Devolving Independence celebrations a masterstroke

Passmore Moyo, Sunday News Correspondent

ZIMBABWE attained its Independence in 1980 and celebrated its 42nd birthday as a country from colonial domination last Monday. After attaining Independence, the country has never been in a promising state like it is now under the leadership of President ED Mnangagwa. This work presents a personal opinion on how President Mnangagwa is and remains a promising leader for Zimbabwe.

To get to the depth of the matter, it is pleasing that the country has developed fully to the observance of the devolution policy and the unity accord. I make reference to a number of developments in the country that point to the fact that Zimbabweans are quickly ironing out their differences and becoming one nation with one mission and vision. 

Credit should be given to Zimbabwe’s president, His Excellency President Mnangagwa for all the positives happening in the country. It has always been a norm in Zimbabwe that the main Independence Day celebrations are done in Harare, but with the benefit of foresight and wisdom President Mnangagwa changed the norm and showed that Zimbabwe belongs to every Zimbabwean.

The president changed the venue of the celebrations to Bulawayo and said that was the beginning of decentralisation of the annual event. That is a positive development that walks his talk on unity and peace among Zimbabweans. Even those in the opposition who have ceased to attend national events repented and attended the Independence Day celebrations.

President Mnangagwa managed to lure all the Zimbabweans to the Independence celebrations venue and that is testimony that people can all unite when they are recognised and feel respected. Another act that proves that President Mnangagwa is a powerful man in uniting Zimbabweans is the opening of Hwange Teachers’ College in Matabeleland North. From 1980 the province had no teachers’ college in any of its districts. 

In 2019 President Mnangagwa’s government opened Hwange Teachers’ College for the people of Matabeleland North Province. The college is now functioning and many people have benefited from the opening of the college. 

The challenges facing the Hwange Teachers’ College, such as the unavailability of transport and accommodation for lecturers and students, should be looked into by the Government so that more lecturers and more students could be attracted to the college. It would therefore, be beneficial if lecturers could be accorded a chance to own personal cars and housing stands in Hwange town so that they are motivated to develop the college.

If President Mnangagwa continues handling national matters the way he has been doing, I do not see why the country could have opposition political parties. His footprints in as far as unity and development and walking the talk of leaving no one and no place behind dovetails into another of his philosophy where he says “nyika inovakwa nevene vayo/ilizwe lakhiwa ngabanikazi.”

His vision of ending marginalisation and developing all corners of the country makes the economic Vision 2030 achievable if all government departments are to put their hands on the deck. His Government has done more than enough in the area of infrastructure development and in uniting the nation towards the vision of having an upper middle-class economy. He is mindful that Zimbabwe needs peace more than anything else and our churches need to set aside special days to pray for our national President so that God could guide him in leading Zimbabweans to peace and unity. 

All peace-loving Zimbabweans accept that devolving the 2022 Independence Day celebrations was a masterstroke while the opening of Hwange Teachers’ College remains testimony that President Mnangagwa does not want anyone or any place left behind. 

Long live to His Excellency, President E  D Mnangagwa. May God bless Zimbabwe.

The writer is an IsiNdebele lecturer at Hwange Teachers’ College. The views expressed in this article are his personal views and not representative of any institution.