Opposition MDC leader Nelson Chamisa has reminded members of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces to live by the principles of the classic liberation war song, “Nzira Dzemasoja.”
In his Defence Forces Day statement Chamisa called on the military to go back to its original tenets as guided by the liberation war song.
“We remember with a profound sense of humility the songs of liberation such as Nzira dzemasoja and Tinoda Zimbabwe neupfumi hwayo hwese, great motivational anthems that also constitute a code of conduct for our defence forces.
“The core message is: treat the people with respect.
“When our constitution behoves the defences forces to respect human rights and freedoms, it is merely restating these organic commandments with deep-seated roots.
“Therefore, as we celebrate and honour the defence forces, we call upon our men and women to uphold, defend and respect the core values that helped our forebears to prosecute the liberation struggle together with and not against the people,” said Chamisa.
The song was during the liberation war a soldier’s puritanical bible, and was adopted into the independent Zimbabwe still as the guiding principle of the army. These tenets have unfortunately been dumped by the current ZANUPF leadership, betraying the very basis and principle of the liberation struggle.
Nzira Dzemasoja if followed, would be the constitutional basis of any modern day military. It lectures the men and women holding guns to be disciplined.
It is unfortunate that those that have been rogue have done so on account of orders from greedy and corrupt politicians, who use the gun to protect their looted wealth.
A country’s military should not be turned into a militia army for corrupt politicians!
The song “Nzira dzemasoja”, was adapted from Chairman Mao’s military doctrine “Three Rules of Disciple and Eight Points of Attention.”
The doctrine was developed as a code of conduct for the Chinese Red Army. It focused on respect for people and property particularly the ordinary people and peasants who contributed to the war effort.
In adopting these principles during the Second Chimurenga, the freedom fighters equally valued the wider Zimbabwean population and knew that the war was a collective effort for the liberation of all Zimbabweans.
“Kune nzira dzemasoja dzekuzvibata nadzo//Tererai mitemo yose nenzira dzakanaka” — There are ways in which soldiers must conduct themselves//follow these rules in a proper way, the opening lyrics to the song state.
“Bhadharai zvamunotenga nenzira dzakanaka//Mudzorere zvinhu zvose zvamunenge matora” — Pay for everything that you buy in a good way//return everything that you take, part of the song states.
Full Lyrics of the song go as follows:
Kune nzira dzemasoja dzekuzvibata nadzo
Tererai mitemo yose nenzira dzakanaka x2
Chorus
Tisave tinotora zvinhu zvemass yedu
Dzorerai zvinhu zvose zvatogwa kumuvengi
Taurai zvinetsika kuruzhinji rwevanhu, kuti mass inzwisise zvakananga musangano
Bhadharai zvamunotenga nenzira dzakanaka
Mudzorere zvinhu zvese zvamunenge matora x2
Chorus
Stanza 3
Tisaita choupombwe muhondo yechimurenga
Tisanetsa vasungwa vatinenge tabata x2
Chorus
Stanza 4
Awa ndiwo mashoko akataurwa kare
naivo vaMugabe (VaMao) vachitidzidzisa x2