(Compiled from sentiments by YA President Solomon ‘Mandela’ Madzore)
The MDC Youth Assembly appreciates the role played by the liberation heroes who fought for the country bound by the desire for freedom, justice and equality. We salute all those who have sacrificed their lives and selflessly fought for an independent Zimbabwe as well as those who have contributed in the development of this great nation.
The Assembly however takes great exception to the fact that the “National Heroes Acre” has been reduced to a Zanu PF party shrine that bestows the national hero status to the few Zanu PF loyalists. It is even disturbing that in this inclusive government Robert Mugabe and his cronies continues to disrespect the country’s Prime Minister, the Right Hon Dr Morgan Richard Tsvangirai by continuously declaring Zanu PF enthusiasts as national heroes without consulting the premier or cabinet.
The Zanu PF politburo does not have the mandate whatsoever to make decisions on behalf of the GNU. It is not the Zanu PF top brass that has the duty to dictate who a national hero is and who should be buried at the National Heroes Acre.
The Youth Assembly would like to remind ZANU PF President Robert Mugabe and his crew that President Tsvangirai is the one who was mandated to lead this nation by the people of Zimbabwe in the March 2008 Presidential elections. They need to be reminded that President Tsvangirai garnered the majority votes against their old, tired and unpopular candidate who has since condemned the life of Zimbabweans to poverty, and grievous human rights abuse.
As the nation braces for the Heroes day, the MDC Youth Assembly wonders whether this is an occasion to celebrate the achievements of Zanu PF losers or indeed to pay respect to deserving gallant sons and daughters of this nation. A lot of deserving cadres have been buried in their rural homes and have been forgotten amongst them is Lookout Masuku, Welshman Mabhena, Ndabaningi Sithole among others. If the Prime Minister is going to be part of the proceedings in this year’s celebrations we call upon him to take this opportunity to remind the nation and Mugabe that it is high time national institutions were respected and only deserving people should rest at the national shrine.
The Youth Assembly reiterates the fact that real freedom should be felt and enjoyed by all Zimbabweans. Those who have been mandated by the people should at this juncture take time and audit their performance and see if it is in line with the objectives of the liberation struggle. The liberation war heroes fought for a Zimbabwean community that has absolute respect of fundamental human rights and freedoms.
The Assembly further calls upon the country’s leadership and the masses of Zimbabwe not to betray the commitment shown by the liberation heroes and seek to build a progressive nation that guarantees jobs, availability of food to everyone, quality and affordable education, access to healthcare and peaceful co-existence.
The MDCYA therefore call upon all the young people and progressive people of Zimbabwe to remain resilient and continue to demand an immediate stop to politically motivated violence, demand the much needed electoral reforms, the victimisation of independent media personnel should stop. Most importantly the young people of Zimbabwe must support the draft constitution and rally behind COPAC for producing a reasonable constitution that is in line with the people’s will.
"I behaved like any other youth; we wanted to vote and to be able to choose our own destiny. Instead, parties were banned, people were arrested and killed, and there was nothing left but to wage an armed struggle."
By Lookout Masuku
MDC Youth Assembly Information Department
Together to end,building a youth with a difference.
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