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Sulumani Chimbetu Correspondent
As a young Zimbabwean who has made a mark in music and business, I always cherish the sacrifices that liberation struggle fighters made for us to be a free Zimbabwe. Not least, my own father took part in the heroic liberation struggle and was declared a provincial hero when he died in August 2005, a befitting send-off for one of the most conscious and patriotic public figures of our time.

Zimbabwe won its Independence on April 18, 1980 – two years before I was born in the small town of Chegutu. It is because of independence that we are now able to exploit our resources and benefit ourselves.

It is with no argument that self-governance has created synergies that has led to the development of our country which could not have been the case if we were still under the white regime.

The freedom that we are enjoying today is there because of this independence and this is something which we should cherish as citizens of Zimbabwe.

Apart from being a public figure, I have benefited a lot in this free Zimbabwe. I am now able to move around the country doing my job; I can compose a song about anything without fear.

We are free economically, we are free socially because under the colonial Ian Smith regime we were forced to do things that were not only horrible and exploitative but sometimes against our norms and values, our culture.

As I am enjoying my job as a musician, a number Zimbabweans of my generation are in mines, farming and a number of activities to earn a living.

There are a number of opportunities created for us, some are still in the making and we have a lot to exploit in the future because this is our country, we now have freedom to do whatever we want.

We are now a democratic country where everyone is free to do whatever he/she wants as long it does not breach the laws of the land. This is all happening because of independence.

Observing Independence is a sign of respect we all grew up observing as we cherish the day the yoke of colonialism fell and we reclaimed our freedom and glory.

We should also preach unity and peace as the young generation which is also important for economic development.

In my career, I have remained alive to the social and political function of music given its cohesive and mobilising nature.

It is a duty that my late father followed to the letter and thus was able to sing music that united and rallied people socially and politically – a legacy that I have happily taken up.

Through Independence, we have learnt a lot and we are implementing some of the lessons today.

We value unity as a nation because it is unity that brought us independence as Zimbabweans united under the banner of the main political parties – Zanu and PF-Zapu – and their respective military wings; and the leadership of President Mugabe and the late Father Zimbabwe Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo.

There is, need for us as Zimbabweans to join hands in safeguarding Independence Day so that it remains relevant to generations to come.

Zimbabwe is known for her abundant resources and we should also be very proud and celebrate every holiday that comes with love, especially those that seeks to celebrate our heritage.

As I musician I believe I have a role to play, which is to entertain, educate and inform my fellow Zimbabweans through music.

I believe that as musicians, we should be able to compose something that will educate generations to come and this is the reason we have songs that chronicle the history of Zimbabwe.

I have a song titled “Hondo” on the album “Gunship” and in that song I tried to remind people that we have our own history as a country.

Just like families, they have history which will be narrated to all generations and kept as heritage and this should be the same with us as Zimbabweans.

It is essential for everyone to know the history of the country and that is what we are simply trying to do as musicians through song.

There are other songs like “Macamaradha” and “Zororo” which are simply chronicling what transpired during the war.

This has been the case with my father, my hero Simon Chimbetu.

This issue of singing about the nation or chronicling the country’s history through music should be clear and straight forward.

It is just a sign of national pride, to me it’s a part of national service because these songs will be played by generations to come and after listening to the songs they get to know of the country’s history.

Most of my father’s songs are still being played and some of them are still relevant to our generation.

I carry the torch of dendera music which my father bequeathed me.

Equally I carry the burden and responsibility to sing songs that build the country and society, which should be our patriotic duty as public figures and it is for this reason that I have never shunned when national duty has called.

Events and commemorations such as Independence Day are sacred, and as for me they remind me of the path that my own father, among other heroes, walked and preservation is our duty as patriotic Zimbabweans.