On Independence Day I celebrate, mourn and resolve to carry on

By Doug Coltart

On Independence Day (18 April) I celebrate the victories won in our long and hard struggle for freedom; I mourn the immense losses, huge setbacks and the betrayal of the dream of the liberation struggle; and I resolve to carry on the struggle until all are free.

First of all I CELEBRATE. Many of you may ask, “What is there to celebrate?” It’s a valid question, given the hardship, brutality and suffering our nation has been through over the past 37 years. But I believe there is reason to celebrate.

A few years ago Alex Magaisa wrote a piece called “Why I still Celebrate Independence” which greatly resonated with me. He argued that despite everything that has happened since then, Independence remains a defining moment in our long struggle towards freedom.

Many young men and women gave their lives in pursuit of a vision of a Zimbabwe where all people are treated equally. I celebrate their courage and remember their sacrifice. I celebrate the huge milestone that Independence brought in our struggle for freedom.

The defeat of a racist, white supremacist, and totally undemocratic colonial government and the opening up of the voting franchise to people of all colours and economic circumstances was a massive victory in the long and uphill march towards democracy and respect for human rights. We still have a long, long way to go, but its important to celebrate the milestones along the way.

But, of course, I also MOURN. I mourn the huge loss of life on both sides during the liberation struggle. Every human life is valuable, and every loss a tragedy. I mourn because the march towards freedom stalled after independence.

As Joshua Nkomo said, “A nation can win freedom without its people becoming free.” Immediately upon taking power, the post-independence government adopted and entrenched the repressive tendencies of the colonial regime.

They betrayed the values of the liberation struggle: values of democracy, equality, justice, respect for human rights, and Ubuntu. A new black political elite has replaced the white colonial elite. They’ve entrenched their own power, exploited the entire nation, and brutally repress against anyone who challenges them.

I mourn for all those who have been killed since independence as they continued the struggle for freedom. Following a pattern painfully similar to  the colonial era, many patriotic Zimbabweans—yearning to see the fulfillment of the liberation struggle—are tortured, beaten and killed in an effort to stop the people from attaining their freedom.

And so, I RESOLVE to continue the struggle for freedom in Zimbabwe. Spurred on by the courage of the fallen heroes of the struggle, both pre- and post-independence, I resolve to keep fighting till freedom is won. But one thing that this journey has taught me is that this struggle cannot be finished through violence.

For the violent struggle gave birth to a violent regime. We can honour the sacrifice of those who gave their lives during the liberation struggle, and still acknowledge that if we are to bring their dreams of freedom to fruition we must take the struggle forward by other means. And so I resolve to continue to fight for freedom through nonviolent struggle—the method of struggle that has brought freedom to repressive state’s as diverse as Benin, Serbia, Philippines, Poland and South Africa.

My fellow Zimbabweans, this Independence Day, will you join me in celebrating, mourning, and resolving to see our struggle through to the end?