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“As an African I have been paying attention to what he has been doing in Zimbabwe and in Africa. He works hard for his people and he has contributed to peace and development in Africa.”

A NIGERIAN artiste Victor Edoja has released a track titled “African Unity — R. G Mugabe” in honour of President Mugabe’s tenure as African Union Chairman from January 2015 to January 2016.

The song salutes President Mugabe for his continental leadership from the days of Africa’s liberation struggles to the contemporary thrust towards the implementation of the African Union Agenda 2063 that was launched and adopted during his tenure.

Agenda 2063, the AU’s development plan for the next 50 years, dovetails with Zimbabwe’s economic blueprint, Zim-Asset that, apart from industrialisation, advocates the judicious exploitation of natural resources through value addition and beneficiation.

The song reverberates with the chorus: “President Mugabe, we thank you for the many, many things you do for the people./Oh! We love you for your fight for African progress and unity.And we thank you for the many, many things where you do for the people . . .”

The song, recorded in Lagos, Nigeria, on January 25, 2016, includes snippets from President Mugabe’s acceptance speech after his election as AU Chairman, delivered on January 30 2015 at the 25th AU Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, where he called for “renewed boundless zeal, commitment and dedication in implementing programmes and projects that we have set for ourselves in the various political, social, economic and security sectors.”

The song can be downloaded at <https://soundcloud.com/user-210825394/africa2063> (you can also listen to it on The Herald website: www.herald.co.zw

Edoja (28), is a Bachelor of Science degree holder from the University of Calabar.

Speaking from Nigeria, Edoja said he had been inspired by President Mugabe’s statesmanship and how he has stood out as a leader over the years.

“As an African I have been paying attention to what he has been doing in Zimbabwe and in Africa. He works hard for his people and he has contributed to peace and development in Africa,” he said.

Asked how he had remained immune from the negative reports emanating especially from western media about President Mugabe, Edoja said: “I believe what he has been doing he has not been for himself but for his people and Africa.”

Edoja said he admired President Mugabe and his holistic leadership.

“I fell in love with his background, I loved his courage to fight for political freedom for his people, and the fact that he succeeded in that ordeal is really great because that was a massive relief to the majority which were blacks in Zimbabwe. So I played around those ideas in my head while writing the song.”

Africa, Edoja said, had to be fully independent and self dependent in line with the Vision 2063.

On continental leadership he said: “Well, we need leaders that are sensitive to the challenges of the developing nations which they preside over and their primary goal should be to sustain and to improve generally on every aspect of the nations’ well being and not allowing things to fall apart.

“If it happens, they should always take prompt action to provide solutions and ensure continuity of good leadership.”

Zimbabweans welcomed the recognition of President in song and said the gesture was consistent with the popularity and respect President Mugabe commands on the continent and Diaspora despite negative western propaganda against him.

“Through his tenure as African Union Chairperson, and indeed his record as a Pan Africanist who has dedicated his life to the liberation of Zimbabwe and Africa at large, the Diaspora has been able to stand proud and tall as Zimbabweans who can be relied upon to defend and advance the African agenda without compromise,” said Zanu-PF United Kingdom branch chairman, Cde Ndavaningi Nick Mangwana.

“President Mugabe is very popular among the African Diaspora which includes all Black People of African Origin engaged in African Affairs. When we attend Pan Africanist Events held by our Afro-Caribbean Cousins there is always pandemonium when we are introduced as Representatives of Robert Mugabe’s Party. There are always “Mugabe Lives” Chants.

“This is the kind of stature of the man and the sentiment he invokes in the African Diaspora. Even though every poll has vindicated his popularity. The Legend of the man precedes him.”

 

Lyrics:
(President Mugabe Speaking: In 1999 at Sirte, Libya we transformed the OAU structures into the African Union, this in order to take into account the current realities of our continent)

Chorus

 President Mugabe, we thank you for the many, many things where you do for the people.

Oh! We love you for your fight for African progress and unity Ay!

And we thank you for the many, many things that you do for the people oh oh!

We love you! You’re the real Pan-Africanist yeah yeah!

 

You be one of Africa’s heroes (heroes) written your name in the sands of time.

You lead the way for we to follow (follow) back in your days even in your prime.

And till tomorrow, still on the matter, paving the way for Africa to get better,

 

Emancipation for the African people.

 

2063 is Africa’s the year when the plan comes together,

She will be standing tall,

She’ll be a united and prosperous continent.

 

Chorus x2

 Africa is our home (Africa is our home)

Africa is our home (Africa is our home)

And together we can make it better

One people, one continent.

Economic freedom oh oh, political freedom oh oh

Peace and unity, progress stability

In our community

That’s what we need.

 

Respect (to the African leaders)

The Champions, (the African dreamers)

And as we dey go, I cannot forget to mention:

 

President Mugabe, we thank you for the many, many things where you do for the people.

Oh! We love you for your fight for African progress and unity.

And we thank you for the many, many things which you do for the people

We love you! You’re the real Pan-Africanist yeah yeah!

Robert Mugabe, we thank you for the many, many things which you do for the people.

Oh! We love you for your fight for African progress and unity.

And we thank you for the many, many things where you do for the people

We love you! You’re the real Pan-Africanist yeah yeah!

 (Speaking) President RG Mugabe, acceptance speech as Chairman of the African Union: We call for a new commitment and dedication in implementing programmes and projects that we have set ourselves in the various political, social, economic and security sectors)

Play the song below: