Farai Dziva|The army should not interfere with civilian affairs, the leader of Transform Zimbabwe Jacob Ngarivhume has said.
See Ngarivhume’s statement on Heroes Day Celebrations below :
The protracted war of liberation was concluded with high expectation of a new Zimbabwe. Today we remember gallant sons and daughter of the liberation struggle.
They put down their lives so that there will be freedom. Blood was shed so that we could enjoy freedom of movement, freedom of expression, freedom of association and freedom of speech among other freedoms.
Livestock, livelihoods and personal property were lost in support of the liberation war.
The price was high and both young and old were equally affected as they were filled with a selfless fighthing spirit.
We cherish our brothers and sisters who stood the ground mightly.
One could not imagine how their sacrifices will be lost and betrayed along the way. Selfish leaders arose and grabbed everything as their share leaving the ordinary citizen with no inheritance at all.
Instead of an upgraded or a well-maintained standard of living, Zimbabwe has only known pain, groaning and suffering. Our dear true War veterans could not even stand their ground to protect the dignity of the liberation struggle.
Zimbabweans are now subjected to surprise policies which are only meant to inflict pain each day.
As a political party, we acknowledge and applaud the sacrifice and the good that our fellow brothers and sisters did to liberate this great nation. We are inspired by their spirit of standing up for what is right and for fighting to the very end.
As a party, we are concerned by the growing spirit among the remaining war veterans, we are making daily and unrealistic demands on an already collapsed fiscus.
They have since departed from the values and founding principles of the liberation struggle.
The Zanu PF government has failed for close to 40 years to decisively deal with the welfare of the war veterans.
As a nation, we need to use the liberation struggle as a campus point which should draw us back to being one united nation.
The disturbances that took place in the 80’s should be openly discussed and those who masterminded the disturbances should apologise to the victims and put in place structures to compensate them. That way, the hard won independence will continue to have meaning to all Zimbabweans.
We applaud the recent pronouncements of commitment by the commander of the defense forces for pledging to uphold the constitution of the country and stay away from interfering in civilian matters when they petition the government through protests.
The army has no place in mediating between the government and the citizens and they should rightly stay in military barracks.
Fellow Zimbabweans, we are faced with a tipping point. The common desire for freedom, that drove the freedom fighters to participate in the liberation war must push us to demand freedom, equality and justice from the government.
If not for us, then for the future generations who will ask us why we let things slide to such levels without taking corrective action.
The time to be decisive is now!!
God bless you and God bless Zimbabwe,
Jacob Ngarivhume, President
Transform Zimbabwe
