THIS year’s Heroes Day and Defence Forces Day respectively
commemorated today and tomorrow in honour of the gallant sons and daughters of
the soil who bravely fought for Zimbabwe’s Independence comes at a time when
the country faces a number of attacks from different fronts.
The country, just like the rest of the world, is grappling
with the Covid-19 pandemic that has killed millions of people across the globe.
As at Friday, Zimbabwe had recorded 4 300 cases of Covid-19
including 102 deaths.
As part of measures to stop the spread of the virus, the
Government implemented a number of measures including the cancellation of the
holding of national public events.
This affected the Independence Day celebrations in April
and the Heroes Day and Defence Forces Day, which come at a time the virus has
spread more in the country, has also been affected.
To that effect, President Mnangagwa’s address to the country
on the two holidays will be broadcast live on national television and local
radio stations.
The virus has negatively impacted on countries’ economies,
Zimbabwe included, as they adopted the new normal. On top of that the country
has also endured successive droughts.
Adding to that, the country has had to deal with economic
aggressors who are manipulating local currency to manipulate the Government’s
efforts at reviving the economy.
Critically, the country has suffered renewed attacks from
the opposition and their handlers who want to destabilise the nation in pursuit
of an illegal regime change agenda.
The G40 cabal, a grouping of Zanu-PF rejects has teamed up
with the MDC Alliance and surrogate organisations to launch an onslaught on the
country to try and discredit the Government within the broader plot of
effecting regime change.
The opposition organised violent demonstrations on July 31
disguised as pretests against corruption yet the main agenda was to try and
violently overthrow a democratically elected Government.
After the demos were ignored, they resorted to a spirited
campaign to discredit the country on social media under the hash tag
#ZimbabweanLivesMatter.
Last week, President Mnangagwa yesterday said the country
will overcome renewed attacks on the country perpetrated by some rogue
Zimbabweans working in league with foreign detractors to destabilise the
nation.
It is against this background that this year’s Heroes Day
and Defence Forces Day should give Zimbabweans time to reflect on the
importance of the Independence and the need to guard against disruptive
elements who want frustrate the Government’s efforts in turning around the
fortunes of the country.
The President said despite the attacks on the country, his
administration’s goal of peace, unity, stability, development, progress and
prosperity remains unchanged.
“The dark forces, both inside and outside our borders, have
tempered with our growth and prosperity for too long. They have thrived on
dividing us. Let us as a people embrace the call for patriotism, hard work,
transparency, accountability, love, unity and peace,” said President Mnangagwa.
“Now is the time to embrace the opportunities before us
with optimism and determination to transform and modernise our society. The
door to the old manner of doing things is shut. The corrupt way is closed.”
Last Friday as he commissioned the first phase of the
Harare-Masvingo-Beitbridge Road project in Bubi, Beitbridge, President
Mnangagwa reiterated that development can only be achieved in a peaceful and
tranquil environment.
“Let me reiterate that my Government will not tolerate
corruption neither will we hesitate to terminate under-performing contracts.
The days of holding national development at ransom are over.
“All this will be achieved under an environment of peace,
tranquillity, stability, unity and love in the country. That is the basis that
provides development in our country,” said President Mnangagwa.
“We must remain united; we must ignore the rumblings of the
fugitives who ran away from this country and focus on developing our country
for the benefit of our people.”
The President, impressed by the five local contractors
engaged in the project, said the success of the project bears testimony of our
ability as Zimbabweans to champion our own development with unity.
“It is further pleasing that skilled locals, in various
fields such as engineering, architecture and surveying among others, constitute
the bulk of those doing the work. This is how it should be, Zimbabweans
building their motherland, brick upon brick, stone upon stone,” he said.
“This is what the heroes and heroines we will be
remembering next week (today) fought for. The onus is now on us to build from
where they left.”
The President has been on a tour of the country’s
developmental projects critical in the achievement of Vision 2030.
He was in Hwange last month touring coal projects which by
2023 should be generating an excess of 6 900MW of power, a development that
would make Zimbabwe energy self-sufficient and also be able to export power.
Last Thursday, the President was in Victoria Falls where he
officially launched the National Tourism Recovery and Growth Strategy to
restart of the sector, whose contribution to the national economy has been
heavily crippled by the outbreak of Covid-19.
He also officially re-opened the Victoria Falls Rainforest,
signalling the country’s readiness to welcome visitors to the prime resort
destination. Earlier on President Mnangagwa had toured tourism facilities in
the resort town before commissioning the 19-suite luxurious Mbano Manor Hotel,
which was built using local funding.
The President also visited the massive 146-room Palm Lodge
facility, which is still under construction and is estimated to cost close to
US$24 million.
On Saturday, the President presided over a ceremony to
launch Anjin Diamond Mining Company’s official resumption of operations in
Chiadzwa.
The Chinese mining giant is set to boost the country’s
coffers as the company used to contribute up to US$200 million to the economy
before stopping mining in 2016.
The Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting
Services, Monica Mutsvangwa, said Zimbabweans should use the two holidays to
reflect on the progress made by President Mnangagwa’s administration.
“I am very much aware of the negativity that has gripped
our people because of the myriad of challenges that we are facing as a country.
“Some people have been quick to judge the Second Republic
while ignorant of the many achievements that our President has made.
Zimbabweans need to understand that the current challenges are temporary. The
future looks so much brighter,” she said. Herald
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