ZIMBABWE, is a country richly endowed and its most important resource is its people.
And our women are our pride and our valuable asset.
In the month of March, women are celebrated, the world over.
But let me categorically state that while we join the rest of the world to celebrate women this month, as Africans, as a people, we celebrate our women everyday.
Contrary to Western belief that Africans oppress and abuse their female-folk, women feature prominently in our lives, playing and assuming significant and important roles in our day-to-day activities.
We dislodged colonialism with the help of our womenfolk; they were not passive in the fight to drive-out the white oppressor.
The great spiritual leader Mbuya Nehanda directed the First Chimurenga and continues to inspire the nation.
Women actively participated in the Second Chimurenga.
They were clear about what they sought to achieve, relentless in the pursuit of freedom.
It’s known achievers always set clear objectives.
Our women have made sacrifices, paid the price and today sit in the various seats in political and economic spheres.
Most heartening is that in driving our nation forward, our women do not go into it half-heartedly as an afterthought, but with mind and spirit together.
They are daring leaders who boldly leap across the divide.
If they were not of the ‘wrong’ colour (black) they would be making headlines across the world.
In international financial institutions, film industry, the UN and many other organisations, Zimbabwean women have become vital cogs.
Their skills have become invaluable and daily they are impacting lives.
We will celebrate them everyday.
It is in our tradition and culture to do so.
By extolling dreams, desires and wishes of our women, we perpetuate and promote sustainable development.
It is commendable that as a nation we have not left behind our womenfolk in our development agenda as we ideologically and intellectually engage the enemy whom we beat in the battle field.
In publishing houses, research institutes and at cultural centres, our women are contributing in the fight to defend what is ours.
Our women have contributed and continue to contribute their share of sweat in determining the history, future and identity of our nation.
No other nations can dictate this to us because that is the bedrock of our nation.
Our women are not inferior, Rhodesians collectively punished the population which supported the liberation struggle and women bore the brunt of their brutality.
The Second Chimurenga was unstoppable because we all played a part, men and women, boy and girl alike to dislodge colonialism.
Let us continue valuing our women, supporting them in their endevours that ultimately benefit the society.
Since time immemorial, we have agreed that empowering a woman is empowering the community.
The agenda to celebrate our Zimbabweanness, our heritage, cultures and the one instilling pride in us as a nation must never ever leave out our womenfolk.
Let us write books about them, their exploits, their successful business ventures, their success in sport.
Let us compose songs and poems about them.
Everyday we will celebrate our women.
Our women are icons and there will never be enough words to describe or thank them.