Online Reporter
T
OMORROW, we lay to rest yet another gallant and illustrious son of the soil, Cde Justin Mupamhanga, who distinguished himself both before and after independence.
His death grimly coincided with the burial of three other national heroes — Major-General (Retired) Solomon Siziba, Cde Chenhamo “Chen” Chakezha Chimutengwende and Ambassador John Shumba Mvundura — at the National Heroes Acre.
More than a month ago, on December 6, the nation lost another liberation struggle stalwart, Cde Phelekezela Report Mphoko, who had the remarkable distinction of witnessing and experiencing the birth pangs that preceded the new Zimbabwe in 1980, from the formation of nationalist movements to the beginning of the armed struggle and eventual triumph.
In their various capacities, these patriots never wavered; they selflessly invested their all in the success of the motherland.
We can count ourselves fortunate to have had them in our midst.
Their legacy will outlive them in Zimbabwe’s conscience, serving as an inspiration to the current generation and posterity to forge ahead with the nation-building project.
The running theme in all their stories that makes them unique and worthy of recognition and praise is the fact that they were motivated by nothing more than the desire to see their country succeed.
But the sad reality is that we are losing this golden generation to Father Time.
This means the State must self-reproduce by creating conditions that will continue to spawn a patriotic cadre that is grounded in the nation’s values and ethos and has the much-needed fealty to safeguard the country’s sovereignty and drive development.
So, it behooves all of us, in the national interest, to emulate the good work of this golden generation of freedom fighters and selfless servants. At various fora, time and again, President Mnangagwa continues to preach the need for young people to reconnect with the country’s history and identity.
At the 44th Heroes Day celebrations last year, he indicated that the recently relaunched youth service had a crucial role to play.
“Earlier this year, the Second Republic relaunched the Youth Service in Zimbabwe Training Programme. This marks an important step in ensuring that young people are patriotic and loyal citizens, who reconnect with our national history and identify with the priceless sacrifices of our liberators,” he said.
“Our centres at Dadaya in Midlands and Vumba in Manicaland are currently training over a thousand youths, while vocational training centres are being modernised with state-of-the-art machinery and digital technology.”
He also urged all Zimbabweans to emulate the courageous men and women who fought the brutal colonial regime by laying the foundations for a more prosperous Zimbabwe for both present and future generations.
This week, we also carry an inspirational story of how our vocational training centres (VTCs) are now even attracting degree holders and rehabilitating former drug addicts.
All told, 5 000 students graduated from these centres.
This new approach has remodelled VTCs into dynamic hubs of both skills development and rehabilitation.
The VTCs and youth service have increasingly become more than hubs for life skills development, which is welcome.
If such an approach is replicated in many other institutions, Zimbabwe is guaranteed of selfless future leaders.
Despite their country evolving to becoming an ultra-modern state, the average Singaporean is still conscious of their mother tongue and values.
To this day, they variously identify as Chinese, Malays and Indians.
Crucially, President Mnangagwa, through Vision 2030, which is premised on establishing a modern, prosperous and highly industrialised nation within the next five years, has already set Zimbabwe on an irreversible path to the promised land.
But, as we develop, we must ensure that we remain tethered to our culture and values to make our progress sustainable.
We must, therefore, commit not to betray the memory of our liberators by remaining true to our values and rededicating ourselves to honest, hard work.
Our youths should prepare to take the baton and run with it to the future.
We still have a lot of work ahead of us.
