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Wallace Ruzvidzo

Herald Reporter

ZIMBABWEANS must never despise who they are, look down upon themselves or conform to the negative narratives peddled by the country’s erstwhile detractors, President Mnangagwa has said.

Over the years, the country’s detractors have tried all dirty tricks to soil Zimbabwe’s image and promote despondency and anarchy in the country, but that has all come to nought.

In his address at the burial of the late national hero Cde Jaison Chirinda at the National Heroes Acre in Harare yesterday, President Mnangagwa said nothing could erase Zimbabweans’ hallmarks as hardworking and peace-loving people.

Zimbabweans’ national pride, he said, should be modelled around the life histories of the country’s heroes and heroines like Cde Chirinda.

“We must never despise who we are as a people, or look down on ourselves, or conform to the negative narratives about us being peddled by detractors.

“We, Zimbabweans are a proud, resilient, courageous, humble, and hardworking people; a united, peace-loving and harmonious country. No amount of lies and falsehoods will ever erase this.

“The life histories of our heroines and heroes such as our departed national hero Cde William Jaison Chirinda remind us to stand resolutely firm in defending Zimbabwe.

“The indelible memories of Cde Chirinda, a humble but courageous and brave cadre who cherished hard work, discipline and loyally served our country will forever be honoured and revered. Alongside many others, he took an unenvied decision, to confront the white colonial regime at a time least expected,” said the President.

President Mnangagwa said through national pride, Zimbabwe would continue to surmount challenges brought by the illegal Western imposed economic sanctions and climate change, which is spawning droughts in the region.

He said Zimbabwe would not be deterred in its quest to attain an upper-middle-income economy by 2030.

“Despite challenges and shocks such as climate change and the global economic downturn, the Second Republic continues to rebuild, modernise and industrialise our nation.

“The plunder and strangulation, which we continue to be subjected to under the illegal sanctions, will never deter us.

President Mnangagwa and Acting Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi arrive for the burial of Cde Jaison Chirinda at the National Heroes Acre in Harare yesterday

“Meanwhile, Government will continue to implement measures that will continue to stabilise our currency and economy, as well as accelerate the completion of major infrastructure projects to improve our transport system, energy and water harvesting capacity,” President Mnangagwa said. He rallied the general citizenry to remain united, loyal and patriotic.

“Taking a leaf from the heroes of yesteryear, the duty is ours, the people of Zimbabwe, across all provinces and districts, to remain united, loyal and patriotic to our country so that we protect our independence and build our country for a better quality of life for all,” the President said.

Just like the late national hero, who was “a loyal, persistent and consistent cadre”, President Mnangagwa urged Zimbabweans to embrace such traits.

He said he had fond memories of Cde Chirinda as they had served time in the same prison during the liberation struggle.

“His quest to see a free and independent Zimbabwe resulted in his arrest by the Rhodesian Forces and sentenced to death. The penalty was later commuted to life in prison.

“I personally served with him in prison, with both of us waiting to be executed for carrying out guerrilla attacks in the country.

Pallbearers carry the casket bearing the body of national hero Cde Jaison Chirinda. – Pictures: Believe Nyakudjara

“In prison, the late National Hero, Cde Chirinda and myself served with other cadres that included Comrades Victor Mlambo, Lloyd Gunda, William Ndangana, Herbert Samba, Dzangasi Dube and Benjamin Mahaka, among others.

“In the late National Hero, we have lost a loyal, persistent, consistent, brave and disciplined veteran freedom fighter, who sacrificed his youth for the liberation of our motherland, Zimbabwe,” President Mnangagwa said.

He detailed how Cde Chirinda had led some of the finest cadres including Cde Josiah Magama Tongogara during the protracted liberation struggle.

“Conscious of how blacks were being brutalised, dispossessed of their land and impoverished by the racist white settler colonial regime, Cde Chirinda joined the Liberation Struggle in 1965.

“He was moved to Tanzania for military training at the Three Leaves Brigade. On completion of initial military training, he was sent to China for further training.

“When the late National Hero, Cde Chirinda returned from the People’s Republic of China, he was assigned, together with other cadres, to undertake critical missions which marked key milestones in the initial offensive military operations against the Rhodesian Forces.

“In the famous Battle of Sinoia, our National Hero, led one of the groups that included our late ZANLA Commander, General Josiah Magama Tongogara, whilst the second one was led by Cde Chatambudza whose members became the legendary “Chinhoyi Seven” heroes after they perished in the encounter with enemy forces,” President Mnangagwa said.

Cde Chirinda, he said, had set an example which he hoped today’s youth would emulate.

“Today we honour a national hero, “Cde Chezhira” who chose to take up the fight for independence even against what seemed to be a superior enemy.

“In this development stage of our country, we need more young boys and girls, men and women, who have the same tenacity to push the national vision forward.

“May the interment of one of the pioneering veterans of the struggle inspire and help to birth heroes of the next generation. Be it in science, education, the economy, social services, health, engineering, infrastructure or sports, arts and culture; wherever you are and whatever you are doing, you can impact the prosperity of our country,” President Mnangagwa said.

He conveyed his deepest condolences to the Chirinda family.

“On behalf of the Nation, the Government of Zimbabwe, our revolutionary mass Party, ZANU PF, my family and indeed on my own behalf, I once again express my deep and heartfelt condolences to the Chirinda Family over this loss.

“Our prayers and sympathies are with you during this trying and difficult period,” said President Mnangagwa.

He called on the British Government to return the remains of Zimbabwe’s liberation heroes and heroines.

The President, flanked by Vice Presidents Constantino Chiwenga (left) and Kembo Mohadi, sing the national anthem at the burial of Cde Chirinda yesterday

“We remind the British Government and people that the spirits of our heroes will not rest until their remains are repatriated and interred in a dignified way. Going forward, we urge the British Government to return the remains of our people to Zimbabwe.

“Last week I was privileged to launch a study initiated by the Zimbabwe National Elders Forum titled: “Land Displacements: The untold Stories of Crimes, injustices, trauma and losses experienced by indigenous Zimbabweans during the colonial era (1890 to 1980), a case for reparations”.

“I applaud our Elders for this great initiative that will document the suppressed and untold story of the injustices, trauma and loss of lives as well as livelihoods suffered at the hands of the British Government and its settlers. We demand an apology and reparations from the British Government,” President Mnangagwa said.

He chronicled events under British colonialism while reiterating the Second Republic’s commitment to compensating white former farmers.

“The settlers tormented our leadership, including King Lobengula, who was forced into exile albeit after a heroic battlefield encounter with the settler army led by British Army Captain Alan Wilson, whilst Mbuya Nehanda and Sekuru Kaguvi were executed by hanging for resisting colonial rule.

“Equally, the remains of our brave warriors such as Chief Chiwashira, Chief Chingaira, Chief Mapondera and Chief Mashayamombe are still held in British museums as trophies, after they were captured and killed in horrific circumstances.

“The Second Republic is forthright in accommodating compensation of white former farmers in respect of improvements they made on the land redistributed by the State. We call upon the British Government, whose predecessor governments were responsible for pillaging and brutalising us, to take responsibility and not remain indifferent to the cries of Zimbabweans for justice,” President Mnangagwa said.

On the agricultural front, the President said it was encouraging to note that the country was on the cusp of yet another record-breaking winter wheat harvest.

The summer cropping season, he said, was equally promising.

“It is pleasing that the distribution of inputs for the 2024/2025 summer cropping season has begun, coinciding with the rains received in some parts of our country.

“The season presents us all, household by household, village by village and ward by ward, with the opportunity to rally all our efforts to till our God-given land as we secure household and national food security.

“To date, a new record on the winter wheat production is on target. The forecasted harvest underscores the resurgence of our agriculture sector, as we sustain our mark as a wheat self-sufficient nation,” said President Mnangagwa.

At the time of his death, Cde Chirinda was a farmer in Mashonaland Central Province.