The Sunday Mail
Most people make the mistake that a revolution has a beginning and an end. This isn’t and can’t be the case.
A revolution is simply a continuum that is marked by different phases.
This is clearly the case with our own revolution that has been marked by different epochs and different valiant and heroic cadres that have sacrificed to advance our interests as Zimbabweans.
These brave heroes come in the form of General Mtshana Khumalo — head of the elite Imbizo Regiment of King Lobengula — who vanquished Major Allan Wilson and his soldiers at the Battle of Pupu in Lupane along the Shangani River on December 4, 1893.
Despite the superior weapons of the enemy, Gen Khumalo prevailed. He, therefore, is an embodiment of anti-colonial spirit that blew across the country during the First Chimurenga.
Although the white colonial settlers succeeded, the revolution continued through nationalist activities in the 1950s and 60s, which culminated in the first shots of the Second Chimurenga on April 28, 1966 by the famous Chinhoyi Seven heroes.
And, although they paid the ultimate sacrifice, their will eventually prevailed as freedom fighters successfully prosecuted one of the bitterest and longest fights against an entrenched colonial administration.
Through the determination and sheer willpower of our people, a new nation called Zimbabwe was born on April 18, 1980.
But the revolution did not end.
The struggle continued, as we later had to take back the land through another revolution (The Third Chimurenga) at the turn of the millennium that resettled more than 300 000 black families on vast tracts of land that used to be controlled by white minority settlers.
As we move forward in a new struggle against neo-colonialism, whose objective is to lift our people out of poverty and establish a prosperous country envisioned by our forebears, it is important to draw lessons from our rich past.
We cannot possibly navigate our way forward if we do not look into the rear-view mirror.
This makes this week indescribably important and sacred, as we honour our heroes including the brave men and women who continue safeguarding our nation.
The terrain of our struggle is, however, changing. And in keeping with the changing times, President Mnangagwa, in his wisdom, has fittingly broadened the category of national heroes to include civilians for their post-independence heroic achievements in sports, academics and philanthropy.
Last year, we saw academics such as Prof Walter Kamba, Prof Phineas Makhurane, Prof Ngwabi Bhebhe, Prof Christopher Chetsanga, Prof Hope Sadza, Prof Primrose Kurasha, Dr Gibson Mandishona and Joana Girlie Moyo-Sibanda being awarded the Order of the Star of Zimbabwe Silver awards.
This means we all have a heroic role to play in advancing the national interest, regardless of our various stations in life. We all have our work cut out. We are still at war, albeit a different kind of war that is being waged asymmetrically.
The same enemy our forebears fought is the same enemy we are fighting today.
At the burial of one of the gallant sons of the soil, Brigadier-General Benjamin Mabenge (Retired), at the National Heroes Acre on Wednesday last week, President Mnangagwa could not have been any clearer.
“While yesteryear the war was fought on the battle front, the Second Republic is well aware of the machinations of our detractors who are fighting us on the economic front. Today they are waging asymmetrical warfare to make our economy scream and our people suffer,” he said.
“Under my watch, they will never succeed, we will never surrender our economy. Against all odds, we will win the economic battle and attain a prosperous future for our people.”
So, as we celebrate those who have and are doing their bit to advance the national interest through the Heroes Day and Defence Forces Day, we must also acknowledge that we also have a generational role to play in the current phase of the revolution.
The fact that we are under sanctions that have been bogging down our progress for the past 22 years should make us work extra hard to achieve the goals we have set for ourselves.
Failure is not an option.
When the going gets tough, we should draw inspiration from the incredible heroic acts of Gen Khumalo, the Chinhoyi Seven and countless other countrymen and countrywomen who persevered and triumphed against extraordinary odds.
Not only do heroes live among us, but we are the new heroes.
The revolution continues.
