PRESIDENT Mnangagwa yesterday warned economic saboteurs
that include organisations and persons who derive pleasure and profits from the
suffering of the public that the Government is now stepping in to end their
shenanigans.
Speaking at the burial of national hero Cde Stanley Nleya
at the National Heroes Acre, attended by a modest number of people in
conformity with the Covid-19 induced restrictions on public gatherings, the
President rallied Zimbabweans, from all walks of life, to pluck a leaf from the
country’s heroes and put the interests of the country first.
This comes amid recent revelations by the Government and
the ruling Zanu PF party that there is an external hand that is manipulating
the country’s economy in order to rouse public anger against the New
Dispensation.
“On evident economic malpractices that are present in
various forms, my Government will never shy away from implementing policies and
measures that ensure that honest workers of our country live honourably. We
shall not allow a situation, where our people live in chronic insecurity and
deprivation. It has become apparent that in our midst, there are wolves in
sheep clothing. The end is coming,” he said.
In his remarks the President further challenged Zimbabweans
to individually introspect and ask themselves what role they are playing in
order to build “a brighter future for the next generations” as was done by the
late Cde Nleya and other liberators.
“Under the Second Republic, we are determined to modernise
and transform the economic, social, political and technological landscape of
our great country.
“As it was during the liberation struggle, our present
journey to national development will have challenges, delays and detours. This
era in the history of our country calls for focus, discipline and unyielding
resolve. Like the liberators of yesteryear and the likes of the late Cde
Stanley Nleya, let us never wander off from the path towards economic
prosperity, as guided by our National Vision 2030.
The President said while the country’s gruelling war for
independence entailed the use of guns and other like ammunition, today’s war
has assumed another form that is predominantly silent but with devastating
consequences, especially if people are not united.
He however, said against all odds, Zimbabwe will prevail
and march towards fulfilling the dreams and aspirations of its people.
“Let us never be complacent. The war of today has neither
guns nor bombs. The war against our economic prosperity is ongoing. Rest
assured that the enemies of the progress and economic growth of our country
will never win. The challenges we face are not insurmountable. I exhort all of
us, not to surrender, it is not over. Our gallant freedom fighters did not give
up after the bombing of Freedom Camp or Chimoio Camp. They fought on. Let us
today equally fight on through consistent production and hard work. A better
life for our people shall be realised,” said the President.
During the liberation struggle, the minority white Rhodesian
government led by Ian Smith committed atrocities that included killing
civilians in camps such as Chimoio and Freedom, but undeterred by the massacres
the country’s liberators soldiered on, and took the war to the doorstep of the
colonisers until their capitulation.
Thus the President said Zimbabweans should draw inspiration
from the late Cde Nleya and “other gallant sons and daughters of Zimbabwe”.
“Our national hero leaves behind a legacy of dedication to
duty, courage, selflessness and patriotism. As we lay him to rest today, we
should emulate his commitment to the national interest, dedication to duty, as
well as the spirit of hard work and humility. The late Cde Nleya was a
principled man and compatriot who remained faithful to the cause of the
liberation of his country.
“He served with distinction and passion as both leader and
team player. In spite of the colonial repression and oppression, he endured and
remained focussed on the ultimate objective of liberating our motherland. He
was never distracted from the national cause.
“Let us therefore take a leaf from his exemplary spirit by
rekindling in ourselves that sense of national pride that entreats us to look
inwards convinced that, ‘We are our own liberators’. Now is the time for this
kind of attitude,” the President said.
The late Cde Nleya, who trained some of the country’s
finest soldiers, including current Commander of the Defence Forces Philip
Valerio Sibanda, was selected to undergo military training in Morogoro Tanzania
in 1969 and after training he rose through the ranks to become a military
instructor, chief of staff and then deputy chief of operations in the ZIPRA
military wing of ZAPU.
Amid the shadow of Covid-19, which meant few people in
attendance and also social distancing and the screening of temperatures, the
President said persons in positions of
leadership, be it in industry, business, commerce, politics or any other sector
should “always strive to mould and
mentor those around us to be dependable, honest, loyal and patriotic citizens”.
“Let us all introspect and ask ourselves as leaders in our
various fields if we can be counted on for the advancement of the cause of the
nation. Can you as businessmen and women
or civil servants of our nation be deployed to advance the present national
development agenda. Can you put national interests and the interest of the
majority, ahead of your own. In the face of the Covid-19 pandemic, can you be
trusted to direct operations in the fight against the spread of the scourge?
Can you be counted on to reject and expose practices which are contrary to the
interests of the majority?” said President Mnangagwa.
Cde Nleya’s family representative Mr Thakalisa Dube said
that the children of the late national hero who are based in the United Kingdom
could not make it for his burial.
“We want to express our thanks and gratitude to His
Excellency President Mnangagwa and the Government of Zimbabwe for according
this award of national hero status to our father figure Cde Stanley Gagisa
Nleya,” he said.
Zimbabwe is currently going through a rough economic patch
that has been created by some vigilante groups that are determined to see the
Second Republic fail.
However, President Mnangagwa has put in place a raft of
measures to protect the people, including a US dollar cushioning allowance as
well as providing cheap public transport. Herald
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