ROHR Zimbabwe joins the rest of the nation in commemorating the gallant sons and daughters of the soil who sacrificed sweat and blood for the birth of Zimbabwe from the yoke of colonial rule by the white settler community. We honor those across our borders, from the neighboring countries who stood in solidarity with the noble cause for attainment of sovereign rule, territorial freedom, and equal distribution of wealth, upholding of human rights and among other things fighting the gangrene brought about by discrimination.
In commemorating this year’s independence celebrations, we are forever conscious and we do not take it lightly, what we have in mother earth our beloved country Zimbabwe, she is blessed with some of the most gifted minds and talents in human resource; she boast of amazing wonders in scenery, minerals, fertile farming land, tourist attractions resorts among other things.
Cognizant of the significance of the times we find ourselves in as a nation in our 31 years journey, we emphasize that Zimbabwe would not have been, if not for the relations she enjoyed with other progressive forces who subscribe to the incorruptible principle of people’s freedoms. Once again as the nation is battling to go unto maturity to champion the freedom of her people, Zimbabwe is again calling upon those in the region particularly the Southern African Development Community SADC and the entire international community to provide progressive development, people oriented support.
Looking back to the road we have traveled, our 31 years journey has been littered by stunted growth and it does not reflect where we would have wanted to be as a people. If we use the baseline of what drove our heroes to take up arms during the liberation struggle, it’s unequivocal that we have remained in the past and in the process suffered from hysteric amnesia. The ideals of the struggle have been sacrificed for precedence, power hunger, entitlement, monopoly on resources by a small elite, partisanship and as a result an oppressive system has taken root on our land denying the people the fruit of the liberation struggle.
As we commemorate this year’s independence we are reminded of the heroes and heroines who continue to tumble in the hope to realize and safeguard the gains that were unanimously celebrated by Zimbabweans from all walks of life on April the 18th of 1980 when Zimbabwe got her independence.
We are further reminded of the oppressive Ian Smith regime which has now become synonymous with the system that people find themselves battling with today. The sacred right to life and human dignity has been violated with impunity. Rights to association and free political engagement are still a pipeline dream despite the contradictory unsinkable thought that the country has obtain self rule as opposed to the pre-independence regime.
Who would have thought that our sons and daughters overthrew an oppressive regime which sought to rule by coercion and brutality, only to realize that the same forces have now became part of the governance model that is operational in our present day beloved country Zimbabwe.
Women were the cornerstone for the liberation struggle in all things, bore the brunt and carried the weight of some of the most unimaginable crimes against humanity so that one day they would enjoy a liberated Zimbabwe but sadly they continue to suffer as their rights are fiercely trampled upon on selfish grounds of political gain. Women have become the largest community of victims of political violence as they are literally made the battle field in times of violent conflict in an independent Zimbabwe.
An independent Zimbabwe still questions the principle of the equality of all persons before the law. The right to a free trial has been politicized to discriminate on grounds of political affiliation.
The ever growing friction between the parties in the coalition government is a smokes screen of the immaturity that has dominated our body politic since we found independence. Politicians can not distinguish duties and roles in which they have to serve the people and the nation above partisan parochial interest. The conflicts and crises that the nation has endured in principle they have not sharpened us to be stronger but we continue to be haunted by the ghost from our past. Contested elections marred by violence perpetrated by Zimbabweans against fellow countrymen resulting in internal displacements also reflects gross lack of maturity and unity on behalf of the citizenry.
For what Zimbabwe has gone through for the past decades, she must have stories to tell about what she has learnt from the past and where she came from having conquered the enemies of development. At independence in 1980 the government of Zimbabwe took over arguably better infrastructure from the white settler regime but as years fell by the signs of immaturity in lack of development have surfaced in the evidence of poor road system, run down railway system, dilapidated water system, under equipped hospitals and schools. As human rights defenders, we note with grave concern that in the midst of lack of maturity and development, it is the ordinary people who suffer the most. The economic and social welfare of Zimbabweans and the standards of leaving continue to tumble not to mention that the life expectancy is reported to be 49 years .
Having obtained independence and freedom from colonialism, Zimbabwe has faced a major crippling crisis of bad managers who have been entrusted to govern and manage resources on behalf of the entire nation attest to the stunted growth in most things.
As ROHR Zimbabwe our deepest desire is to see the country go unto maturity, for the state to be people conscious, for the government to be accountable to the people, for human rights to be protected, up holding of the rule of law, for people to exercise their universal right to vote freely in peace and engage in political activities without persecution.
ROHR Information Department
For Peace, Justice and Freedom
