Zimpapers Logo

THIS year’s Heroes and Defence Forces Day holidays were more than just commemorations of the past, although these were celebrated, they were also used by President Mnangagwa to project the positive values into the present and the future.

There was also this year a greater national unity over the national public holidays, with opposition legislators, mayors and councillors starting to attend these national events and, at least for a day, leaving party politics where they belong. The President himself has always been careful to stress national issues on these public occasions, leaving his vigorous political role for more suitable party gatherings.

More seemed to have been done this year to build up the commemorations in the provinces, making it easier for more Zimbabweans and, in the case of Heroes Day, for the relatives of the fallen, to take part.

In his addresses, President Mnangagwa outlined the achievements of the past, but used these as the foundation of what was needed now. There is no single victory that will magically transform Zimbabwe and each generation is called upon to make a major effort and, where necessary to do so under great pressure, for progress to be made.

So on Heroes Day, there was emphasis on the strong and steady economic growth being recorded in recent years, despite sanctions and despite what those who wish the country ill are doing. This economic growth across all sectors has been building up the numbers of people with decent incomes, either through employment by others or by their own business efforts.

It should be noted that the worst drought for many years, the one we are coping with now, has not reversed national growth despite the devastation in agriculture. Even this year, the economy is growing, although only at a little more than half the rate it would have done in a good farming season. 

But this is still an important achievement, that even when external factors and climate change combine, Zimbabwe can still move forward. Investment decisions made some years ago are now seen as critical. It took several years to build and commission the extension at Hwange Thermal, but considering the very low output allowed at Kariba South in a low-water drought year, it is obvious that the country’s business community would have been sunk without that extra power.

It is also worth noting that much of this growth is because so many are pulling in the correct direction and that the Government has worked hard to make it easier to invest in business and to grow businesses. Businesspeople are moving through the opening doors, not so much because they want to grow the national economy, but because they want a better life for themselves and their families. But when we move ahead together, the combination of all those individual efforts is the national effort.

The President also brought up the national calmness and good order now prevailing, a sign that Zimbabweans are becoming mature and are less likely to be listening to populist rabble rousers. This is not to say that serious disagreements on policy and implementation of policy should not exist, and that debate on the best way forward should be smothered. 

But these should be using the more effective channels that proliferate in a free society like Zimbabwe rather than trying to create social disorder. We are continuing to see how Parliament is becoming more effective as draft legislation goes through those multi-party select committees and then goes through constructive debate in the chambers, with sponsoring Ministers welcoming improvements offered on both sides of the houses and seeing loopholes plugged.

In the celebrations of Defence Forces Day, President Mnangagwa made it clear that those in the forces were important members of society and were important State workers, who like their civil colleagues needed decent housing, good medical facilities and opportunities to advance.

The Defence Forces are in the interesting position that most members are now post-independence recruits, although entering services that were created and set up, along with their unit traditions, by veterans of the Liberation War. 

Some of those traditions are perhaps unusual in military circles, such as the insistence on continuous education at high levels; but that tradition is one of the most crucial from the first generations who sacrificed so much when they went to fight and then wanted to catch up on their return. And among other things, that particular tradition means that when the last liberation force veteran retires, they will be leaving the defence forces in exceptionally well-trained hands.

A very welcome change that is starting to become apparent is the willingness by opposition political figures to now attend national events, correctly seeing these as national rather than party political. This is usual in most democracies and we hope we will see ever more of this. 

But when big city mayors turn up at events in their cities, and opposition MPs join their colleagues from the other side of Parliament on the terraces, we are making a declaration as a nation that we know where we stand together as Zimbabweans and then can debate our disagreements in appropriate forums while still remaining all committed to the future of a better country.