Let's be Zimbabweans with a single loyalty and vision

"If ever we look to the past let us do so for the lesson the past has taught us". These were the words of the Prime Minister elect Cde. Robert G. Mugabe on the eve of Zimbabwe's independence on 17th April 1980.  The country was going through a celebratory period, which had been brought by the victory of ZANU PF in the first democratic elections held in the then Rhodesia.

There was great hope among people. Hope that we have turned a corner and all of us would work for the development of our country in a democratic dispensation. True to his leadership prowess, the Prime Minister elect surprised all and sundry.

In his address to the nation on the 4th March 1980 the Prime Minister elect, Cde. R. G. Mugabe urged people to beat the swords into ploughshares, so that we could attend to the problems of developing our economy and our society.  He knew that peace and unity were ingredients of development; hence he told the nation "to forget our grim past, forgive others and forget, join hands in a new amity".

Then I was a youth who could scale the fence of Rufaro Stadium to watch my heroes. The air was filled with great hope. The new leadership exuded hope and confidence. The whole world was watching. The country was now ours. We were no longer a colony and never will be. The land was now ours and we had to work on it. Our destiny was now in our hands. Even today our destiny is in our hands.

We needed peace and unity to develop the economy and our society. We needed to forgive and forget. The past had taught us lessons. People had no land and they needed land. People had no jobs and needed jobs. Children without schools and patients without hospitals needed them. This was the changing reality brought about by our victory.

TODAY, less than a month before we celebrate our independence, we reminisce, on the same. We need peace and unity of purpose in order to develop our economy. We need to forgive and forget the wrongs of the past in order for us to forge a formidable team that can take our country out of the economic quagmire.

The then Prime Minister elect said, if ever we look to the past let us do so for the lesson the past has taught us. These words seem to have fallen on deaf ears. They seem to have no meaning any more, yet our past is rich with lessons that can help us turn the fortunes of our country.

The 18th April 2015 should give us the chance for a thorough introspection on whether we still have the oneness that President Mugabe spoke of on 4th March 1980. The oneness, that he said, was derived from the common liberation objectives and total commitment to build a great Zimbabwe that was to be the pride of all Africa.

As ZANU PF, are we happy with where we are today? Are we still living the dream our great revolutionary leader President Robert Mugabe? The dream of seeing Zimbabwe becoming the pride of all Africa. Are we drawing from the lessons learnt in the past to build the future? Yes we achieved sustainable peace and stability, but have we done enough in the area of meaningfully changing the lives of our people.

TODAY we have a clear responsibility of implementing our election promises, to which we will be held accountable soon or later. We can and will achieve this in unity. Our leadership has a responsibility of ensuring that we do not abandon the people. They come from the people and they must always be with the people. Let us all be principled and forthright like our President and live his dream for a Zimbabwe that is the pride of all Africa.

In his parting words on the 4th March 1980, Cde. R. G. Mugabe said, "let us truly become Zimbabweans with a single loyalty". Truly let us be Zimbabweans with a single loyalty and vision.

KM Mandaza is the Secretary for Information and Publicity of ZANU PF SA and is writing in his personal capacity.