By Tafadzwa Munjanja-10 August 2026

Today, the country ‘celebrates’ Heroes Day, but in reality, 46 years after independence from the colonial rule, there is nothing to celebrate. The dictator, Emmerson Mnangagwa, and his cartels have watered down all the sacrifices of the heroes of the liberation struggle. The liberation agenda was about freedom, one man-one vote, the land question, and civil and political rights. In this week’s piece, we take a look at how Mnangagwa has systematically watered down the drain the efforts of those who lost lives and limps during the liberation struggle.

CAA3 Belittles Sacrifices of the Liberation Struggle Heroes

Despite his false assurances that he will not seek to extend his term of office, Emmerson Mnangagwa, in his deceptive crocodile ways, last month signed Constitutional Amendment Bill No.3 into law.

The newly enacted Constitutional Amendment Act No.3 takes away the right to vote for the President from the majority, placing it in the hands of a minority. The liberation struggle was about the majority rule, which was to be realised partly through the one man-one vote principle. Hundreds died at liberation centres like Chimoio and Nyadzonia fighting for this sacrosanct right to vote.

46 years after independence, drunk with ill gotten power and corruption, Mnangagwa has stolen away the right to vote for the President from ordinary citizens. CAA3 is a reversal of the gains of the liberation struggle, and that is why all progressive citizens must condemn and fight it.

Mnangagwa has stolen our freedoms!

As already highlighted in this piece, the liberation struggle was all about freedom. Mnangagwa’s so-called Second Republic mirrors Ian Smith’s Rhodesian Front, if not worse!

Abductions, arbitrary arrests, pre-trial detentions, and political killings are a colonial legacy, and Mnangagwa is doing the extraordinary to uphold that legacy. Imagine that 46 years after independence, we have an innocent citizen, Bhekimpilo Mbedzi, languishing in pre-trial detention for expressing his political views on social media.

01 August 2018 killings and the shades of Chimoio

Despite framing himself as one of the eminent figures of the Second Chimurenga, Mnangagwa has learnt nothing and forgotten everything about the liberation struggle. A president who unleashes the military on defenceless citizens in what is supposed to be an independent Zimbabwe is no different but worse than the colonial regime that deployed its Rhodesian forces to butcher women and children at Chimoio. 01 August 2018 military killings has the shades of Chimoio.

Corruption is killing us!

Mnangagwa’s so-called Second Republic ranks high among kleptocracies (where leaders use state power to systematically plunder their nation’s wealth) in history. The Gold Mafia documentary of Al Jazeera revealed systemic corruption, money laundering, and gold smuggling with Mnangagwa as the chief architect of those criminal activities. Mnangagwa’s corrupt government ranks amongst the worst kleptocracies such as that of Mohamed Suharto of Indonesia, Ferdinand Marcos of Philippines, Mobutu Sese Seko of Zaire among other despicables of that league.

Mnangagwa must be removed for Zimbabweans to enjoy the fruits of the blood and sweat of the heroes of the liberation struggle.

A sad Heroes Day Zimbabwe!

NoToCAA3

FreeBhekiMbedzi

Tafadzwa Munjanja is the Chief Ambassador of the National Democratic Working Group (NDWG). Here, he writes in his own capacity.