The major goal of our liberation struggle was to achieve a free, fair and united Zimbabwe, where citizens of all races, tribes or religions share a common vision with a clear destiny.
Zimbabwe today celebrates its 34 years of independence with mixed feelings about the governments’s achievement in building a nation for all.
At the attainment of our independence 34 years ago, we had high hopes that our leaders will focus on building a nation that will accommodate all of us, regardless of our social background, tribe or race.
Yes, we acknowledge that the attainment of a democratic state with all citizens having voting rights was achieved.
The settler regime failed to achieve this in a hundred years of occupation of this country.
But having achieved this, we fail to understand why our country is still reeling under a colonial hangover. What some of us fail to understand is why at 34 years out of the yoke of colonialism, our leaders – politicians, businesspeople, pastors etc. believe that filling in the space that was left by colonial masters is all what counts for an independent nation.
The citizens expected that attention was to be given to improving living conditions in Makokoba, Mbare and such other locations. Also, it was our hope that even those whites with less incomes will find it easy to live in the high density areas without anyone raising their eyebrows.
The leadership style being displayed by those in powerful positions does not portray efforts towards the development of an inclusive society, where all citizen enjoy improved education, living conditions, health and other social amenities.
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Politicians with money live in upmarket suburbs, send their children to former A schools, whilst neglecting the rural constituencies they represent in Parliament. They shun local learning institutions, which they allocate meagre resources and send their children to foreign universities.
Our health facilities are poorly resourced and lack medication while on the other hand our leaders receive medical attention from outside our borders.
Zimbababwe is now a divided class society, with a few very rich people and a poor majority. This set-up has irritated a lot of people with some vowing not to support even well pronounced government initiatives.
What is shocking is that even those who fought to dismantle the white supremacy are in the very rich bracket and view the poor as stupid and failing to think out of their poverty situation.
Memories of the philosophy and principles of the liberation struggle that led to our independence should help us re-think our strategy for building a Nation for All.
This country has enough resources for all of us and if equitably distributed, we can all enjoy the fruits of our independence.
When politicians destroy the hopes and aspirations of a working class, commonly referred to as the middle class, as is the case in Zimbabwe, economic development become unattainable. When people are economically weakened, they become servants of the few rich who perpetuate their situation. Even to make decisions about their own lives, they first have to consult the providers of their livelihoods.
Independence celebrations should be the joy of all citizens, where politicians with divergent views come together to renew their allegiance to Zimbabwe. Once such a spirit is openly visible within our leaders, the people will rally behind them and support the country’s socio-economic and political agenda.
No country in the world has succeeded where its citizens are divided regarding the values of their independence. When political parties differ ideologically on the ethics behind the celebrations and interpretation of our independence, we are bound to fail in efforts to move our country forward.
The fact that it is only a certain group of people and not a cross-section of people who participate at our independence celebrations, reveal a scenario that independence is regarded as a function for a particular group of people and not all of us as a nation. Independence Day should be a unique time for Zimbabwe and should be a time for reconciling our differences and embrace the aspirations of our people. Obadiah T. Moyo [email protected]
