benefitting from the Youth Empowerment Programme and entrepreneurship support, which have “opened doors in the booming mining and agriculture sectors”.
Cde Majoni pointed to tangible milestones achieved since 1980 that serve as the foundation for this economic war.
These include curriculum reforms focused on practical skills and massive infrastructure development.
“Since 1980, Zimbabwe has achieved significant milestones — universal primary education and curriculum reforms focused on practical skills, infrastructure development, including roads, airports and renewable energy initiatives,” he added.
He specifically cited the “Gwayi-Shangani Dam project, improving water supply and irrigation” and the new, modern Parliament building, symbolising our nation’s growth and democracy, as evidence of a nation taking charge of its destiny.
Ultimately, the economic struggle is about a Zimbabwe that looks inward for solutions and outward for opportunities.
As the Independence Flame moves through the seven districts — Beitbridge, Gwanda, Insiza, Umzingwane, Bulilima, Mangwe and Matobo — it carries a message that the fire of freedom still burns.
However, its warmth is now being felt through economic indigenisation.
The struggle continues, but the theatre of war has changed.
As the nation celebrates 46 years of sovereignty, it must be remembered that the greatest tribute to be paid to those who fell for political freedom is to succeed in the battle for the country’s economic liberty.
The next frontier of the struggle is well underway, and with the current trajectory of self-sufficiency, victory is certain.
This liberation is not a single event but a continuous process, one requiring unity, resilience and unwavering commitment.
It is a national call for every Zimbabwean to contribute to building an economy that reflects the core ideals of the liberation struggle.
