By Brendah Muchato
His Excellency the President and ZANU PF First Secretary Cde Emmerson Mnangagwa has urged youths to defend Zimbabwe's Independence as well as building and developing the country.
"You have a duty to defend our independence and take a leading role in building and developing our motherland. Nyika inovakwa igotongwa nevene vayo, Ilizwe lakhiwa, libuswe ngabavanikazi balo. Ndimwi Vene vayo", he said
President Mnangagwa made these remarks yesterday at the Burial of the Late Brigadier General (Rtd) Walter Epmarcus Kanhanga at the National Heroes Acre.
His Excellency challenged the youth to venture into agriculture value chain.
"I challenge the youth to find space within the agriculture value chain to increase production and related productivity across the sector and agro-industries. The ongoing modernisation and mechanization initiatives being undertaken by the Second Republic must see us increasing our capacity to feed ourselves and contributing to ending hunger on the African Continent", His Excellency said
His Excellency went on to describe the Late Brigadier General (Rtd) Walter Kanhanga as a true veteran.
" We gather yet again on a sad note to inter the remains of a decorated senior officer of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces. A true veteran of the liberation struggle. One of the brave pioneer fighters who ignited the decisive phase of our armed struggle for Independence", President Mnangagwa said.
"The late Brigadier General's clarity of mind in matters of the struggle, his commitment and hard work saw him appointed the ZANLA Military Attaché to Botswana in 1978. At the time, this was a strategic conduit for cadres escaping to join the liberation struggle under both the ZANLA and ZIPRA liberation forces. It is in this post that Brigadier Kanhanga played a critical role of assisting thousands of cadres to transit through Botswana to go for military training in Angola, Mozambique, Zambia and Tanzania", His Excellency said.
He further called citizens to register to vote and to shun violence.
"As the 2023 Harmonised General Elections draw closer, I call upon all our citizens to register to vote to defend, consolidate and advance the gains of our independence. Let us continue to say NO to violence, while remaining vigilant against the machinations of our detractors. As a people, we must be allowed to exercise our democratic rights without external interference", His Excellency said.
President Mnangagwa also said that Zimbabwe remains a friend to all and an enemy to none.
"Our present Foreign Policy quest "to be a friend to all and an enemy to none", must continue to be viewed with this background in mind", he said.
He also added that "My Administration will therefore continue consolidate relations within Africa and beyond, for the benefit of our country, SADC and the Continent as a whole. In this spirit, our country must welcome and take full advantage of our deepening relations with Belarus and Equatorial Guinea, following the recent high level visits", President Mnangagwa said.