via What Mugabe promised thirty four years ago – NewsDay Zimbabwe December 31, 2014
This is a speech by Zimbabwe’s Prime Minister designate Robert Mugabe, on March 4 1980 soon after his party won historic democratic polls. How far has President Mugabe and Zanu PF lived up to the promises made in 1980?
Greetings in the name of freedom. May I thank you most heartily for your votes and support.
I feel overwhelmed and at the same time I feel humbled. I wish to address you tonight on the significance of the election victory you have awarded my party, ZANU – Patriotic Front.
In doing so I would like to thank all those who, either by their direct vote, as our supporters, or by their efficient campaigning, as our organisers, have contributed to this favourable result.
In addition may I also thank all the officials who participated in the mechanical exercise of handling the elections, without whose organizational and administrative efforts the whole election process would have been a failure.
Soon a new government will come into being and lead our country to independence.
In constituting this government my main concern and that of my party is to create an instrument capable of achieving peace and stability, as it strives to bring about progress.
Peace and stability can only be achieved if all of us, first as individuals and secondly as part of the whole Zimbabwean national community, feel a definite sense of individual security on the one hand, and have an assurance of national peace and security on the other.
It must be realised however that a state of peace and security can only be achieved by our determination, all of us, to be bound by the explicit requirements of peace contained in the Lancaster House agreement, which express the general desire of the people of Zimbabwe.
President Robert Mugabe’s interview 4 years before Independence. Watch video
In this regard I wish to assure you that there can never be any return to the state of armed conflict which existed before our commitment to peace and the democratic process of the election under the Lancaster House agreement. Surely this is now time to beat our swords into ploughshares, so we can attend to the problems of developing our economy and our society.
My party recognises the fundamental principle that in constituting a government it is necessary to be guided by the national interest, rather than by strictly party considerations.
Accordingly I am holding consultations with the leader of ZAPU-Patriotic Front, Comrade Joshua Nkomo, so we can enter into a coalition.
What I envisage, however, is a coalition which, in the interests of reconciliation, can include by co-option members of other communities, whom the Constitution has denied the right of featuring as our candidates, by virtue of their being given block parliamentary representation.
We should certainly work to achieve a national front. Whatever government I succeed in creating we will certainly adhere to the letter and spirit of our Constitution, since that government will itself have been the product of such Constitution.
Only a government that subjects itself to the rule of law has any moral right to demand of its citizens obedience to the rule of law.
Our Constitution equally circumscribes the powers of the government by declaring certain civil rights and freedoms as fundamental. We intend to uphold these fundamental rights and freedoms to the full.
Similarly, it is not our intention to interfere with pension rights and other accrued benefits of the civil servants. I may mention here that I have now held discussions with chiefs of joint operations command as well as with heads of ministries, and all of them have given me their assurance of their preparedness to work under my government.
I in turn have assured them of our concern about their position, and the position of the civil servants. We have assured them that it is not the intention of our government, when it comes into being, to deprive the civil servants of their pension rights and accrued benefits; nor do we want to drive anybody out of this country.
We also do not intend to interfere unconstitutionally with the property rights of individuals.
I urge you, whether you are black or white, to join me in a new pledge to forget our grim past, forgive others and forget. Join hands in a new amity and together as Zimbabweans trample upon racialism, tribalism and regionalism, and work hard to reconstruct and rehabilitate our society as we reinvigorate our economic machinery.
The need for peace demands that our forces be integrated as soon as possible, so we can emerge with a single national army. Accordingly, I shall authorize General Walls, working in conjunction with the ZANLA and Zipra commanders, to preside over the integration process. We shall also, happily, continue to enjoy the assistance of British military instructors.
Finally, I wish to assure all the people that my government will strive to bring about meaningful change to their lives, that everyone should exercise patience, for change cannot occur overnight.
For now, let us be united in our endeavour to lead the country to independence. Let us constitute a oneness derived from our common objectives and total commitment to build a great Zimbabwe that will be the pride of all Africa. Let us deepened our sense of belonging, and engender common interest that knows no race, colour or creed. Let us truly become Zimbabweans with a single loyalty. Long live our freedom.
COMMENTS
At least he brought wealth to his family and friends. Well done for a former high school teacher!
At least he made wealth for his family and friends! Not bad for a former high school teacher!
Very eloquent yet empty rhetoric is what endeared this gangster leader, unfortunately it has taken the loss of live and limbs, properties and a non-existent economy for most to see that they are led by an empty headed good for nothing, pompous and arrogant president who cares not a single grain for any but himself and self interests.
Had the majority not been enthralled by his speeches but looked at reality, Zimbabwe would not have been what it is today. Mugabe and Zanu puff were never fit and ready to govern right from 1980.
Mugabe the rogue gangster. Very eloquent yet empty rhetoric is what endeared this gangster leader, unfortunately it has taken the loss of live and limbs, properties and a non-existent economy for most to see that they are led by an empty headed good for nothing, pompous and arrogant president who cares not a single grain for any but himself and self interests.
Had the majority not been enthralled by his speeches but looked at reality, Zimbabwe would not have been what it is today. Mugabe and Zanu puff were never fit and ready to govern right from 1980.
Now ensconced happily in Singapore as we speak, while the country he inherited has become a rag. Yes, for his family, he delivered. Even Bona paid lobola to her husband’s family with tax money. Even that gold digger wife and her hangers on Kambuzuma son are enjoying tax payers money in exquisite Singapore. Nxaaaa Du-zvi!
Makes me vomit. So many people gapped it after Bob made those empty promises. “We won’t interfere with property rights”. What a load of b……..t
I hope he stays in Singapore, with that disgusting family of his!
I hope he stays in Singapore, with that disgusting family of his!
Is there Ebola in the Mid East yet ,!!!
i like this part “Only a government that subjects itself to the rule of law has any moral right to demand of its citizens obedience to the rule of law”….Now it is a government which has become the law unto itself and anyone in opposition is in disobedience…The whole speech was just a window dressing to slience the povo and pave way for self enrichment within zanu pf.
A wonderful piece of fiction spoken by Mugabe, the question that has to be asked, is was it just a smokescreen? He has done an about turn on everything he said, nation before party, the rule of law, property rights, reconciliation etc. Mugabe has turned out to be nothing more than a gangster, leading a corrupt criminal organisation stealing from the ordinary citizens of Zimbabwe. Why ordinary Zimbabweans do not do more to be rid of him I just do not understand.
He is the biggest tribalist, even more so a racist and said “Power comes from a barrel of a gun”. Those words were the only true words I remember ! Once the rebuilding hand outs from the Lancaster house agreement stopped he resorted to his real self again. Pure evil, no unity for advancement.
Mugabe and is cronies are all a bunch evil ,rude self worshiping idiots whose interest are filling their ‘ever’ increasing bellies!this group of apes called zanu pf (punk fools)destroyed what was once a promising educated group of youth who now are working on foreign lands all across the world instead of their own mother land !they hide their dismal filthy failures behind fuss called ‘sanctions’.they do whatever the hell they want in that beautiful country answerable only to themselves such idiots!the only thing these buffons managed to do was create divisions amongst Zimbabwean cultures such that we Ndebeles,Shonas,Kalangas,Tongas,Vendas and all beautiful tribes in my great country will focus on hatred towards each other while they loot all resources and plunder whatever is left(if ever there is anything left).Their stinking system is called divide and rule.They forget the saying’ the bird that stays too long on the same branch invites a stone’ ASAZI OKUNGAHLOLIYO KUYOPHELA! ITS NOT A QUESTION OF IF ITS WHEN!!!
Well spoken umgani wami. Well spoken
That was 1980 Mr president and 35 years later chabuda hapana, totambura worse. You don’t deserve to still be our leader.Nyarawo and resign woregawo vamwe vayedze, hapana zvawatiitira mudhara . vamwe vaakushuvira kuti dai mwari achikutora nekuti hauna nyadzi munhu mukuru you should have retired by now sevamwe at 60 asi kwete uchiri kufunga kuti uchagadzira hapana chichanaka apa at 91.pfungwa dzako hadzichafambirana nenguva mudhara.smith ayive nani.
Muzorewa once said you have elected an animal which knows no economics. There we are 34 years down the line ZANU PF destroyed once a vibrant economy and they have no clue as to what to do to built a twenty first century economy , despite the vast minerals we have and a well educated society . What is wrong with us Africans? Everything we touch does not last. Is it a curse to be african ?. We have proved one thing since 1980 – that on our own we can not run an efficient economy. We can not even provide basic health system yet we used to be one of the best in terms of provision of basic amenities. Mugabe is just an individual , I think it’s a systemic failure more than anything else. We have a real problem . Look at our industries , most of those running them have been on those jobs for more than 15 years. How then can we even dream of moving forward with a bunch of idiots. Most of the CEOs can not even formulate a single business strategy to move their companies to next level. We lack innovative thinking at the top. And as long as we have the kind of CEO running key industries , Zimbabwe will never be competitive . We need a new corporate governance code . All those directors who have been on parastatal boards for more than 5 yrs must be fired and bring new blood to reinvent our parastatals. Our parastatals contribute more than 40 % of job creation to our economy and therefore the government must pay a serious attention to these key entities if we are to see any job creation in 2015.
That was a powerful speech and our dear leader has lived up to his promises. If it were not of the persistent challenges we faced President Mugabe would have been a world icon who lives what he says. What a hero!