On 17th April, the first day of the celebrations, over 7 000 children drawn from all our 10 provinces gathered at Mt Pfura for the traditional Children’s Party. There was a lot of song, dance and drama, leading to boundless merriment. Above all, through these children, our nation spoke to itself in its various tongues, speech forms and acts, all the time exhibiting striking sensibilities. As the children mixed and mingled, they were able to situate themselves within the national fold, under one flag, singing one national anthem.
It solidified our unity, whose fertile ground and guarantor are our children, the promise and future of our nation. Through all those children who attended the Children’s Party, I convey my deepest, heartfelt thanks to the children of Zimbabwe in all families and communities that make up our rich nation. I am very pleased that the children have all made it safely back home, without single incident.
I, too, thank their teachers who looked after them throughout the festive period and continue to do so in all our educational institutions.
At Mt Pfura Centre, we made sure veterans of the Armed Struggle, principally those who served in echelons of command of both ZANLA and ZIPRA, were represented. Many of our commanders have passed away, but a few who remain were with us at Mt Pfura. We have taken the decision that they must be in attendance during all our national days.
The debt we owe them is irrepayable. This is the least we can do to honour them. Through them and through our former Vice President, Amai Joice Teurai Ropa Mujuru, widow of our late Commander and National Hero, General Solomon “Rex” Mujuru, I want to thank all our veterans for this great day which they made, and for honouring our invitation. Through such commemorations, we honour them.
Our traditional leaders, led by the chiefs and masvikiro, were in attendance. Our Liberation War and Struggle was deeply spiritual, and our masvikiro connected us to our forebears who led the First War of Resistance — the First Chimurenga/Umvukela. Throughout the war, they always reminded us of prophecies made before our time, whose fulfilment became our task and mission. It was common practice during our War of Liberation to secure the blessings and benediction of traditional and spiritual leaders in any one area before operations began.
Indeed, both in Zambia and Mozambique, we had spiritual figures who made our Struggle connect with its long-deceased forerunners and its future. The presence of traditional leaders at Mt Pfura on this solemn occasion of our National Day was, thus, as fitting as it was reassuring. We must walk in step with our roots and traditions, both of which give us distinct character as a people and nation.
Church personages joined us, drawing from different faiths and denominations. We remain a nation of faiths; indeed, a nation towards whose becoming the Church writ large played a key role, both in raising and shaping our national consciousness, and in supporting our struggle for Independence.
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