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NewsDay

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Guest columnist: Redefining context, content of Independence

Opinion & Analysis
Since the days of the Mutapa Empire in the 15th Century, the Rozvi dynasty and Ndebele State, thereafter, to the days of the first and second Chimurenga, the quest for freedom and independence has always been at the core of the struggles

Since the days of the Mutapa Empire in the 15th Century, the Rozvi dynasty and Ndebele State, thereafter, to the days of the first and second Chimurenga, the quest for freedom and independence has always been at the core of the struggles and endeavours of the people of Zimbabwe.

Historically, the assertion of human rights, pursuit of fundamental freedoms and searching for collective happiness have been the marker of human struggles in search of the ideal form of governance.

It, therefore, stands to reason that the spirit of Independence commemorations is not only about Zimbabwe officially becoming an independent sovereign country in 1980. This spirit of independence sustained the old Zimbabwe; it is the oxygen feeding the present-day Zimbabwe and certainly stands as ingredients to inspire the future Zimbabwe.

The independence is about celebrating the values that we, Zimbabweans, have set out for ourselves — the values of Ubuntu, national pride, sovereign will of the people, majority rule, universal suffrage (one man one vote), total freedom, good governance, peace and democracy.

For many of us who hold the stake as the young and future of Zimbabwe, Independence principles have to be achieved and not just stated. Our country Zimbabwe should be work in progress for the profit of all Zimbabweans.

When I look at Zimbabwe, I am left with more vexing questions than answers.

I often wonder what would happen if Changamire Dombo, Sekuru Kaguvi, Herbert Chitepo, Josiah Magama Tongogara or Alfed Nikita Mangena were to resurrect and see where we are.

What they would be confronted with is a Zimbabwe where the majority of citizens are unhappy and feel betrayed. They would be confronted with a hungry rural populace and the unemployed and jobless young Zimbabweans.

They would be confronted with a Zimbabwe where elections are run under “Nikuved” circumstances and disputed. They would be confronted with a Zimbabwe where the majority of our brothers are in the Diaspora eking out a living in those other capitals of the world. They would be confronted with a Zimbabwe where the chéfs and their children patronise foreign universities and foreign hospitals.

Suffice to say, the Independence is purposed to be central to our sense of nationhood, essence of happiness and the substance of cherished freedoms.

Our Independence and nation can never be deemed and thought secure, to the extent that the Zimbabwean citizenry is far removed from the foundation of ubiquitous awareness of the maximum utility of a free belonging.

The Independence is not supposed to be a single-day event, but an everyday experience of freedom, peace and happiness.

To achieve this lofty existence, we must be exemplary in leadership and in citizenship, giving full meaning to the ideals of Independence.

For this very reason, neither citizen nor politician is to be allowed to empty or strip this sacred Independence of its true meaning and content.

The responsibility of our Independence is in our hands collectively as individual citizens, not the privileged few who may be strong, rich and powerful.

In fact, we are on the brink of the negation of historicity of our national Independence as succeeding generations may fail to appreciate the relevance and significance of our Independence.

Independence Day is our national holiday and has huge historical significance and, therefore, should be one of serious reflection and deep introspection.

For all generations and posterity, this day should be commemorated in a celebratory manner, by generations current and yet to come, better than it has been with the preceding generations.

We must make the day a great anniversary festival solemnised and epitomised by pomp and ceremony, fanfare and parade; with shows, games, sports, guns, the Independence flame and illuminations. Song and dance must be the sublime character of this day. We must define and refine our national colours.

Independence commemorations, in my humble view, should be that season when we retreat from numerator politics of parties and partisanship to the denominator politics of the Republic — everything Zimbabwean. Party regalia and paraphernalia ought to be confined to campaign platforms.

As such, no party slogans or jingles must contaminate the “nationalness” of this significantly symbolic and sacred day.

What can never be contested is that freedoms never come on a silver platter.

A struggle is never a walk in the park. Considering the fact that within the progressive front, internal contradictions, fights, disagreements, hypocrisies, opposing interests and certainly the brute force of the Smith regime posed incessant danger to the liberation project, the comrades maintained the focus to free our country. This we must salute unreservedly.

Yes, it is a holiday to remember and honour those first Zimbabweans who made sacrifices to create the Republic and then defend it over the years.

A promise which seems now so compromised considering that the frontiers of liberation are yet to be extended to all parts of the country, including Mudzi, Mutoko, Uzumba and Mt Darwin to mention but a few. People must retain the right to freely express themselves politically without the fear of violence, repression and harassment thereafter.

Independence must migrate from being flag and paper Independence to being tangible and practical Independence; reflecting in flourishing industries, buoyant communities, happy families and a prosperous citizenry. On this aspect, our Independence has been content empty and substance-free. The Independence has been emptied of its true essence, substance and import.

Independence ought to be about characterisation of national pride, unravelling of the national ethos and values, and definition of the principles and precepts of the liberation agenda. We must use the rallying Independence phenomenon in the shaping of our collective vision of this great country.

Where and how do we want to see Zimbabwe by 2030, by 2050 and even beyond our human existence and life. How can we build a $30 billion economy by 2030 anchored on the New Zimbabwe blueprint whose sinews are the liberation promise and the democracy pledge.

We must build the Zimbabwe we want and in the process, bequeath a legacy of a giant Zimbabwe with a booming economy built on world-class standards.

We must establish vibrant consumer-facing industries and booming financial services industries on the back of a reliably efficient information communication technologies. We must negate and vacate our past faults and failures.

We can’t be consumed by our petty differences any more. The virtues that unite us far exceed the vices that may divide us.

We must create a national front predicated upon the common aspirations of the progressive majority. We swim and sink together.We rise and fall together. We succeed and fail together. May the drums of progress sound high in the land between Zambezi and Limpopo.

Intricately woven together by our history and origin, the destiny is one and indivisible. We must unleash our best selves for the greater good of the greater number in Zimbabwe. It is possible. It is doable.

With unremitting insistence I dare call upon all genuine patriots young and old, to put our shoulders to the block to save and serve our beautiful Zimbabwe. We are a great people with a great revolutionary past. We have a great country and a bright future.

Remember, it is our great soils that carry the bones of the greats Chitepo, Tongogara, Lobengula and Joshua Nkomo. Our land is rich and replete with treasures of minerals and wealth.

We have one of the best climates in the world. We have the best smile for foreign visitors. We are endowed with magnificent natural wonders.

We have the human capital endowed with sui generis intellect. We have the industry of human effort.

We are a peace-thirsty, progress-loving and stability-seeking people. Geographically, we are strategically located for the commerce and trade of Southern Africa with the potential of being the transport hub of the region.

Nelson Chamisa writes in his personal capacity