VP Msika remembered
Mako Jerera
Government has remembered late National Hero and former Vice President Joseph Musika on the anniversary of his death.
The late Cde Msika died on August 4 2009 at the age of 85, after a long battle with hypertension.
He was buried at the National Heroes Acre.
In a statement, Chief Statement to the Office of the President and Cabinet Dr Misheck Sibanda described Cde Msika as a gallant freedom fighter and fearless revolutionary who stood firm in defense of Zimbabwe until his last breath.
The late Cde Msika died on August 4 in 2009 at the age of 85 after a long battle with hypertension.
He was buried at the National Heroes’ Acre in Harare.
Cde Msika served as the Zimbabwe`s Vice-President from 1999 to 2009 after succeeding Dr Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo.
In a message commemorating the 13th anniversary of VP Msika’s death, Dr Sibanda said the late nationalist will forever be remembered as a man who demonstrated an unwavering commitment to the nation.
“A gallant freedom fighter and fearless revolutionary, Cde. Joseph Wilfred Msika belonged to a generation of nationalists who devoted an entire lifetime to the liberation of the motherland from the tough hand of colonial rule. From his days at the helm of the Textile and Allied Workers Union in 1954, Cde Msika played a crucial role in the transformation of nationalist movements into a formidable Patriotic Front which negotiated the end of the Armed Liberation Struggle at the historic Lancaster House Conference in 1979,
“After serving as Independent Zimbabwe’s first Minister of Natural Resources, the ardent nation-builder was again instrumental, as ZAPU Vice President, in talks which culminated in the signing of the watershed Unity Accord of 1987,” he said.
Dr Sibanda said As Vice President of the Republic of Zimbabwe from 1999 to 2009, Cde Msika devoted his energies to supporting the Land Reform Programme which restored the land to its rightful owners, the people of Zimbabwe.
“Cde Msika ably demonstrated commitment to the empowerment of the majority indigenous people through ownership of their heritage, the land. Affectionately known as “Bruno’, the late Vice Presdent’s forthright talk and no-nonsense demeanour always inspired every Zimbabwean to be patriotic, and instilled fear in the hearts of those that opposed the revolutionary goals of his generation,” he said.
Cde Sibanda said following from the programmes, Cde Msika passionately drove, a whole array of opportunities opened up for the ordinary citizen, and today’s adage “Nyika inovakwa nevene vayo” / “Ilizwe lakhiwa ngabanikazi balo” resonates well with the late national hero’s work ethics.
“As the nation approaches the commemoration of the 42nd Anniversary of Heroes Day and celebrates Defence Forces Day, it is only befitting that we remember the late Vice President in his rightful place among the gallant sons and daughters of the soil, both living and departed, and from the First Chimurenga/Umvukela to the Second Chimurenga,
“With the economic empowerment programme now receiving renewed impetus under the stewardship of the Second Republic, the social justice that Cde. Msika and the entire rank and file of our liberators fought for is becoming a reality as we seek to attain the objectives of Vision 2030 on a prosperous, knowledge and technology-driven Upper Middle Income society,
“May the soul of Cde. Joseph Wilfred Msika, and the souls of other distinguished revolutionaries rest in eternal peace,” he said.
The legacy of the late National Hero and Vice President Joseph Msika should inspire the youth to emulate the love for country that drove the veteran nationalist to join the liberation struggle at a tender age of 19.
As the country prepares for the commemoration of Heroes Day and Zimbabwe Defence Forces Day on Monday and Tuesday respectively, the memory of Cde Msika is a reminder, especially to the youth, that the love of country and knowing what is good for the nation helps in the defence of Zimbabwe’s sovereignty and the furthering of her national interest, through various ways, by all citizens.
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