By Davet Muzvidziwa

SOCIETY has attempted to classify people into generations based generally on the period they were born and specifically on the group traits they exhibit. The first generation to be noted is the Silent Generation made of people born from the 1920s to 1945.
The Silent Generation is followed by the Baby Boomer Generation, which is made up of people born from 1946 to the 1960s.
Then comes Generation X from late 1960s to 1980. From 1981 to 2000 comes Generation Y or Millennium Generation and lastly comes the Generation Z or Boomlets, made of people born after 2001.
This matter came to mind because I overheard some young boys drinking in the public seeming to enjoy unfettered freedom remarking; “Aya madhara anongoti nyika takaisunungura zvinei nesu izvozvo? Ngavanoisungirira pakare tigonoisunungurawo kana toda.” (These old people say they liberated this country, what has that to do with us?
They should take it back and when we want, we will go and liberate it also). I quickly realised that maybe it was not their problem.
These younger generations some of them do not know the sound of a gun. The nation has a responsibility to inform these youngsters how they got the freedom to say what they want in public or even to drink the brandy, spirits, whisky and the wines they are enjoying.
The silent generation was abused by the Rhodesian government to the same level of slavery. They were captured in villages into forced labour in mines, farms, and railway construction under a scheme notoriously known in Shona as Chibharo.
All they would be given was a ration consisting of a cup of beans, one dry salted fish called bakayawo and 2kg mealie-meal per week.
They would work for up to six months without being allowed to go and see their families neither were their families aware of where their husbands were.
Anyone who would run away from chibharo or forced labour would be arrested. Some reforms later took place but the damage on the African fabric had been done. This and future urban restrictions gave birth to modern day prostitution.
This generation was very angry and unhappy with the political developments in the motherland. A raft of legislation to suffocate the development of Africans particularly peasant farmers were put in place by the colonial government. Outside Rhodesian borders such as in South Africa some resistance was beginning to emerge.
The Generation X people were young to take part in the war effort except those born at the beginning of the generation.
The war effort claimed casualties. It was no child’s play. The skeletal remains being discovered in mass graves, disused mines and caves belong to sons and daughters of Zimbabwe.
Of course you have sons and daughters of Zimbabwe who died collaborating with the settlers in the war effort. A lot of names were given to these sons and daughters who betrayed the African cause in the bitter struggle.
That trend of betraying your own has now developed into a culture among Zimbabweans. Here and there you find some of us taking sides with the enemies of our people.
At least Generation X had a feel of the bitter and protracted liberation struggle. One would not expect a sane Generation X to say; “Endai munosungirira nyika pamakai sunungura tigozoi sunungurawo isu kana tave kuda”.
My heart bleeds when I think about the Generation Y (Millennium) and Generation Z (Boomlets). Some of these children who may now be fathers and mothers may not know the sound of a gun. Some of these would have nightmares if they see blood coming out of a goat slaughtered at a celebration.
Yet some of them out of ignorance loosely and recklessly utter words they have no comprehension of their real implications.
Some of them imitate actors such as Rambo who never die in every film he acts. They think there is invincibility in war situations. My heart bleeds when I see our children drunk of elicit stuff imagine war as a game.
Perhaps enough is not done to educate our children about their past in a positive way. Government should take it as a national responsibility to educate our children about their past, their heritage and national threats.
To my young ones who feel war and violence is cool, I would like to invite you to look at how Generations Y and Z created war in Egypt, Libya, Syria and now Ukraine. It is nice when that is news. It is another thing when the situation involves you.
The Zimbabwean Generations Y and Z should direct their energy with the help of government of course, on the abundant natural resources bestowed to us by Mwari Musikavanhu, the God of peace. Generation Silent, Baby Boomer and part of Generation X liberated the country for you.
We now look at you enviously and wish we were young in this dispensation like you. It is the wish of every generation to leave the country to a better generation than them when their reign ends.
It will not be pleasant to hand over the country to people who would say Zimbabwe should be re-colonised so that one day they can re-liberate it. Generations Silent, Baby Boomer and part of X liberated the soil. That is why we were calling ourselves vana vevhu. We expect the younger generations to start focussing into space like other nations. When are we going to send a Zimbabwean satellite into space if you younger generations lack focus?
Each new generation has an obligation to add value to the efforts of the generation preceding it. Today you are a younger generation, tomorrow you will be an outgoing generation. How would you like to be judged by the coming generations?