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Remembrance of those who passed during the liberation struggle should be recognised and respected for it is through them we took the first step towards democracy, the Freedom of Rights Under Sovereign (FORUS) party has said in its commemorative message for the Heroes and Defence Forces days.
FORUS president, Manyara Irene Muyenziwa said her party places utmost importance on the need to preserve and promote peace and unity in our country.
For peace to thrive, she said economic emancipation should be the nation’s motto so as to uplift the standards of living of our citizens.
“We call upon all stakeholders to unite in addressing the economic hardships faced by the populace and pool our energies and resources together to alleviate these challenges. Our living and departed heroes should be honoured for their selfless sacrifice for the attainment of our independence. The war liberation war was waged by the majority of our citizens to dismantle colonial injustices with a view of restoring our dignity, universal suffrage (one-person-one-vote), land ownership, and economic independence and prosperity of this great country. Thousands perished for this great and noble cause.
“FORUS ascribes to the call for unity in purpose, patriotism and the upholding of peace and tranquility anchored on modernizing and industrializing our economy in line with our national vision: to become a middle-class economy with increased investments, decent jobs, broad-based empowerment, free from poverty and corruption, by 2030,” Manyara said.
FORUS envisions a multi-party democracy where divergent views are respected and citizens enjoy equality at law, gender equality as well as equitable access to our resources as this forms the foundation of the liberation struggle.
In his address to the nation, President Emmerson Mnangagwa pledged to honor the sacrifice made by our heroes and heroines through the provision of the required development to the economy.
He alluded to the growth in agriculture and mining and reiterated fact that the Government is encouraging the mineral extraction industry to embark on the value addition and processing of those minerals.
President Mnangagwa said constitutionalism and respect for rule of law are some of the principles our liberation war heroes died for. To that he end, he encouraged citizens to work towards the betterment of all citizens’ lives.
Linda Masaraira, the President of Labour Economists and Afrikan Democrats (LEAD) urged all Zimbabweans regardless of political affiliation, race, tribe or gender to unite in their diversity and identify with the concept of nationalism.
“We need to put Zimbabwe first beyond our own personal aspirations. It is imperative to recognize that there is need for the youths of this generation to further the nation today and not tomorrow. The liberators of this country were young girls and boys yet 41 years after independence the youth of this country remain marginalized without equal opportunities to create wealth.
“We recognize the significance of the liberation struggle and the contributions of the war veterans who waged it. LEAD is not ignorant of the reasons that drove many gallant sons and daughters of the soil into various jungles to fight exclusion, oppression and repression to ensure a free Democratic sovereign state,” Masarira said.