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Wallace Musakanyi

In neurology, the number 44 is considered a master number, which reflects stability, practicality and hard work. In the same vein, Zimbabwe is celebrating 44 years of independence on 18th of April, just like in neurology the number 44 is reflective of the traits of stability, practicality and hard work. 

This can be contextualised especially when taking stock of the political and governance journey travelled by Zimbabwe during the post-independence epoch pursuant to the realisation of autonomy, self-determination, sovereignty and utmost freewill, just like any other independent state.

April 18 is therefore a day to treasure the efforts made by the selfless sons and daughters of the soil, who fearlessly stood toe to toe with the oppressors together with the gains that were brought about by their coordinated efforts, which are all imbued in our independence. 

Viva Buhera, Viva Manicaland Province 

In light of this, this year’s Independence celebrations are being held in Buhera, at Murambinda Primary School, in the heart of the Manicaland Province. The event is historic, one of its kind and ground-breaking because for the first time Buhera district is hosting an event of such magnitude and national significance. This is also testament to the Government’s spirited practice of leaving no one and no place behind. 

It is befitting for Manicaland province to host such a historically-loaded event, which is forever ensconced in the heart and minds of the citizens. 

Lest we forget that Manicaland province was one of the critical strategic hamlets during the liberation war that housed freedom fighters who sacrificed their priceless souls in their quest to have a black majority rule governed Zimbabwe. 

Decorated national heroes, among them, the late Cde Benjamin Burombo was born and raised in Buhera district, while other distinct freedom fighters that include Cdes Herbert Chitepo, Edgar Tekere, Ndabaningi Sithole and Chief Rekayi Tangwena among others, were raised in this historically-rich Manicaland Province. 

As if this is not enough, the province was also a tactical gate away to the neighbouring Mozambique, which provided military bases where most combatants were trained for the purposes of fighting and dismantling the evil colonial rule.

Holding Independence Day celebrations in this sacrosanct region evokes a strong sense of nationalism, patriotism and national pride that must be in turn chewed and swallowed by the born frees, especially the AMA 2k generation. 

It’s not over until it’s over

As we celebrate the Independence Day, the general citizenry must be gently reminded that the war is not over for warfare is still in our midst. 

Independence merely marked the triumph of the nation from the shackles of the evil and unbearable colonial rule, nevertheless, coloniality is still our aggressive enemy, which we must fight collectively and ruthlessly. 

 

In simple terms, coloniality can be referred to as the lasting effects of colonial rule that will continue to haunt a former colony in the post-independence era. 

The coloniality demon, which manifests through the white supremacy mentality that projects the whites as superior, the alpha and omega of development, innovation and the crème de la crème of epistemology and innovation, must be exorcised amongst scores of Zimbabweans as part and parcel of this brutal warfare against coloniality, which must be waged by all the citizens nation-wide. 

This turbulent and unconventional warfare can only be won through the spirited and outstanding efforts of the general populace who must be active and vibrant combatants because the enemy has been resorting to sophisticated tactics and tricks. 

Chief among them being, the use of Western funded NGOs and opposition movement in order to dislodge the Government and impose a remote-controlled puppet government, currency sabotage by attacking and weakening our currency, as part of their efforts to create a man-made economic crisis. 

Shunning, exposing, ridiculing as well as rebuking these tricks are the guns and rifles that the citizens must be armed with in order to successfully win this daunting warfare, which disassembles some facets that compromise our independence in this post-colonial epoch.

Marching towards economic independence 

The comprehensive and overhaul realisation of our hard-won independence must be complemented with a formidable, sound and localised economic infrastructure that weed out economic dependence, especially from our erstwhile colonisers and other external state and non-state actors. 

Nevertheless, this has been at the epicentre of the Second Republic under the able leadership of President Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa. 

In pursuit of economic independence, a pragmatic and Zimbabwean oriented governance philosophy has since been developed by the Government, which is summarised by the mantra, “Nyika inovakwa nevene vayo/Illizwe lakhiwa ngabanikazi balo” Translated to English as,“A country is built by its citizens.” 

This liberating and economic emancipation philosophy, mainstream economic development, thereby checkmating economic dependence, which jeopardises the state’s autonomy and independence. 

In respect of this philosophy, Zimbabwe has been moving towards a positive growth as far as comprehending economic independence is concerned. Through this initiative, local production has been pioneered, with more than 70 percent of goods in local supermarkets being locally produced, it has been key in stopping donor dependency as well as pioneering and localising development. 

Inevitably, through the Nyika inovakwa nevene vayo/Illizwe lakhiwa ngabanikazi balo” we are definitely going to shake off the historical reliance, reduce vulnerability, by channelling development through our own models, fuel economic growth and investments as well as empowering the general populace in tandem with the ethos of economic development, which is work in progress under the Second Republic. 

More buy in from captains of industry and commerce, entrepreneurs as well as SMEs must be harnessed, taking advantage of an able economic environment created by the Government, which has improved the ease of doing business by building local brands, which are autonomous and tailor-made to suit the needs of the Zimbabwean market. 

Way Forward 

Zimbabweans must be cognisant of the fact that warfare is still in our midst and it requires the courage and dedication of all the citizens, in order to win this war. 

Unlike, in the First and Second Chimurenga, the battle fronts are totally different, cyber spaces, diplomatic and global stages, new media, epistemic and ideological grounds are some of the fronts upon which this war must be waged in order to successfully enjoy the fruits of independence. 

Wallace Musakanyi can be contacted on [email protected]