Zanu-PF happy with ED’s progress
Plumtree and its people played insurmountable role
ZANU-PF yesterday said it is pleased with the progress registered in a short period by President Mnangagwa’s administration and is confident that the future is bright. In a statement commemorating 38 years of independence, Zanu-PF Secretary for Information and Publicity Simon Khaya Moyo said this year’s celebrations came at a time the nation “celebrates not only attainment of independence, but also the ushering in of a new dispensation”. “On the 18th of April 2018, the nation will celebrate one of the most important days on the national calendar; the day on which we, the great people of Zimbabwe, attained nationhood,” he said. “With that in mind, the Zanu-PF First Secretary and President ED Mnangagwa,
Politburo, Central Committee and the Party as a whole wish to congratulate people of Zimbabwe on the 38th anniversary of independence.
“This year’s independence celebrations are historic as they come at a time when the nation celebrates not only the attainment of independence, but also the ushering in of a new political dispensation led by His Excellency, President E. D Mnangagwa."
Cde Khaya Moyo said the ruling party was happy with progress achieved by the new administration.
“We are pleased with the progress being made by the new dispensation which has seen rapid results within a very short period of time,” he said. “The re-engagement efforts being pursued with the international community presents a bright future for our beloved country.
“Under the ‘Zimbabwe is Open for Business’ mantra, foreign direct investment has started flowing into the country.”’
Cde Khaya Moyo urged people to be peaceful as the country prepared for harmonised elections.
“As we approach the elections, we call upon Zimbabweans, as a collective, to shun violence so that the goal of peace, free, fair and credible elections are achieved,” he said. “Long live our freedom and sovereignty. Forward with unity, peace and development.”
Cde Khaya Moyo said independence came through the supreme and priceless sacrifices of men and women who perished in the liberation struggle in countless battles fought both within and outside the country.
“We also, of course, are aware that the struggle was led by two erstwhile liberation movements, then Zanu and Zapu and their respective liberation armies, Zanla and Zipra,” he said. “As the nation reflects on the attainment of its nationhood, we also extend special gratitude towards the immense contribution of all those who assisted us to attain our freedom and independence. We owe them eternal gratitude.” THE country’s protracted war of liberation was fought for 13 years until victory was achieved in 1980, leading into an independent country we cherish today.
However, it shall not be forgotten that before the actual war, liberation movements that led the armed struggle for Zimbabwean independence evolved from trade union and nationalist organisations into mass protests in the 1950s.
As the mass movements gained strength in stature and colour, the colonial regime tightened screws to stifle any hopes of negotiated majority rule which was the panacea of the country’s independence.
Prime Minister Edgar Whitehead banned the Southern Rhodesian African National Congress in 1959 and its successor, the National Democratic Party, met the same fate in December 1961.
Its ban led to the formation of the Zimbabwean African People’s Union (Zapu) in 1961 and its supporters had increasingly become militant, demanding they be provided with weapons to seize power themselves.
When Zapu was banned in September 1962, weapons were already on the way and the first cadres undertaking sabotage inside Southern Rhodesia now Zimbabwe.
In 1962, Zapu established its offices in Lusaka, Zambia, a country already moving towards independence with majority rule.
The party began to build an army to conduct guerrilla war. It recruited and trained many thousands of young people to fight for liberation.
During this recruitment, Plumtree had to become the epicente of transporting recruits across the border into Francistown, Botswana. Justice will not be done if we fail to mention its people who took care of the recruits and help them cross the border into Botswana.
The recruits were taken to Francistown transit camp before being taken to Nampundwe in Zambia, where new recruits were sorted out after they were flown to Zambia from Botswana.
Plumtree did not only act as an exit point but also contributed a number of cadres, some of whom have become luminary liberation heroes.
During the height of the liberation struggle, a group of freedom fighters descended on the Methodist run Thekwane High School in Bulilima District, Matabeleland South province where they rounded up pupils and teachers and led them across the border into Botswana to join the armed struggle.
One of the freedom fighters who executed that mission on that unforgettable night was Cde Bigboy Magalane Dlodlo whose pseudo name was Cde Thomas Nyathi, a son of Plumtree.
Another cadre to emerge from Plumtree is Brigadier General Ben Matiwaza who was part of in 1979 Zipra Operation Zero Hour in the Northern Front, Kanyemba, Chirundu and Kariba where he led one of the battalions that were deployed along the Zambezi River to finish off the Rhodesian forces before a ceasefire was announced.
Plumtree hence should be recognised for the immense contribution to the liberation of this country and its people.
In an interview, Rtd Brig Gen Matiwaza said Plumtree and its people played a very important and insurmountable role during the liberation struggle acting as an exit point as well as accommodating recruits to Botswana enroute to Zambia for guerilla training.
“Plumtree was very important to the liberation struggle. Its people from Madlambuzi to Mphoengs looked after recruits very well, they gave them food and shelter and also helped them cross to Botswana. It was a wonderful job,” said Rtd Brig Gen Matiwaza.
He said many people who intended to cross to Botswana enroute to Zambia would stay in Plumtree as they studied the routes and terrain to the front.
“I crossed as a school boy using a train to Botswana. I went in 1969 and the Rhodesians were saying he’s just a schoolboy. The role played by Plumtree and its people it’s insurmountable. They should be continually recognised for that job well done,” said Rtd Brig Gen Matiwaza.
Cde Kgotso Moyo from Mangwe said Plumtree was the epicentre of recruit movement to the front and its role and that of its people should not be downplayed in the history of this country.
“Our people suffered constant harassment for the role they played in harbouring and helping recruits from the country cross to Botswana and then Zambia for training. The influx of recruits heading to Botswana and those whom we came in constantly influenced me to also cross the border to Francis