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Dr Tinashe Muzamhindo
ZIMBABWE’S liberation struggle was not merely a historical event — it was a profound assertion of human dignity, sovereignty and collective agency.
It marked the end of colonial domination and the beginning of a new era in which Zimbabweans could determine their own destiny.
Yet liberation was never intended to be a static achievement; it was a foundation upon which a just, inclusive and prosperous society could be built.
As Zimbabwe moves towards Vision 2030, a strategic national development framework aimed at achieving upper middle-income status by the year 2030, the challenge is not only to remember the liberation struggle but to defend and reinterpret its gains in ways that respond to contemporary realities.
President Mnangagwa’s Vision 2030 is not a departure from the liberation ethos — it is its modern embodiment.
It seeks to transform historical sacrifice into tangible development, and to ensure that the ideals of freedom, justice and sovereignty are realised in the everyday lives of citizens.
Patriotism as a pillar of national renewal
Patriotism must evolve from ceremonial symbolism into a robust ethic of civic responsibility.
The liberation struggle demanded sacrifice, unity and unwavering commitment to national ideals.
Today, patriotism must be expressed through active participation in nation-building, adherence to ethical standards and a shared commitment to the public good.
This means reframing patriotism beyond partisan loyalty and instead anchoring it in service, integrity and accountability.
Civic education must be revitalised to connect the historical narratives of liberation with present-day development goals, enabling citizens — especially the youth — to understand their role in shaping Zimbabwe’s future.
Programmes such as the National Youth Service can be redesigned to instil values of discipline, innovation and community engagement, transforming young people into agents of defending the gains of the liberation struggle.
Patriotism must also be inclusive, embracing Zimbabwe’s diverse ethnic, linguistic and cultural identities under a unified national vision.
When citizens see themselves as stakeholders in the country’s progress, patriotism becomes a force for renewal rather than division.
Loyalty to foundational ideals
The liberation struggle was anchored in enduring principles — freedom, justice, sovereignty and collective responsibility.
These ideals must remain the compass guiding Zimbabwe’s journey towards Vision 2030.
In this context, loyalty must be directed not towards transient personalities or partisan interests, but towards the nation itself, its constitutional values and the leadership entrusted with steering national development.
Vision 2030 is a national undertaking that demands unity of purpose, disciplined governance and a shared commitment to progress.
Loyalty to Zimbabwe means supporting the institutions and leadership that are working to fulfil this transformative agenda while holding them accountable to the ideals of liberation.
President Mnangagwa’s administration has laid out a clear road map for economic modernisation, infrastructural renewal and social upliftment.
To realise these goals, citizens must embrace a form of loyalty that is principled, constructive and forward-looking.
This means rejecting personality cults and instead fostering a culture of issue-based engagement, where loyalty is measured by one’s contribution to national development.
Public servants, political actors and civil society must align their efforts with the broader vision of national prosperity, guided by transparency, the rule of law and institutional integrity.
Zimbabwe must chart a different course — one where loyalty to the country and its leadership is expressed through collective action, civic responsibility and unwavering support for Vision 2030.
When loyalty is rooted in foundational ideals and channelled towards national goals, it becomes a powerful force for transformation.
It ensures that the spirit of liberation is not only preserved but also actively advanced through inclusive governance and shared progress.
Strategic resource utilisation
Economic liberation was a central goal of the struggle, and Vision 2030 must prioritise the strategic utilisation of Zimbabwe’s abundant natural resources to achieve inclusive prosperity.
The country is endowed with vast mineral wealth, fertile land and a resilient agricultural base.
However, these resources must be governed transparently and equitably to benefit all citizens.
Beneficiation and value addition are critical to preventing the extractive exploitation that has historically enriched foreign interests while leaving local communities impoverished.
For example, Zimbabwe’s lithium reserves — among the largest in Africa — present a unique opportunity to develop a domestic battery manufacturing industry that could create jobs, stimulate innovation and position the country as a leader in green technology.
Community participation in resource governance is essential, ensuring that local populations are not merely spectators but beneficiaries of development.
By linking resource management to the ideals of liberation, Vision 2030 can transform Zimbabwe’s economic landscape in ways that honour the sacrifices of the past.
Infrastructure as a fulfilment of liberation
The Trabablas Interchange, recently commissioned by President Mnangagwa, stands as a towering testament to Zimbabwe’s march towards Vision 2030.
More than a marvel of engineering, it is a living symbol of national pride, modern connectivity and the fulfilment of the liberation dream.
Rising boldly at the intersection of Simon Mazorodze, High Glen and Chitungwiza roads, this multi-level interchange — with its 15 majestic bridge structures, some soaring up to 18 metres high — has transformed one of Harare’s busiest and most chaotic junctions into a beacon of order, safety and progress.
What makes this achievement even more significant is that the Trabablas Interchange was built by Zimbabweans, for Zimbabweans.
This is not just infrastructure — it is empowerment. It reflects President Mnangagwa’s unwavering commitment to capacitating local talent, creating jobs and instilling confidence in the nation’s ability to shape its own destiny.
Over 600 jobs were created during the project’s execution, and the skills developed will ripple across future national projects.
The name “Trabablas”, drawn from one of the President’s Chimurenga names, is more than ceremonial — it is a tribute to his visionary leadership, his servant-hearted governance and resolve to deliver tangible results for the people.
Zimbabweans have embraced the interchange with enthusiasm and gratitude, seeing it as a clear signal that the President’s promises are not mere rhetoric, but reality.
The congestion that once plagued the Mbudzi Roundabout has given way to smooth traffic flow, safer pedestrian access and renewed economic activity.
This interchange is a cornerstone of Vision 2030, embodying the ideals of sovereignty, dignity and self-reliance that lay at the heart of the liberation struggle.
It connects communities, facilitates trade and opens pathways to opportunity.
Let the Trablablas Interchange be remembered not just as concrete and steel, but as a symbol of a people rising, a leadership delivering and a nation believing again.
It is proof that when loyalty is rooted in national ideals and collective purpose, Zimbabwe can — and will — build its future with pride.
Liberation movements ideological engines for Vision 2030
As Zimbabwe strides towards Vision 2030, we must look not only forward — but also inward and backward — to draw strength from the ideological bedrock of our liberation movements.
These were not mere battles for territory or political control; they were profound declarations of African agency, cultural pride and economic sovereignty.
In today’s globalised world, where neocolonial pressures often wear the mask of investment and diplomacy, the liberation ethos offers a compass to navigate complexity with clarity and conviction.
President Mnangagwa’s presence at the recent Liberation Movements Summit in South Africa was a reaffirmation that Zimbabwe’s development must be rooted in Pan-African solidarity, ideological continuity and self-determined progress.
Vision 2030 is not just a technocratic road map; it is a liberation promise reborn — a promise to build a Zimbabwe that is modern, inclusive and sovereign.
Liberation movements taught us the value of unity in diversity, of resistance against exploitation and of building systems that serve the people, not foreign interests.
These lessons are vital as Zimbabwe engages with global markets, negotiates trade deals and attracts investment.
Our development must be shaped by African priorities, not dictated by external agendas.
Through SADC, the African Union and other regional platforms, Zimbabwe must champion collective advancement and protect the continent’s strategic interests.
But to truly fulfil Vision 2030, we must also ignite a renaissance of liberation thought among the youth. Intergenerational dialogue is essential — not as nostalgia, but as inspiration.
Young Zimbabweans must inherit the fire of liberation, not just its history.
They must be empowered to innovate, lead and dream boldly, guided by the principles of justice, sovereignty and Ubuntu.
The liberation ideology must evolve — not as a relic, but as a living force.
It must speak to climate resilience, digital transformation, gender equity and economic empowerment.
It must be dynamic, visionary and unapologetically African.
In this way, Vision 2030 becomes not just a policy goal, but a spiritual continuation of the liberation struggle — a struggle now fought with ideas, infrastructure, innovation and inclusive governance.
And under President Mnangagwa’s leadership, Zimbabwe is poised to honour its past while boldly shaping its future.
Defending the gains of the liberation struggle in the context of Vision 2030 is not a nostalgic exercise — it is a strategic and moral imperative.
It requires Zimbabweans to reimagine patriotism, loyalty and development through the lens of justice, dignity and inclusion.
Vision 2030 is not a break from the past; it is the realisation of its highest aspirations.
It calls upon every citizen to become a custodian of liberation, a builder of prosperity and a steward of sovereignty.
Dr Tinashe Muzamhindo is an author, businessman and CEO of the Zimbabwe Institute of Strategic Thinking. He can be contacted on [email protected]
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