By Dr Takavafira Zhou
On 18th March 1975 the chairman of the Dare reChimurenga (War Council)was killed by a bomb when he tried to drive his car to work. Chitepo was a brilliant nationalist, whose desire for the liberation of Zimbabwe saw him turning down lucrative offers of employment in Tanzania in preference for the liberation of Zimbabwe. He had defended many nationalist brutalized by the Rhodesian Front, and realised that the best foot forward was to lead the liberation struggle from outside Zimbabwe in order to jettison colonial rule and improve the livelihoods of the generality of Zimbabwean people.
It is sad that some such nationalist at heart like Chitepo, J.Z. Moyo, Josiah Tongogara, Nikhita Mangena, etc never made it to Zimbabwe. Had they survived the war, Zimbabwe could be a different nation from the current parlous state, and the revolution may not have lost its way as A Astrow argues. As much as the liberation war consummated the end of colonial rule, by no means has its major thrust of improving the livelihoods of Zimbabweans been fulfilled. Not only has the revolution consumed it’s children, but it has also reached a dangerous scenario of devouring it’s mothers and fathers.
Dr Takavafira M. Zhou
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