THE Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services recently hosted Vice President Colonel Kembo Mohadi (Retired) at its Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) pavilion.
In this interview with FAITH BAHELA, VP Mohadi underscores the importance of enhanced national development.
Q: Zimbabwe recently celebrated its 44th independence. What must be done to protect our independence?
A: Thank you for inviting me to the Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services ZITF pavilion.
The 44th anniversary of our national independence is of sentimental value to all of us who love this beautiful country.
However, I should say we do not just brag about our sovereignty given the instructive obligation it imposes on every Zimbabwean citizen.
We have to strengthen governance by ensuring transparency and accountability.
This includes promoting the rule of law, combating corruption and establishing strong institutions to uphold democratic principles.
These moral pillars of our national sovereignty, as they relate to good governance, are inspired by the founding virtues of the ruling party, which I have personally worked for my entire life.
Therefore, when I speak of sovereignty, I will be referring to a lived phenomenon, which is also closely linked to the vision of national prosperity by my principal, His Excellency, President Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa.
I am glad to say in the gentle palms of the President’s revolutionary experience rests the deep-rooted surety and destiny of our nation.
Our 44th independence anniversary points to the futuristic facet of our national question defined as Vision 2030.
One may ask: What is this vision?
I have the honour of getting an elaborate meaning of this from my boss, the President.
He says by 2030, hunger should be a thing of the past; equal access to education and health facilities will be increased.
He further assures that by 2030, unprecedented industrial growth will be the defining mark of Zimbabwe’s contribution to Africa’s development.
Zimbabwe would be Sadc’s job hunting ground.
Such is the golden age that this man called Mnangagwa is preparing for us to protect that national independence delivered by Zanu-PF on April 18, 1980.
Like any other African nation, our independence suffered the impediment of neo-colonialism, which must be tackled by the jugular vein through economic democratisation.
Investing in education and skills development is also key.
Above all, national security must be strengthened given the pervasive and corrosive nature of neo-colonialism.
While sovereignty guarantees to the national economy and security are pivotal, we would be remiss not to celebrate and preserve Zimbabwe’s rich cultural heritage.
Culture and heritage are an existential pillar of the diversity we share as a people.
This explains why the highest office in the land, courtesy of the self-effacing humility of the President and the First Lady, Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa, has ensured that no one and no place has been left behind.
The President’s development projects have reached every inch of our country.
Likewise, the First Lady has been involved in cultural and philanthropic exploits that have demarginalised the formerly marginalised communities of our country.
Q: The President recently commissioned the Pupu Monument, and this was well-received. Why is the preservation of our liberation heritage important?
A: The triumph of colonialism was its violent and psychological capacity to annihilate the heritage, culture and spirituality of the formerly colonised.
The legend of Pupu is one such example of the exalted white lie that gave prominence to the Allan
Wilson killers, who were unfortunately defeated by the Ndebele warriors, regardless of their mighty ammunition.
Therefore, when His Excellency commissioned the Pupu Monument, the President was symbolically walking back to history to exhume the massacred black truth as a result of colonial history.
By so doing, the Second Republic is writing back against the entrenched imperialist stigmatisation of black people as a defeated race.
The initiative is further repositioning the cause of our national independence for future generations to know that our ancestors were mighty men and women, who stood against colonial domination.
The Pupu Monument immortalises what Amilcar Cabral is still teaching us from the grave to “tell no lies and claim no easy victories.”
To this end, liberation heritage is an integral part of Zimbabwe’s national identity.
It symbolises the collective memory, values and aspirations of the nation.
To demonstrate the interconnectedness of our liberation heritage to the rest of the African continent, the President also made a very distinct commitment in the funding of the Mwalimu Julius Nyerere Leadership School in Tanzania in 2022.
Further to this, His Excellency has expressed a keen interest in Government’s funding of the Museum of African Liberation headquartered in Harare.
This is a pleasing development because, under the leadership of President Mnangagwa, Zimbabwe is being transformed into a citadel of African diplomacy.
It even becomes befitting that our nation will host the 44th Session of Sadc Heads of State Summit.
To top it all, His Excellency will assume the chairmanship of this regional body.
Such a multifaceted instigation of the African liberation heritage in our lifetime immaculately displays that the Second Republic is truly championing the African renaissance.
This position has been anchored in the clarion call “Ilizwe lakhiwa ngabanikazi balo, Nyika inovakwa nevene vayo.”
This broadly magnifies that Africa should be built by Africans, as espoused by the founding fathers of our collective continental liberation.
Q: What is the role of traditional leaders and the Church in promoting President Mnangagwa’s commitment of leaving no one and no place behind?
A: Traditional leaders are the custodians of all Zimbabwean communities.
They are the cog for the upholding ethos of Ubuntu and all facets of social being, as they operate from the grassroots.
Traditional leaders are the backbone of the constitutionally instructed call to devolution and all the public administrative and policy benefits which decentralisation creates.
This explains why His Excellency submitted himself to constant consultations with traditional leaders.
By so doing, he has connected his vision to the man in Nkayi, the villager in Binga, the headman in Chivi, the villager in Makoni and the young woman in Gokwe; not forgetting the teacher in Gandanzara.
Symbolically, this makes the President live with the people, learn from the people and even listen to them as one who genuinely loves the people.
This is a character that is not common in our now-defunct opposition, whose presence is only prominent in cyber hashtags and threads, and not in the livelihoods of common men and women in Zimbabwe.
To emphatically express this reality, the Presidential Input Scheme is that organic representation of the Second Republic’s rapport with communities, courtesy of traditional leaders.
Now, turning to the Church, as a devoted man of God, President Mnangagwa has made the Church play a central role in providing spiritual guidance, moral support and community services.
This explains his direct participation in several national prayer church services throughout his tenure.
He has proven his distinct love for God and the surrender of his vocation to the Almighty.
The Church promotes social justice, equality and the well-being of all citizens.
It also raises awareness about the supremacy of God, in whom our national aspirations are guaranteed.
As a Christian myself, I believe the Church directs all of us to the cross, where our salvation is guaranteed and sins washed away.
But, most importantly, this salvation points us all to a supernatural common identity that should unite us beyond the limitations of race, ethnicity, gender and class.
Q: How is our independence a continuity of the unity we enjoy as Zimbabweans since the armed struggle?
A: During the armed struggle for independence, Zimbabweans from different backgrounds came together with a common goal of liberating the country from colonial rule.
This shared objective fostered a sense of unity and solidarity among the freedom fighters and the wider population.
The struggle for independence created a strong bond among Zimbabweans, regardless of their ethnic, cultural and social diversities.
The armed struggle required immense sacrifice from Zimbabweans.
People from all walks of life, including men and women, young and old, rural and urban residents, actively participated in the liberation struggle.
This collective sacrifice demonstrated the unity and determination of Zimbabweans to achieve independence.
It created a sense of shared history and identity that continues to bind us together as a nation.
The attainment of independence in 1980 marked a significant milestone in Zimbabwe’s history.
It symbolised the triumph of unity and collective efforts over oppression and colonialism.
The pride and sense of achievement associated with independence serve as a unifying force among Zimbabweans.
It reminds us of our shared history and the values that underpin our nationhood.
After independence, Zimbabwe embarked on a process of nation-building, focusing on fostering unity and inclusivity.
Efforts were made to promote national identity, equality and social cohesion.
Through policies such as reconciliation, education and cultural integration, the Government sought to strengthen the unity among Zimbabweans and create a sense of belonging for all citizens.
Independence brought forth national symbols and celebrations that further reinforce our unity.
The national flag, national anthem and national holidays such as Independence Day and Unity Day serve as reminders of our shared identity and aspirations.
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These symbols and celebrations provide opportunities for Zimbabweans to come together, celebrate our achievements and reflect on the importance of unity in building a prosperous nation.
In summary, our independence is a continuity of the unity we enjoy as Zimbabweans since the armed struggle.
The common goal, collective sacrifice, national pride, nation-building efforts and national symbols all contribute to fostering unity and strengthening our shared identity as Zimbabweans.
It is through embracing and nurturing this unity that we can continue to build a united and prosperous nation towards Vision 2030.
Q: With the El Niño-induced drought upon us, what plans are in place to ensure that all Zimbabweans are food-secure?
A: His Excellency, the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, made a proclamation to confirm a State of Disaster as a result of the El Niño-induced drought.
Climate change has wreaked havoc on agriculture, thereby affecting food security in Zimbabwe, reducing grain supply to national food reserves.
A national committee has been instituted to manage the drought situation to ensure that no Zimbabwean starves. No one will die of hunger in Zimbabwe.
The Government went on a nationwide blitz to collect data on red zones and target beneficiaries for food assistance.
In activating the distribution programme, each ward in the country is set to receive five tonnes of grain through chiefs, including those registered in the blitz.
We are investing in increased irrigation and developing direct funding models for our strategic agro-ecological regions to avert the effects of climate change.
Q: As a veteran nationalist, what is your advice to the youth?
A: The youth have a generational responsibility to promote the national interest.
Our young men and women have an obligation to patriotism to ensure that they help grow industry and other sectors of our economy.
Education is a key tool for personal and national development.
I encourage the youth to prioritise education and acquire the necessary skills and knowledge to contribute to the country’s growth.
Unity among the youths beyond various social divides guarantees a harmonious and united nation towards Vision 2030.
I emphasise the importance of entrepreneurship and innovation. I encourage the youth to identify opportunities, develop their skills and pursue entrepreneurial ventures.
By embracing entrepreneurship, the youth can contribute to job creation, economic growth and the overall development of Zimbabwe.
Our young people must seek guidance and mentorship from experienced individuals.
Elders must encourage young people to learn from the wisdom and experiences of older generations that have contributed to the nation’s progress.
By seeking mentorship, the youth can gain valuable insights and navigate their paths towards success.
Q: Talking about entrepreneurship, you officiated at the Connect Africa Symposium. What were the major takeaways from the platform?
A: We need to develop all sectors of our industry and make Zimbabwe a more attractive investment brand.
The introduction of the new currency, Zimbabwe Gold (ZiG), strengthens that commitment as it makes industry’s growth to be anchored in a strong domestic competitive basis.
We need to encourage increased confidence in our domestic economic value chains now that our economic sovereignty has been reassured longevity by the new currency.
We must also fully exploit the African Continental Free Trade Area to market our goods and services for the enhancement of our gross domestic product.
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