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Reform in selection of national heroes is sine qua non
Mutsa Murenje
March 27, 2009

Recent calls by the MDC for an inclusive national policy with clearly defined conditions to determine who qualifies to be or not to be a national hero are reasonable and sensible. What makes me sad, however, is the fact that such calls have been misinterpreted and misunderstood by people like Campion Mereki whose sympathies apparently lie with the former ruling party ZANU PF. For he wrote in the Herald on Tuesday the 24th of March 2009 that "Definition of a hero cannot be changed". And who has asked for change in the definition of a hero? Mereki attempts, but unsuccessfully, to use a convenient definition of a hero. According to the narrow and shallow definition that he used, a hero simply refers to one who has suffered or died for his country or one who has risked his life for the love of his country. The problem with this definition is that it only recognizes heroes in the political field. This is the reason why the MDC has called for reform in relation to the selection of national heroes. Their cogent and luculent argument is that ZANU PF represents but a tiny percentage of the population to such an extent that it lacks the proper credentials to speak for the people when to the choosing of national heroes.

Honourable Nelson Chamisa has been very clear on the matter. He said, " The conferment of hero status cannot be the exclusive preserve of one political party. Certainly neither the MDC national executive nor ZANU PF politburo has any unilateral right to determine who is a hero and who is not". It is from this stand point that I proffer the submission that reform in the selection of national heroes is not an option but a functional prerequisite. This has to be especially when taking into cognizance the fact that this, our beloved country, has not only produced " greats" in the political field but we have also had the very best of minds in fields such as sport, music, arts in general and even in business. For this reason, a hero can be understood to mean a man of superhuman qualities favoured by the gods or an illustrious warrior, one who has fought for his country. A hero is also a man admired for achievements and noble qualities. It is this sort of understanding that is clearly deficient in Mereki-s malnourished mind and other ZANU PF sympathizers who have the same mind as the one that he has.

For villains have been buried at the national shrine just because they happened to be card-carrying members of ZANU PF. So does it mean that one cannot be a hero if he belongs to another political party apart from ZANU PF? There is, therefore, an urgent need for reform in terms of our understanding of what makes one a national hero. By reform we mean making a person, institution, procedure, conduct become better by removal or abandonment of imperfections, faults, or errors. Reform is meant to abolish, cure abuse or malpractice. The procedure has to be revisited and this is what we call radical change for the better in political affairs. It is in this context that we have maintained that we need leaders who will move our focus away from the backward glance and direct it forward.

It is a ludicrous argument therefore, dear Mereki, to resist change on the pretext that the GNU is a "palliative" and not a "till death do us part arrangement". We all know that the GNU is but a transitional authority but still, there is need for comprehensive reforms in a number of critical areas no wonder why His Excellency, The Prime Minister of the Republic of Zimbabwe and President of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), Mr Morgan Richard Tsvangirai promised a short-term recovery plan to reinvigorate the country-s battered economy, to deal with national healing, to undertake an audit on the chaotic land reform, to deliver a people driven constitution and to restore media freedom among other things.

Honestly, we cannot resist change just because we are from different political persuasions and/or affiliations. To say that there are people who claim to be fighting for democracy is an insult to say the least dear Mereki. It-s not a claim but something happening in this country. For we, the suffering people of Zimbabwe, have been engaged in a vigorous and consistent struggle against the omnipotent dictator-Robert Mugabe. It is public knowledge that the sorrow in Zimbabwe is due to the selfishness of one living organism - Robert Mugabe.-that simply doesn-t care when the rest of us suffer. And our struggle isn-t over yet until and unless we have a government by the people, direct or representative. Mereki is of the opinion that reform in the selection of national heroes will result in "some chickens and political sellouts" being buried at the national shrine. But who are these chickens and political sellouts? Who wants to reverse the gains of liberation from colonial bondage? And who said the GNU is a platform for such a reversal?

Kutaura kwakadaro kunotidzorera kumashure nemakore akawanda. I, honestly, don-t see how reform can compromise our true worth/excellence (dignity), independence and sovereignty. Who doesn-t know that Mugabe is quite depressing and is no doubt an irritating part in our struggle for social and political reform? Yesterday I was of the opinion that any deal with ZANU PF was but a covenant with death and an agreement with hell. But today, I have changed my mind because there is, as it were, an urgent and imperative need to promote greater tolerance and cooperation among people. Tsvangirai has impressed me in this regard because he has always been noble in language, generous and conciliatory in tone. ZANU PF should reciprocate nekuti donors will only give us money kana tachinja maitiro edu.

Mwari ngaatipe simba to live as Jesus lived; to win the war of sin; to blast the solid walls of selfishness, indifference and hostility, to reach and change human hearts. Chokwadi we need power to see committed rebels changed into loyal sons and daughters of God. Tikasadaro we won-t be able to finish the work of taking God-s good news to the entire sin-scarred world. Ngatideyi vavengi vedu (Mathew 5:44-48) kwete izvi (John 4:9) nekuti what we desire is unfailing love ( Proverbs 19:22) because God shows no favouratism (Acts 10:34,35). After all, we are members of the same family whether one is shona or Ndebele, MDC or ZANU PF (Acts 17:37). May God bless the reading of his word.

On the whole, I call, with passion and courage, for conciliation and understanding in the name of patriotism. As Daniel Webster puts it: "Necessity compels me to speak true rather than pleasing things . . . .I should indeed like to please you: but I prefer to save you, whatever be your attitude toward me." I put it to you dear Zimbabweans and I rest my case.

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