They refused, they resisted, they fought and they conquered : The story of our liberation

August 17, 2021

Hosia Mviringi

The story of the liberation struggle of Zimbabwe has been told many times. But perhaps many time is not many enough for as long as the nation Zimbabwe still exists.

As Zimbabwe commemorates Heroes and Defence Forces Day on August 9 and 10 respectively each year, it is important to remember that August is a sacred month in the history of Zimbabwe's nationhood.

On August 9, 1976 an operation by the Rhodesian Selous Scouts, code named Operation Eland, saw the ZANLA refugee camp at Nyadzonya being raided, killing in excess of 1028 refugees and ZANLA combatants. This was probably the single biggest loss for the ZANLA Forces since the beginning of the war effort.

The day invokes sad and grim memories of the events that marked a permanent turn around in the history of the liberation struggle.

It marked a decisive moment which exposed the callous nature of the enemy on the opposite side while emboldening the resolve on the nationalist ZANLA fighters.

It is here and then that a decision was taken never to turn back, whatever it takes. It marked a point of no return and an uncompromising attitude towards the war effort was adopted.

August 9, a day after the ZANLA holiday, the ZANU Day, was a strategic day for the Selous Scouts to attack the camp as it was largely expected that senior leaders of ZANU and the ZANLA Command would be inside the camp. Indeed this was supposed to be a bumper harvest for the enemy as they expected to harvest big through killings or capture of senior leadership of the revolution.

Zimbabwe as it is known today, is a result of ultimate sacrifices made by brave yet selfless men and women. Those who left the safety and comfort of their homes and affection from their loved ones, for the awaiting agonies and threats of injury and death in the bush war of liberation.

As Zimbabwe commemorates the 41st Defence Forces Day, the nation takes a moment to reflect on the sacrifices made by the gallant fighters who took a decision to go out and fight to liberate a people.

Today Zimbabwe can stand tall among nations as an independent and sovereign state which is able to chart it's own developmental path.

For almost a century, Zimbabweans had groaned, mourned and perished under the yoke of slavery and oppression, while its natural resources and finite wealth was pilfered to yonder shores.

Natives had their wealth in form of cattle and fertile land confiscated, while they were driven to uninhabitable marginal lands which were infested with wild animals and disease-causing tsetse fly.

Only yesterday, August 9, 2021, the nation commemorated the gallant women and men who fought to liberate the people and set the resources free for local people to benefit.

It took Zimbabwe a hundred years to be able to decisively take back control and ownership of its vast natural resources after a protracted war of liberation which culminated in an independent Zimbabwe on April 18, 1980.

Then Zimbabwe began to live. A nation was born anew. A nation free from foreign oppression was birthed.

Zimbabwe began a new journey as a member of the big global family of nations.

But the threat to its existence never ceased at independence.

Zimbabwe continued and continues today as then to face numerous existential threats from the erstwhile colonial foes who lost a chance to control the vast resources at independence.

Today August 10, 2021, the nation celebrates Defence Forces Day. A day to remember, honour and salute the uniformed forces.

It is a day dedicated to the honour of men and women who dedicated their lives to the defence and protection of motherland land.

Yes they refused, they resisted, they fought and they conquered the oppressive colonial regime.

They liberated the nation and it's resources.

It is now a generational challenge to defend and protect those resources that were once under the control of the white minority regime.

It is the job today as it was yesterday, for every Zimbabwean to play a role in safeguarding that which sons and daughters of the soil died for.

It is a call for generational sacrifice to continue to protect the interests of the majority against new sophisticated foreign and domestic anti-nationalist machinations.

Zimbabweans can not afford to remain indifferent and pretend to be apolitical when neo-colonialism has become the most eminent reality in the present generation.

It thus calls for collective responsibility and intervention to defend national interest against the aggressive tactics of the erstwhile foreign powers.

President Mnangagwa aptly captured these present realities in a speech at the National Heroes Acre yesterday August 9, 2021 when he said;

"As we engage and re-engage, let no one think they can impose their perspective or lecture us. The outside world should therefore embrace who we are, our rich history and unique national realities. This is how we honour the heroes we celebrate today".

The present generation owes it to the future to protect and preserve the gains of the liberation struggle.

We are the protectors and promoters of our peace. We are the proponents of development for our nation.

Every year, August is a month of remembrance. It is a month to look back and embrace the challenge as new custodians of the generational revolution of economic emancipation.