Nduduzo Tshuma in Johannesburg, South Africa
PRESIDENT Mnangagwa has called on Southern Africa’s Liberation Movements to remain resolute in defending the gains of independence and to boldly chart new paths of people-centred development in the face of growing threats from counter-revolutionary forces.
Addressing the Summit of Heads of State and Leaders of Liberation Movements here yesterday, President Mnangagwa, who is also the Zanu PF First Secretary, urged former liberation movements to stand united, defend their shared legacy and ensure their continued relevance as champions of the people.
The high level meeting of leaders of the liberation movements marked the final and most crucial phase of the three-day indaba which started last Friday bringing together six Southern African liberation movements, the ANC of South Africa (host and outgoing chair), Zanu-PF (Zimbabwe), MPLA (Angola), SWAPO (Namibia), Frelimo (Mozambique) and CCM of Tanzania.
The summit ran under the theme “Defending the Liberation Gains, Advancing Integrated Socio-Economic Development, Strengthening Solidarity for a Better Africa.”
President Mnangagwa rallied liberation parties to remain true to their founding principles, emphasising that the future of African prosperity rests with revolutionary movements that are rooted in the will of the people.
“Counter-revolutionary forces have doubled-up antics to divide and fragment our movements. They are unrelenting in their nefarious quest to obliterate Liberation Movements from the political radar of our region,” he said
“Our democracy, freedom and independence did not come on a silver platter. The infrastructure that denied us democracy and independence has mutated and expresses itself in numerous forms. These include through interference in the internal affairs of our parties and governments; sabotage of our economies; and at worst, covert support of conflict and war, in our jurisdictions.”
However, the President emphasised the need for liberation movements to draw strength from their rich history of struggle, describing it as their greatest teacher.
He noted that the millions of people across the region, who continue to look to liberation movements with hope for a better future, should serve as a constant source of inspiration and resolve.
“The responsibility and duty to build brighter and more prosperous countries for the next generation lies with us, Liberation Movements. Let us, therefore, bravely and unapologetically re-assert and re-commit ourselves to defending our founding values, independence, sovereignty, freedom, democracy and equality.
“We are the only tried, trusted and dependable drivers of socio-economic justice, development and regional stability. The people’s power shall always remain firmly secure, under the governments of Liberation Movements,” said the President.
He stressed the need for unity and solidarity among liberation movements, which remain the bedrock of democracy, sovereignty and socio-economic transformation in the region.
President Mnangagwa warned against internal divisions and manipulation by foreign interests.
“Unity, cooperation and solidarity amongst ourselves as liberation parties, must realise maximum benefits. To achieve this, it is critically important that we address contradictions within our respective parties and overall body politik. Divergent views and strategies need not cause fractures detrimental to the revolution. Our colossal movements must remain bigger than individuals.
“While the ‘invisible hands’ are apparent, we should, as independent Pan-Africanists, close ranks in pursuit of common goals to develop our countries. Let us set aside all forms of differences and confront our challenges head-on, while maintaining the integrity and correct line of our revolutionary parties,” he said.
“We are one, sharing common values and ideas. Those who seek to foist their nefarious and foreign agendas in our region must be exposed and denounced.”
The President emphasised the role of liberation movements in steering inclusive economic development, particularly through investment in rural communities, industrialisation and youth empowerment.
In Zimbabwe, he said, the Zanu-PF Government is implementing a village-based economic transformation strategy, which includes drilling boreholes in all 35,000 villages and setting up agro-based business units to ensure food security, enhance horticultural exports and improve rural incomes.
“These are mitigating the impact of climate change, guaranteeing household food security, providing throughput for horticulture exports and ultimately improving rural incomes. The fruits of our independence and freedom translate to affordable education, healthcare, transport, water and sanitation, among other basic social services,” said the President.
He highlighted the importance of education, innovation, and youth participation in key sectors as cornerstones of modern development.
“In our case, ZANU PF has adopted strategies to empower the youth not only through the issuance of mining claims but also with equipment, so that they participate in the mining value chains. In the agriculture sector, mechanisation programmes targeted at the youth, have proved a transformational empowerment tool towards increased agriculture productivity among young farmers,” said the President.
Women and youth-led consortia are also being integrated into infrastructure development projects, both in urban and rural areas, while veterans of the liberation struggle are being supported through targeted welfare programmes.
President Mnangagwa said Zimbabwe’s economic trajectory, supported by policy reforms, has resulted in macro-economic stability and is expected to deliver around 6 percent GDP growth in 2025.
He called for deeper intra-African trade and collaboration among liberation movements to support regional integration, adding that the heritage of the liberation struggle must be preserved and passed on to future generations.
“The correct line of the revolution remains our guiding beacon. Our rich liberation heritage should be harnessed by today’s youthful and tech-savvy generation to grow our Party membership base.
“Leveraging on our political party schools and leadership institutes, deliberate efforts to nurture politically conscious young people and cadres, who have knowledge and understanding of our history, ideology and value systems, should be scaled up,” said President Mnangagwa.
“The legacy of luminaries and veterans of our movements, along with our rich liberation heritage, must be kept alive, immortalised and memorialised.”
President Mnangagwa expressed gratitude to Angola, Mozambique, Tanzania and Zambia for supporting Zimbabwe’s efforts to rehabilitate liberation war heritage sites in their countries.
He also commended ongoing efforts by South Africa to repatriate the remains of liberation heroes buried in Zimbabwe.President Mnangagwa reiterated Zimbabwe’s commitment to multilateralism and a rules-based international order.
He thanked fellow liberation movements for their continued support and advocacy for the unconditional lifting of Western-imposed sanctions on Zimbabwe.