Let's value our heroes

It is widely known that during the month of August, the nation celebrate the lives, work and sacrifices of soldiers both past and present in the Heroes and Defense Forces days respectively. These gallant sons and daughters are unquestionably, the protectors of our independence and sovereignty.

At this time of the year, the nation reflects on how Zimbabwe came to be where it is today and learn to appreciate the sacrifices made for the country for it to be where it is today from the time of it being a British colony to an independent ZIMBABWE.

Every year in this month, people from all political affiliations, remember the fallen gallant sons and daughters of the soil who left behind their families and homes for the armed struggle and some had to pay, the ultimate price, their lives.

As the nation celebrates those two important days in the Zimbabwean calendar, one would be forgiven to think that every Zimbabwean takes these days seriously.

Every Zimbabwean indeed, need to think about those days when one would wake up in the morning only to find out that just next door huts were in smoke. Why?  Because the owners of the huts were supporters of the armed struggle and the Rhodesian forces had razed down the huts as a form of punishment for the support of the struggle.

Sleeping in the bush in fear of being abducted and tortured by Rhodesian forces was the order of the day.

So, the coming in, of an  independent Zimbabwe brought  a new dispensation which was a dream come true from the oppression and hardships people suffered. People now have the freedom to reach their self-actualization  without any hindrance.

It is disheartening and worrying to find out that as the country is celebrating its 31st Heroes and Defense forces Days respectively, people in the rural areas are being left out on this important occasion.

A visit to Chiredzi South over the Heroes and Defence forces holidays revealed that those two important days just pass like any other days of the year.

People were just doing their normal daily chores with no sign of any activity to honour the sacrifices of those who fought for their liberation.

Even their local hero, Justin Hatlan Chauke who lies at the Heroes Acre is not known in the area. Chauke's exploits of crossing the border into Zambia at the age of thirteen are hardly remembered let alone celebrated.

The Chikombedzi area is one of the areas, which is starved of information. People in the area are well-versed with happenings in Maputo and Pretoria but  fail to know what is happening in Harare and when Heroes day is celebrated.

These people do not personally know even their local Member of Parliament as he only frequents the area when seeking re-election.

Information about important issues taking place in the country does not reach them. An old newspaper in that area may turn out to be a rare sighting.

Of course they know that we are living in independent Zimbabwe but do not know what really is taking place in the country.

In this part of the country even the war vets themselves are not quite aware of when to celebrate these two important days. Who is to blame?

People in the area have no active MP to tell them what to do. No feedback from MP on what is supposed to be done on national issues. No meetings from MP to educate the people about the importance of the Independence, Heroes, Unity Days etc.

The MP is non-existent and the unavailability of  Radio and Television transmitters as to ensure radios and TVs  receive signals from Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation(ZBC) is not helping matters.

The MP seems to be content enjoying incentives of being an MP whilst his constituency lacks leadership. Would you Mr.  MP value our Heroes and make people in your constituency appreciate this?

Mr. MP do us favour by visiting your constituency and be acquainted with the needs of your people. By the way, where is the Constituency Development Fund (CDF), was it exhausted before it was ever used? People demand an explanation what happened to the funds.

It is high time that all MPs across the political divide be open enough to the people whom they represent in parliament about everything there. Some of the MPs have abused the CDF to the extent that they are afraid of being spotted in their constituencies, as they have no explanations of where the money went.

The problem, which is affecting the people of Chiredzi South, could be countrywide and people are taken for a ride by these people who claim to represent them in parliament but are only there to make their pockets fat.

This is another reason why elections are necessary as soon as possible. Elections can be a weapon that could be used to get rid of such MPs who are corrupt and weak in implementing projects that can benefit people around the country.