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Castro.
More than one and half centuries ago, the two nations’ destiny was not only carved out, but it became a historical narrative with more similarities than differences. Here are a few examples of how I see it: January 28 was a special day for the people of Cuba as they celebrated the 53rd anniversary of the triumph of the Cuban Revolution under the leadership of Fidel Castro Ruz and, the 159th anniversary of the birth of Cuba and Latin America’s national hero, freedom fighter, intellectual, unifier and “apostle” of the revolution who also shaped its ideological framework – José Martí.
He left a legacy which has withstood the test of time for Cuba’s independence was his passion from a young age. As a liberator, he did not want Latin America to live on borrowed ideas and principles as he believed that they “needed to know the reality of their own history and literature.” He led by example.
The song “Guantanamera” (a girl from Guantanamo), which is the hallmark of Cuban patriotism is attributed to Martí’s “Versos Sencillos” (Simple verses).
Then, on January 1, 1959, Fidel Castro and his comrades entered Cuba, the country they had freed from the dictatorship of the Fulgencio Batista regime.
This was more than a century after Martí’s triumph over Spanish colonialism and Fidel is reported as having said, “I am Fidel Castro and, we have come to liberate Cuba.”
Martí was born in Havana, Cuba on January 28, 1853 and died on May 19, 1895. He is revered for defeating Spanish colonialism, while Castro’s leadership is held in high esteem for keeping that revolutionary flame burning, despite the five-decade illegal sanction regime from the United States of America and its allies.
The January 28 commemorations were a double celebration which enabled Cubans in Zimbabwe – embassy personnel, members of the Cuban medical brigade and the Association of Cuban Residents (ZICUMA) to reflect on the bitter sweet road the two nations have traversed.
The Government of Zimbabwe and associations that represent Cuban interests gave solidarity messages. These included the Zimbabwe-Cuba Friendship Association (ZICUFA) and The Zimbabwean Committee for the Liberation of the Cuban Five.
ZICUFA applauded the Cuban people for “remaining steadfast and resolute in the defence of their hard earned freedom and sovereignty”. Through the presentations by Cuban ambassador Enrique López, the Medical Brigade, ZICUMA, ZICUFA and Free the Five, it was evident that Cuba and Zimbabwe share a common history (colonialism, liberation struggle and illegal economic sanctions meant to derail their sovereignty.)
Ambassador Lopez said, “the annual activity is also dedicated to these (Zimbabwean) organisations and their membership for their sustained and combative support to the just causes of Cuba and Zimbabwe: the fight for the lifting of the US blockade against Cuba, the Western sanctions against Zimbabwe, for the freedom of the Five Cuban heroes unjustly imprisoned in the USA for preventing terrorist attacks against Cuba and other countries, including the United States of America, and for the defence of Cuba and Zimbabwe’s independence and sovereignty and the historical and everlasting friendship between our two countries and peoples.”
President of ZICUFA Cde Fananidzo Pesanai said Fidel Castro in his reflections of 1853 summed up Martí’s role: “Cuba was condemned to cease to exist as a nation. José Martí was among the glorious legions of patriots who through the second half of the 19th century fought against the loathsome colonialism brandished by Spain for 300 years – a man of ideas and action, a patriot, a poet, a natural hero – the eternal man (hero) of Cuba.”
“José Martí has not died. He lives mortally and eternally in the heroic pages of Cuban history, he is with the Cuban people everyday. His words illuminate the Cuban trail day and night, for example, ‘Barricades of ideas are worth more than barricades of stones’; it is better to die on your feet, than to live on your knees”, said Fidel.
José Martí died on May 19, 1895. Thus the Cuban freedom fighter was killed in battle against Spanish colonialists three years after the British settler colonialists had entered and colonised Zimbabwe.
Martí also died a year before the First Chimurenga in Zimbabwe was waged, and three years before the hanging of Zimbabwe’s revolutionaries in 1898 – Mbuya Nehanda, Sekuru Kaguvi and others. Cde Lovemore Gwati of the Free the Five also said Marti’s thoughts and deeds influenced generations of Cubans and other people and, they continue to do so today.
“At 16 years of age, his editorials and poems were already being published in local newspapers. In 1869 he got himself in serious trouble with the colonial authorities when he wrote passionately in support of the rebels who were fighting for the independence of Cuba and the freedom of the Cuban slaves,” he said.
The Zimbabwean equivalent is when national hero Vice President Simon Muzenda got into serious trouble with Rhodesian authorities after reciting Solomon Mutswairo’s protest poem, “Oh, Nehanda Nyakasikana”.
Cde Gwati added, “Martí was imprisoned with hard labour. Upon his release after one year he was exiled to Spain where he studied law specialising in civil rights.”
This was typical of the settler colonialists’ treatment of people who stood up to them: arrests, illegal detentions, torture and banishments, but actions which gave their victims opportunities to advance their agendas, and exploit their potential. The majority of Zimbabwe’s liberators were educated this way.
Just like many illustrious heroes of Zimbabwe’s liberation struggle, Martí did not live to see Cuba’s independence, however, his thoughts and vision inspired and guided Cubans. Mbuya Nehanda, one of the key figures of the First Chimurenga said something that became a rallying point for fighting colonialism: “My bones will rise again” (Mapfupa angu achamuka).
Cde Gwati added that one hundred years after José Martí’s birth, Fidel Castro in his self-defence under trial for the assault on the Moncada Garrision in 1953 when asked who the mastermind of the assault was, “replied without vacillation that it was José Martí”.
ZICUFA and Free the Five pledged their continued solidarity to the government and people of Cuba.
“In doing so, we are conscious of the unjust, continued incarceration of five Cuban compatriots in the USA . . . We therefore demand the immediate and unconditional release of the Cuban Five. The Zimbabwe Committee for the Liberation of the Cuban Five also condemns the economic blockade imposed on Cuba now going for more than five decades. This goes on to demonstrate the cruelty of the imperialist forces.
“Zimbabwe also continues to suffer economic sanctions imposed by the same imperialist western forces. We therefore demand the lifting of the economic blockade against Cuba and the economic sanctions against Zimbabwe,” they said.
Referring to challenges, Cde Pesanai said, “We are aware that several generations of Cubans have faced internal and external hostile forces which have sought to hinder and eliminate the victorious Cuban Revolution . . . “
There are more parallels between Cuba and Zimbabwe, and as we look back to the one and half centuries, we get a broader picture that not only do they share a common destiny, but they have so much to learn from each other. The lessons should give them the conviction that they are in fact victors and not losers.
Cuba and Zimbabwe have become some of the shining examples of how diminutiveness can translate into might if powerful nations, for decades on end have to invest so much in order to destroy them. Cuba is less than 100km from the world’s super power, the United States, but it has defied the monolith. Cuba has been demonised, but the people have remained united, rallying other progressive forces in the international community on their side.
Evidently, some along the way become sell outs, but this has not doused the revolutionary flame. As they look ahead to the 54th anniversary, with Zimbabwe celebrating 33 years of independence on April 18, there should be a true sense of triumph, and not victimology. The economic crunch has taken its toll, but they are down and not out.
The mood and feeling at the celebrations on January 28 was that of forward-looking, no matter how bumpy the road. Like José Martí, they refused to be treated like scoundrels and buried in darkness to die like traitors, for they know that in the commonwealth of nations, they are equally good and as good men they will die facing the sun.
The way forward is also well summarised by Fidel Castro, “I began (the) revolution with 82 men. If I had to do it again, I do it with 10 or 15 and absolute faith. It does not matter how small you are if you have faith and (a) plan of action”. Cuba and Zimbabwe’s detractors should also in Castro’s words understand that “our country is not just Cuba; our country is also humanity.”