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By Jacob Kudzayi Mutisi
The late Ambassador Dr. Andrew Hama Mtetwa was an eminent scholar, historian, and father, who served Zimbabwe in civil and diplomatic service since independence and in my view, deserved the honour of a national hero.
Amb Mtetwa joined the Ministry of foreign affairs as an undersecretary and rose through the ranks to ultimately become the permanent secretary of the ministry. He served as the Zimbabwean Ambassador to Belgium, South Africa, and Zambia. Amb Mtetwa is well-known to have played a critical role in shaping and defining Zimbabwe’s foreign policy before and after his retirement. This is a gentleman who leaves behind a distinguished legacy, yet the same government he served and committed to all his life denies him the title of National Hero in his honour.
On the 6th of July (Amb), Dr. Andrew Hama Mtetwa a Manicaland-born son was buried, through government assistance. Pachi Ndau tinoti “kusabonga “kusatenda” huroyi. We would like to say thank you to the government for the state-assisted funeral,tinotenda, Tino Bonga, siyabonga.
The question that still lingers in our hearts is what does it take for Manicaland-born heroes to be awarded the National heroes status? Amb Mtetwa served the government of Zimbabwe with distinction from 1981 until the time of his death. He is the third high-level person from Manicaland province to have passed on in the last three years and has not been accorded heroes status.
The others are Dr. Kombo Moyana, the former governor of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe, and John (Kenneth Gwindingwi) Gwitira, the blast commander of Zimbabwe’s struggle for independence. Having served the government and the nation so well, the question still remains: What does it take for one to be awarded the National hero’s status?
As it stands, the term hero in Zimbabwe has a different meaning from the usual as there are those who are deemed deserving of the title and apparently one from Manicaland can not fall into that category. Questions arise again could it be marginalisation or pure dislike of the Manica descendences?
Looking at it objectively, the Manica people are not benefiting from their God-given minerals, as not a single school, road, or anything has been developed, yet our diamonds are mined every day.
All we ask for from our government is to recognise us as people of Zimbabwe and stop politically Maginalising us. What does one have to do for our government to recognise the Manyika people? As the natives of Zimbabwe, we should start demanding a hero’s recognition. 75% of freedom fighters came from Manicaland to liberate this country and we all felt the brunt of the liberation struggle
How long should we allow to be marginalised? It is time for us the Manyika’s to demand our political space. Cde Mike Madiro you should have written the request as soon as you received the notice. Why did you not play your part? Wake up anhuwe.