POPULAR former Radio 2 disc jockeys Eric Knight and Ezra
Tshisa Sibanda yesterday said they were eager to return home to Zimbabwe
courtesy of the new dispensation led by President Mnangagwa whom they said has
transformed the country.
The former DJs said they once joined opposition politics
but now want to work for the new Government led by President Mnangagwa which
has brought hope for the nation.
In a statement to The Herald, Messrs Knight and Sibanda
said: “As patriotic Zimbabweans, our passion has always been the desire to see
our country recover and regain its status as one of the best nations in Africa.
We have always dreamt of a nation that embraces constitutionalism in every
sense, a nation that respects the rights of every citizen regardless of tribe
or race, a Government that respects the laws of the land and, of course,
Government that is committed to the empowerment of its citizenry through
creation of opportunities.
“It is common sense that as professional media
practitioners, we have an important role to play as ever. History will point to
the fact that we have always been part and parcel of the national media fabric,
until such a time that the old system frustrated us after being ill advised by
the same forces that misled the former president, leading to the Operation
Restore Legacy.”
They said President Mnangagwa was walking the talk on his
promises.
“It is not a secret either that we then joined the
opposition eventually. Driven by our desire to fight the oppressive shenanigans
of the old dispensation, we had to and we don’t regret that. We were opposing
madness and not individuals, we were opposing a bad system as proponents of
democracy.
“We prayed and hoped that there would be change in Zimbabwe
and thank God our prayers were answered. The new dispensation under President
ED Mnangagwa is here. The President is preaching and already practising what we
have been fighting for.
“Peace, tolerance, freedom of speech, economic development,
job creation, re-engagement with the international world which by the way is a
massive step in this contemporary world that has become a global village. We
asked ourselves, then what is there to oppose?,” the said in the joint
statement.
“To us, when opposition opposes even what is right for the
country, then it is no longer opposition but selfishness and enemity. Zimbabwe
does not need that but it needs a spirit of unity to prevail. The media should
be a catalyst in ensuring such. It is indeed a new and fresh dispensation that
we are in now.”
They applauded President Mnangagwa for redefining
leadership.
“ED has re-defined the art of leadership, just look around
at how people are free to express themselves. Freedom of speech and freedom
after speech were unheard of during the old dispensation.
“We don’t subscribe to the dogma of opposing just for the
sake of opposing. As professionals we are pleased with the efforts, honesty and
work ethics of the new dispensation and every sensible Zimbabwean should be
also. We all have an important role in the revival of Zimbabwe.
“We want to see a reformed media landscape that will ensure
that State and private media regain the confidence that they lost over the
years. The new dispensation has all the ingredients for that.
“Not only that, we are very much aware of the efforts at
hand to revive industries, meaning sooner or later, the problem of unemployment
will be resolved.
“These and many others are the reasons we believe that
fellow Zimbabweans must support the new dispensation, it’s not about
individuals but a nation,” further reads the statement from the DJs.
They urged all Zimbabweans across the globe to start
working for their country.
“Withstanding the foregoing, we would strongly appeal to
fellow professionals in the media, private sector, medical professionals and
all skilled citizens scattered across the world, it is time to consider working
for your country . Do not dwell too much on the past. Your memory takes you
backwards, your vision takes you forward. We will always be available to serve
our country in an capacity. Under ED, it is indeed a new dispensation.” Herald
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