Farewell Thee Comrades. May your Souls rest in Eternal Peace. Till Jesus Comes
BY DR MASIMBA MAVAZA
It is very difficult to say a few words in farewell to the heroes of the beloved Zimbabwe, because of what they are and what they represent. A feeling of sorrow, an infinite grief catches our throat – sorrow for the loss of the nation. Two candles blown off on the same day. Mother Victoria Chitepo died in action as she sighed her last breadth Vivian ended hers. Two V’s vanished on the same day. Two Vs departed together. It is befitting that they will be buried on the same day. They are going away, the soldiers of the highest ideal of human redemption, exiles from their countries, persecuted by the tyrants of all peoples – grief for those who will remain but in the very depth of our heart, we are hallowed by our feeling of eternal gratitude to what they fought for. They lived for and they died for.
From all peoples, from all races, you came to us like sisters like children of immortal Zimbabwe and in the hardest days of the war, when our being was being trampled and threatened, it was you, gallant comrades of the Soil who helped save the country with your fighting enthusiasm, your heroism and your spirit of sacrifice.
For the first time in the history of the peoples’ post struggles, we lay to rest two women of valour at the same time who have helped save a threatened country’s freedom and independence – the freedom and independence of our land- women of different characters agreeing on ideology, yet all profoundly loving liberty and justice, they came and offered themselves to us unconditionally.
They gave us everything — their youth or their maturity; their science or their experience; their blood and their lives; their hopes and aspirations — and they asked us for nothing. But yes, it must be said, they did want a post in battle, they aspired to the honor of dying for us.
Banners of Zimbabwe Salute these heroes! They made history in life and made history in death.
Mothers! Women! When the years pass by and the wounds of war are stanched; when the memory of the sad and bloody days dissipates in a present of liberty, of peace and of well­being; when the rancors have died out and pride in a free country is felt equally by all Zimbabweans speak to your children. Tell them of these women of valour.
They gave up everything — their loves, their countries, home and fortune, fathers, mothers, husbands brothers, sisters and children — and they came and said to us: “We are here. Your cause, is ours. It is the cause of all advanced and progressive mankind.”
You will be profoundly remembered by all Zimbabwean comrades. Political reasons, reasons of state, the welfare of that very cause for which you offered your blood with boundless generosity, will water your legacy forever. You can go proudly. You are history. You are legend. You are the heroic example of democracy’s solidarity and universality in the face of the vile and accommodating spirit of those who interpret democratic principles with their eyes on hoards of wealth or corporate shares which they want to safeguard from all risk.
We shall not forget you;
Long live the heroins of Zimbabwe. May God bless your souls. Soon and very soon we will meet on the sea of glass. We will meet on the great morning.
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