Micheal Mhlanga
As the nation commemorated the protagonists of the liberation struggle, a struggle which proceeded to embed the pillars of what Zimbabwe today calls its ideological brass, it is imperative for every Zimbabwean to celebrate this day, not only as a historical occasion but rather as an ideological premise that should govern the Republic’s approach to the voyage ahead of the nation.
Contrary to the general apprehension of this day where it was used as a platform to narrate historical events, this year’s unique celebration comes after the successful implementation of Operation Restore Legacy. This liberated the Umvukela/ Chimurenga legacy from being one of those meaningless gatherings characterised by fraudulent elucidations of historical narratives to accommodate rogue elements in Zimbabwe’s governance architecture.
This year’s celebration of Chimurenga/ Umvukela should not only remind Zimbabweans of what transpired in the liberation struggle, it should be another reminder of the task that befalls Zimbabwe from this day going further. It rejuvenates the pledge that was made by both standing and fallen heroes, the oath to make Zimbabwe a better place, to make the Republic a centre of freedom as even embraced by the conceptual title given to the movement.
Lessons from the Jazz Hour
Apart from their political misgivings in South Africa (which I do not share with their adversaries) Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) stand out as the only institution manned by young patriots whose religiosity to the Republic and Pan Africanism should be a reference to every young politician. As I pen this article, I am in a trance induced by the EFF Jazz Hour’s “Azania”.
One of the contemporary melodies which fits well into Pongweni (1982) “Songs that won the liberation”. You may ask of the relevance of which liberation (Zvimurenga) espoused by such music and how it links to outposts in Zimbabwe, let me hasten to say that the Heroes Day memorial is a passage of rite to our freedom. Out rightly and coincidentally, in 2018 it is a spiritual passage to the long awaited Second Republic — something must give in this time!
In seeking further counsel on this subject, I invite into the discussion a colleague from the Midlands State University, Tedious Ncube who advised that beyond that, this day should be used as a reminder for the long term questions of economic development. This day should be viewed as another re-alignment programme for Zimbabwe and its long term ideological commitments.
Surely, as we rejoiced and celebrated becoming Zimbabwe during this year’s nationalist commemorations, we must also spare some time to spend on the full meaning and significance of the liberation struggle which is an event enclosed in the aspirations of Zimbabweans.
A tune from the Jazz Hour again is the melody of “Izwe lami” led by an energetic Dr Mbuyiseni Ndlozi. The melody cedes the fundamentals of dying for our land. It is the inspirational young voices that foster a remembrance that it is the young and restless who died for this land, likewise, the struggle should continue and the present fruits should be jealously guarded.
Nzira Dzemasoja and National Continuity
You will not doubt that from the Third Chimurenga, our principal aim was effective state ownership, the empowerment of the citizen and most importantly the beginning of an end to the systemic economic retrogression which was confronting the nation in a very sophisticated format.
The inconsistency between the majority and national development which is tantamount to policy inconsistency had to be abolished.
Through the recollection of patriotic memories made by the gallant sons and daughters who sacrificed their lives to give an ideological meaning to the phenomenon of nativity in Zimbabwe, the 2000 policy commitments were achieved.
In this regard, the liberation struggle has proved to be an unwavering tower for national salvation, as such, amid the many questions Zimbabwe finds itself in today such as national continuity, equitable income redistribution and veneration of Nzira Dzemasoja (The melo-philosophical rendition of national behaviour expected of all students and loyalists of the Republic), the Republic must not hesitate to retrospect into the legacy of the liberation struggle for answers. This is the part where I refer you to the song Nzira Dzemasoja, let us ask ourselves today: Have we trodden on the “nzira”?
Heroes are for everyone
What is more disquieting in this land is how Heroes Day does not find place and space in opposition cabinets of thinking. It is the same institution that masquerades as convicts of national pride, patriotism and vanguards of the national culture. It gets shoddier when the statement issued by those who claim to be young and “woke” disperses them from the majority that celebrates the lost lives and souls on a day that should inform nation building. What they miss is that beyond the fighter, the legacy of the liberation struggle should be assimilated into the nation’s culture, strategically to accommodate everyone.
Lest we forget, this legacy was motivated by the settler attitudes towards the natives whose value system was bedevilled by intolerable imbalances, inequities and antagonistic contradictions, as such the logic still applies today.
Therefore against this understanding, this year’s celebrations were unique, it was a fulfilment of the pledge that was made from the 1896 Zvimurenga to the April 1980 declaration of independence. It was the oath to serve the Republic in a progressive manner founded on good governance. Mind you, good governance is not a mono-directional, although the Government has a task to assemble its handles, the citizen must complement the establishment in pursuit of Zimbabwe’s patriotic goals.
Zimbabwe chinhu chedu tose
The citizen is today faced with the challenge of shifting his/ her perspectives from the reductionist attitude, to a more co-operative conception of state affairs. Beyond the citizen being a recipient of national thought, this year’s political environment pushes the citizen to become the bearer of the ideology and become the ideology itself. The liberation struggle is an elastic phenomenon, every national aspiration can be accommodated, regardless of the nature of the ambition.
The Umvukela/ Chimurenga thought in its democratic origins can tolerate and house everyone, nonetheless in its nationalistic formation it will always oppose any contradictions to the long term commitments of the republic. Not much is missing to achieve this, it is only a deficit of a national positive attitude towards protection and development of our country — we are not far from being where we should be.
An inspiring melody for this thought is the Jazz Hour’s Sekusele Kancane.
Coincidentally this year’s Heroes Day celebration comes at a period when the nation is gearing up for yet another definitive phase of Zimbabwe’s history; this year’s celebration conveniently complements the nation’s outstanding call for economic reconstruction, patriotism and national unity; in this regard, the nation should mirror the Chimurenga memory as a platform to reboot national commitments, as such projecting the moment as an excuse for creating a conducive policy environment founded on patriotic policy acceptance attitudes.
The definitive moment should get rid of public complacency within which public service should be a patriotic duty manned by the best minds on the land, ready to make Zimbabwe great again — these were the aspirations of the Unknown Soldier.
We are entering an epoch whose prophecy is enveloped in Mzwakhe Mbuli’s “The day shall dawn” where no violence, both systemic and systematic should find residence among us. From here on, prescribed social organisations used to identify ourselves aggressively different should be reduced obsolete.
Hereon, the Presidium, in upholding the heroes’ aspirations should unite the nation — that should be the first and fundamental step.
For the rest of us, let us garment ourselves with positivity, national proprietorship and responsible patriotism.