WE celebrate 34 years of independence and the journey of our nation thus far has been eventful.
Zimbabwe has in the last decade followed an exciting history.
In the scheme of things, in stories of nations, a decade or two is not a long time.
Thus in a short space of time, we have gone through major life transforming exercises.
Exercises which we were not expected to survive.
The country was to disintegrate, but it did not.
We were put through the wringer and the heat was turned on higher and the screws true to their word were tightened.
But we are still standing and forging ahead.
Bottom lip bit and sleeves rolled, we pushed, we fought, we worked, we remained awake and we conquered.
That is who we are, a resilient and determined people who have refused to be cowed.
As the nation went through the Land Reform Programme, many detractors foretold its demise.
Yet today our pieces of land are productive, never mind the challenges, we are working the land to the best of our ability.
Lives every season are being transformed.
Our standards of living are improving.
As a country we have no regrets and make no apologies.
Currently, we are pursuing, relentlessly policies that indigenise the economy.
Most importantly is that we must not tire or give up.
We must fight for our past, present and future.
And many ask, will we ever be free of battles and stop fighting?
The answer is no.
We are a beautiful country, richly endowed and as such we will not be short of suitors.
Unfortunately we will not just have suitors but thieves as well and soldiers of fortune who will use any means and ways to get what is ours.
So we will always fight, that is the curse of riches.
The most important thing is that we all know with certainty that we are a capable people.
Our 34th anniversary must remind us that we are no pushovers.
It must instill in us that, that which unites us as a people is stronger than that which wants to divide us.
It must instill in us pride that we have honoured the sacrifice made by those that assisted in bringing the independence that restored our dignity.
It must give us the strength to continue fighting, reminding us that thus far we have come and we must not falter.
Challenges and difficulties are a reality that must not send us running for cover.
Always we have had challenges and always we faced them head on.
We have never cowered or retreated but emerged victorious despite the fact that the odds were stacked against us.
Many of us never saw the squalor, the deprivation, and sub-human conditions of Rhodesia.
There was and will never be anything beautiful about that dreadful era.
Blinded by the love of money, gripped by the spirit of selling-out for individual benefit, some have forgotten the significance and agenda of the liberation struggle.
We will remind them.
Zimbabwe is for Zimbabweans neupfumi hwayo hwose.
Others will sing our failures and weaknesses, let them do, we will relentlessly focus on our strengths and celebrate our achievements as a nation and as a unified people.