Here is what others had to say about Zimbabwe’s independence

Father Paul Mayeresa

LIFE as a priest during the colonial era was hectic since our white counterparts received preferential treatment.

The discrimination was very noticeable, even during mass, which prompted me to love sport, football in particular, as a way of clearing my mind of the pressures that come with priesthood.

I started following Dynamos in 1963 when it was founded and got to be part of the “original” supporters. Dynamos was considered a black people’s team, whose passionate fans would go to extremes to protect the team.

The club provided the only platform through which blacks could express themselves since the other teams at that time comprised white players. In later years, the Dynamos team included two coloured players, namely Hamid Dhana and Charlie Jones.

Whenever Dynamos lost a game, some blacks would boycott work the following day as an expression of anger against a number of things, oppression included. A few who decided to report to their workstations would walk from suburbs like Mufakose and Highfield into town as a form of protest.

The current crop of Dynamos supporters is a third generation and most of the traditions they uphold have existed since the inception of the club.

Justice Simbi Mubako

Before independence, the Judiciary was composed of the High Court, which was manned by whites. It had an elite division and a general division.

Back then, we had the Magistrates’ Court. It was divided into the regional, provincial and general Magistrates’ Court. There were also traditional courts, run by chiefs and district commissioners.

My first responsibility as the first Justice and Constitutional Affairs Minister of independent Zimbabwe was to appoint black judges for the courts. However, many lawyers were not keen to be judges for various reasons, except for Enoch Dumbutshena (late), who volunteered to come on board.

I was then forced to hire two judges from Ghana and another one from Zambia.

At the Magistrates’ Court, I appointed two other lawyers to be provincial magistrates and gradually the numbers started to increase. We also added the Supreme Court and recruited judge (Telford) Gorges, who was the first judge in independent Tanzania.

Later, judge Dumbutshena was promoted to the Supreme Court to become Chief Justice.

We then went on to try and restructure the traditional courts but we did not go far with it. In the first five years, post-independence, we had made significant progress and the numbers of black and white judges were almost balanced.

As years went by, more courts were constructed, while the old ones were expanded and technology also introduced.

Dr Dennis Hikwa

Advancing yourself academically was a challenge during the rule of Ian Smith (who was then prime minister). Only a few blacks were allowed to enrol in universities due to racial discrimination.

I was, however, fortunate to get a scholarship through ZAPU. This made it possible for me to study medicine in Russia, which then was known as the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, between 1976 and 1983.

I received the scholarship because of my active participation against white minority rule. The colonial government was not keen on allowing blacks to go to school or vote. It was rare to see a black doctor during that era. Blacks who voted were selected by the white Rhodesians.

Upon completing my seven years of study in Russia, I returned to an independent Zimbabwe in 1983.

There were a lot of changes in the first three years of self-rule.

More clinics and hospitals were built. Everyone had the right to education and equal access to healthcare.

Several lives were lost to free this country and that should not be in vain.

Father Fidelis Mukonori

I took my oaths in 1973 in Gambia and most of our mentors during the pre-independence era were Germans.

Across the African continent, the treatment of whites and blacks in church was different.

Blacks were initially deployed to serve in marginalised areas until in the late 1970s, when we were given permission to attend church services in urban parishes.

Being a member of the Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace, I had the liberty to travel to many countries and witness what the situation was like there.

In most war zones, nationalists would secretly meet to discuss the political situation. At times they would be ambushed and some of them murdered because the minority rule did not want any resistance or challenge.

After independence, we finally got to be treated like normal beings, worship freely and even be included in political dialogue.

The First and Second Dispensations understood the importance of religion and this has made us feel we are part of the development journey of Zimbabwe.

Moses Chunga

Around 1978, I became the first black person to join an Italian Football Club as a junior player. The treatment was phenomenal and I did not feel like I was the only black kid in the team.

Just after independence, I went on to play for Dynamos and Eendracht Aalst, and at some point captained the Zimbabwe national team.

I arrived at Dynamos alongside John Zhaneiro and Kenneth Jere when the team was down following a mass exodus of players to Black Rhinos.

Whenever we played, the stadium would be filled up and that is how the seven million supporters’ myth came about.

At that time, football paid well. We had good sponsorship and at the age of 18, I had already bought myself a house in Glen Norah.

However, the local sponsorship has not been so good over the years, which has adversely affected players.

Mrs Marian Marembo

The colonial period was tough for the wives and families of nationalists. I had a difficult time raising children on my own through menial jobs.

During that time, there was no easy way (for freedom fighters based outside the country) to send money back home, so I had to find ways to survive and provide for the family till my husband (the late Cde Murongiwa Stanislaus Marembo) returned home. He, on countless occasions, was in and out of prison. I had gotten used to the fact that even if he came home, I would not celebrate because it would not be long before he was rearrested.

It was only after independence that we began to enjoy life with him, knowing that he was going nowhere.

Unfortunately, he passed away in the early 80s but life was already different then. We are enjoying our hard-won freedom and equal opportunities.

Peter Nhemachena

The teaching profession was more like a death sentence during the period of colonial rule. I personally had a passion for the profession but the tense political situation made everything difficult.

I used to teach at a mission school in Hwedza and we would periodically lose learners to the liberation struggle. This often created problems for us with the Rhodesian security forces.

The learners were so determined to liberate the country that no amount of persuasion against joining the war would make them change their minds.

I vividly remember how Clever, one of my learners, was brought in a body bag a day after he, together with a group of six other children, ran away from school in an attempt to join the war.

In the mid-80s, I left teaching but until now, some of the emotional scars from back then have not healed. I believe psychological therapy is something that was overlooked for people like us.

Jesesi Mungoshi

Although I was not into acting at the time, I noticed there were several challenges for black artistes before independence as they could not freely communicate due to the oppression.

The colonisers understood the power of art in promoting revolts, thus made sure they thwarted anything they thought was against the establishment.

My acting career started in 1985, when I accidentally landed a role in the play “Inongova Njakenjake” that was written by my late husband Charles Mungoshi.

He was having a difficult time getting someone who could fit into the particular role I played and I offered myself.

He did not believe I could act, so at first he laughed it off but later gave me a chance when he realised that I was serious. After realising my potential, he made me feature in several other productions, among them “Neria”, alongside the late music superstar Dr Oliver Mtukudzi.

It is sad that most people I acted with back in the day are now late. Previously, acting was passion-driven unlike nowadays, where everything is mostly about money.

It is sad the current crop of actors lack talent, ethics and respect for the profession.

Chief Zororo Mhuru (Nyajena chieftainship)

We only got to understand our role and relevance in society after the end of Smith’s reign. Chiefs existed under the colonial government but our wings were clipped and we did not have clearly defined roles.

The settlers were only interested in using us as tools to thwart dissent.

Everything changed for the better after independence.

We were empowered and got to appreciate that it is our duty to promote and uphold cultural values, facilitate development and resolve disputes in our respective communities.

The post-independent Government treats us with respect. Recently, we were trained and certified as marriage officers for customary unions, although we will not handle divorces.

The Government’s recognition of our position means we are of importance to the nation.