The attainment of Zimbabwe’s 31 years of independence has been received with mixed feelings with leaders of political parties accusing Zanu PF of betraying the wishes of the people.
In statements yesterday, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, leader of the MDC-T and Simba Makoni, leader of Mavambo/Kusile/Dawn and former Zanu PF politburo member, said though Zimbabwe attained independence in 1980, the people were yet to enjoy the fruits of freedom.
Tsvangirai acknowledged that there was still a long way to go before the ultimate goal of peace and prosperity was realised.
“I acknowledge that we still have a hard road to travel before we reach the ultimate goal of a peaceful, prosperous and democratic Zimbabwe,” he said.
“It is a fact that there are some among us who are determined to take this country back to the dark days of repression, violence and intimidation. Our Zimbabwe is under threat from a small group that is determined to betray our heroes who bravely sacrificed their lives to liberate every Zimbabwean regardless of race, creed or religion.
“This small clique has ensured that people’s freedoms are repressed. Fear and intimidation are brought into our homes, our villages and our townships.
“Twenty years after independence we were told that the land would set us free. The same land was later grabbed by avaricious politicians and the well-connected in our society.
“Now thirty years after independence, we are being told by multi-millionaires and multiple farm owners that indigenisation will set us free. By this, they are not referring to broad-based empowerment of the ordinary man but the looting and plunder of national resources by a small parasitic elite.”
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Makoni said Zimbabweans suffered even more after independence.
“Our journey of independent nationhood has traversed varied terrains. The first decade-and-a-half were acclaimed as years of remarkable social and economic progress, although blemished by the madness and inhumanity of Gukurahundi,” Makoni said in his independence message.
“The second decade-and-a-half were nightmare years, punctuated by the cruelty of Murambatsvina, the painful fast-track land acquisition and the brutal ‘long sleeves and short sleeves’ of the 2008 presidential poll run-off,” he said.
“In the last decade-and-a-half, a once confident and self-assured people have been reduced to diffidence. An air of hopelessness and helplessness envelopes the nation. The people are still hurting; they are still fearful and untrusting.”
“The economy has been destroyed, not by illegal Western sanctions, but by greedy, corrupt, incompetent and uncaring leaders. Retail outlets, once full of goods made in Zimbabwe, are now bursting with imported goods.”
Methuseli Moyo, Zapu spokesperson, said in a statement: “Sadly, events in the last 31 years have left the population wondering if for sure we are independent.
In our view, this is a valid question prompted by the Zanu PF regime under Robert Mugabe’s leadership style.
“It has been 31 years of controlling power, 31 years of ever-declining employment, 31 years of worsening poverty.
