Zim at 40: A time to reflect

AS the Zimbabwe Indigenous Interdenominational Council of Churches (ZIICC), we wish to congratulate His Excellency, the President of Zimbabwe, Head of State and Government and Commander-in-Chief of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces, Cde ED Mnangagwa and the nation at the attainment of a milestone 40 years of Independence.

Tinoti makorokoto! Amhlope! We salute the men and women who sacrificed life and limb for us to be able to enjoy this precious liberation of our country Zimbabwe.

We are forever grateful. Endowed with rich mineral deposits, blessed with swathes of fertile land and good climate, Zimbabwe gives promise of great things, so are our people.

Zimbabweans have captured the wisdom to return to God.

As Zimbabweans, we are bred from the best stock of the human race: God fearing, hardworking, resilient, educated, inventive and quick to see opportunities.

Just as biblical Israelites, when they came out of Egypt, they went into the wilderness for 40 years.

The journey was exasperatingly circuitous. The experiences were a mixture of excitement and horror.

They were years of uncertainty and vulnerability.

Years of hair-raising achievements and victories and yet mixed with nerve-wracking decisions and heart-rending disasters.

All this worked together for good to foment a culture of walking with God and achieving beyond expectations.

Zimbabwe has had its fair share of teething problems.

As the biblical Israel at 40, the country finds herself in a new dispensation.

For Israel, it was one where they had to embrace a new leader, trust God for their future and learn to work as a united nation. It behoved them, as much as us, to learn to work with unity in diversity and assume collective responsibility for outcomes. The priceless unity of its people was key to victories and advancements that made them famous.

As you look over your shoulder Zimbabwe, have faith for your future. Do not rehash your difficulties. As we celebrate a milestone 40 years of Independence, the Zimbabwe Indigenous Interdenominational Council of Churches (ZIICC) blesses the country with the words of Joshua 1:1-9:

Let this year mark for this nation, a year of new achievements. A year to scale new heights and pitch our fame as a nation. Let us look back, great people and ask ourselves: What is it that polarised us as a nation in the past forty years?

What is it that will bind us together and heal our hearts?

What is it that made business take a back seat in research and development?

What is it that can make business vibrant and create employment and wealth for a healthy national well-being?

What is it that corrupted our vision for the Zimbabwe we want?

What is it that can sharpen our focus on the vision of the Zimbabwe we want

— an upper middle-income economy by year 2030?

What lessons have we learnt as a nation in walking with God over the past 40 years?

As ZIICC, we say to Zimbabweans at our nation’s 40th birthday, sanctify yourselves for tomorrow the Lord will do great things for our nation.

Let us be renewed in the thinking of our minds and adopt a new patriotic responsibility for the future of our nation.

Arise great nation and lay hold on your potential for greatness.

The sky is the limit.

Believe in yourself Zimbabwe. See beyond the Covid-19 pandemic. See beyond present economic challenges and take them as stepping stones to greater achievements.

Possess your place of glory Zimbabwe, in this global village.

Be distinguished as a people, as a nation by excellence in agriculture, mining, manufacturing, education and in knowing God.

With heads held high, turn a new leaf and exalt unity, peace and love in this God-given nation.

Life begins at 40. The future is bright. May God abundantly bless you Zimbabwe at 40 with long life and good health.

The name of the Lord defend you from the Covid-19 pandemic so that its curve of new infections flattens immediately and the scourge recedes. Let Zimbabwe live and prosper.

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Pastor Richard Takaindisa is ZIICC Secretary for Information and Publicity.