Acting President Constantino Chiwenga on Monday implored Zimbabwean youths to emulate the late national hero and Zimbabwe National Liberation Army (ZANLA) commander Josiah Magama Tongogara who committed his life to fight for the country’s liberation from settler minority rule.
Addressing relatives, friends, colleagues and senior Government officials who had converged at the National Heroes Acre to commemorate the 43rd anniversary of Tongogara’s death, Chiwenga urged the youth to desist from drug and alcohol abuse and dedicate themselves to rebuilding the country. Said Chiwenga:
The youths of today must know that what they are is what we were and what we are is what they shall be. This country was liberated by the youths.
Imagine when General Tongo died, he was 41 so he was in his prime of youth and he commanded the liberation of this country.
When he took command of ZANLA he was still in his youthful days so the youths of today must emulate what the predecessors did.
To be principled, to love one’s country, and to defend it at all cost, leave all things which are not going to help in the reconstruction of our country.
Today we are battling trying to stop youths from drug abuse and alcohol. All these things must be stopped.
We want the youths to build Zimbabwe. That is all we want.
Tongogara was born on 4 February 1938 in Shurugwi and died on Boxing Day in 1979 in a vehicle accident in Mozambique, soon after the signing of the Lancaster House Agreement. | The Herald