What Mnangagwa and Chamisa said on Zimbabwe’s 40th independence anniversary

Corruption

Lastly, while sovereignty, that is to say, Independence, has over the last 40 years been for the State; a new paradigm – through radical transformation consistent with our new Constitution – is needed to make clear that sovereignty belongs to the people, not to the State.

It’s the people who are free and who should define their sovereignty.

Against this backdrop, when we look back over the last 40 years, and especially when we focus on the last two decades, the milestone we rightly commemorate today is a mixed bag: we have made some strides, but we have also failed ourselves in a big way. However, a New beginning is not only possible but is necessary and is coming.  For it to happen, we must each and all of us, play our part and be hold The New!

THE DEMOCRATIC TRANSFORMATION TASK –

As Zimbabwe turns 40 today. Indeed a new nation has to be born. The nation has just to be born again. The next generation has to kick in to rebuild our country.

As we approach the decade before us, we need a new consensus, the intergenerational consensus. This inter-generational consensus is an agreement on solutions to the challenges facing the broad masses of Zimbabwe, namely the struggle for social justice and prosperity. The old should work with the young. The young must take the lead.

We must to create a socially just democratic transformative state with a humble and empathetic God fearing and God Loving leadership in respect of which will adhere to the values of social justice, transparency, accountability and equality.

We also must fulfill the unfinished agenda of the liberation struggle, in particular, the economic emancipation of our people.

We must establish a sustainable, democratic Zimbabwe.

In short, we pledge to create a free New Zimbabwe in respect of which the citizen does not live in fear and is free to pursue her aspirations. A transformed NEW Zimbabwe in respect of which strong institutions, big ideas and a functional state prevails over tyranny, autocracy, big men syndrome and fear.

Let us all build a NEW nation and a NEW Zimbabwe built on pillars of forgiveness, peace, great ideas, progressive alternative policies, freedom, tolerance and patriotism.

We must make Zimbabwe the jewel of Africa and indeed the jewel of the world.

We must all take this moment to press a reset button so as to start promoting greater social cohesion and unity of purpose while discouraging the toxic levels of hostility and intolerance that sometimes characterise much of political discourse.

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