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Kelvin Chiringa Cool Lifestyle Writer
The recent Heroes Day commemorations brought memories of the liberation struggle in the minds of many, primarily those who took part in it.
This, however, is not to say it had nothing to do with the young generation.
We are all an integral part of this history defined by the blood of heroic sacrifice.
Cool Lifestyle caught up with many young people who opened up clearly on how the heroes of the past live still play an important part as role models for them.
“I salute Comrade Robert Mugabe for the reason that he left the comfortable environs of his teaching post in Ghana to risk his life and cross into a war-torn country and committing to its liberation.
“He remains my liberation war role model because he fought selflessly and put Zimbabwe first before himself,” said Rachel Moyo (19).
Mabelreign Girls High’s Alice Sami (16) saluted the iconic star of the First Chimurenga, Mbuya Nyamhita Nehanda for being the first female to dare the bullets of the white settlers.
“Mbuya Nehanda played a very crucial role in the first revolution for the liberation of Zimbabwe.
“In those earliest days when terms like gender equality in the execution of national duty were unheard of, the spirit medium broke the barriers and clearly showed the potential of women,” she said.
Prince Chidzvondo (17) from Klipton College pointed at Comrade Hebert Chitepo as his role model noting his greatest achievement as the first Black Rhodesian lawyer who defied all odds.
“I cannot help but salute Cde Hebert Chitepo every time one mentions our past struggles for liberation, he devoted his life to the struggle and died for it.
“From a young sophisticated lawyer to a militant political leader, he teaches us to this day that nothing in this world is impossible to a person of determination,” said Chidzvondo.
The war itself was fought on many fronts and Kevin Chari (19) saluted the many mothers and fathers who risked their lives cooking for the comrades at the home front.
“Guerillas had the Kalashnikov 47 assault rifle and Molotov cocktails but our mothers and fathers had the cooking stick.
“These were the masses who without their resilience in cooking for our fighters, freedom would not have come, and these I salute them as my role models who teach me that everything is possible through team work,” said Chari.
Tanaka Mapakata (16) from Victory Academy explained how Comrade Chingaira utilised his talent as a musician which makes him his liberation war super star.
“Comrade Chinx managed to boost morale and inspire the comrades by making them realise the meaning of war through his evocative music
“Even though I was not born at that time but to this day he inspires me to change people’s lives through my talent,” he said.
The writer is studying Mass Communication in Journalism at CCOSA
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