Happy birthday, Zimbabwe!

TODAY, April 18, 2024 is Zimbabwe’s birthday; a day that binds Zimbabweans of all stripes together.

It is a glorious and auspicious occasion for all of us. What we celebrate on Independence Day is the fact that we are part of a great democracy.

Each of us has many identities — apart from caste, creed, language and region, we are also identified with our families and professions — but there is one identity that is above all. That is our identity as the citizens of Zimbabwe.

Each one of us is an equal citizen. Each one of us has an equal opportunity, equal rights and equal duties, in this beautiful land between the mighty Zambezi and Limpopo rivers.

Independence Day is an occasion to reconnect with our history as a nation. It is also an occasion to assess our present and reflect on the way forward.

Under the oppressive colonial rule, our founding fathers imagined and believed in a self-governing nation where all people having been created equal would be entitled to life and liberty. A nation where opportunity could be realised by anyone with determination and a dream.

With unwavering resolve to ensure an independent Zimbabwe, the founding fathers took a bold chance on an improbable experiment in democracy. Leaving behind the comfort of their homes and high-paying jobs, they decided to take the bull by its horn and set sail for a new Zimbabwe bright with liberty.

Thanks to these brave heroes and heroines, Zimbabwe continues to stand as a beacon of hope and gleam as an example of the strength that can be drawn from our identity as proud Zimbabweans.

As we pop the champagne and merry-make, it is important to remember how incredibly lucky we are that people, generations ago, were willing to take up arms and fight for our freedom.

The story of independence is not something that happens, and then we just put it away. It is something that we have to fight for every single day. It is something that we have to nurture, and we have to spread the word; especially to the young generation that some people sacrificed their lives to be what and where we are today. We have to continue working on having a better and prosperous Zimbabwe.

Today, as we celebrate, have fun and marvel at everything that has been done before, we should recommit ourselves to making sure that everyone in this country is free. Everyone has an opportunity to excel in life and that everyone gets a fair shot at available opportunities.

It should be our desire that every child in Zimbabwe has a good education. Education is the greatest tool of social empowerment, and we want to see more doors opening to the young generation so that they can significantly contribute to nation building.

The recently introduced Education 5.0 Policy has started making a difference as learning has become more flexible. The visionary policy, which aims to merge ancient values with modern skills, will bring unprecedented changes in the education sector over the years, leading to great transformation of our nation. Zimbabwe’s economic progress is powered by the dreams of its people, particularly the young generation for whom limitless opportunities have opened up. From start-ups to sports, our youth have explored new horizons of excellence.

The aspirations of the new Zimbabwe have infinite dimensions.

Despite economic sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe by the United States of America and her allies, the resilience of the people of Zimbabwe is unmatched. Economic progress is being witnessed.

The Second Republic under President Mnangagwa should be commended for the sustained push to unleash the forces of enterprise by making it easier to do business and generate job opportunities. On the other hand, proactive and expanded welfare initiatives for the needy have been taken in various domains through various Presidential schemes.

Government should continue with the leaving no one and no place behind drive in the development agenda as this will see the upliftment out of poverty of a large number of people. It is pleasing to note that along with economic growth, human-development concerns have also been accorded high priority.

As we continue enjoying the fruits of our hardwon independence, let us all take a pledge to perform our fundamental duty to strive towards excellence in all spheres of individual and collective activity so that the nation constantly rises to higher levels of endeavour and achievement.