Published by the government of Zimbabwe
Sydney Kawadza
18 April 2008
Harare — CHILDREN have a right to inherit a free and sovereign country and elders should not let them down by dropping their guard against imperialists, President Mugabe has said.
Speaking at a Children's Party hosted by the First Family during the annual commemorations of the 28th Anniversary of Independence at the City Sports Centre in Harare yesterday, President Mugabe said imperialist forces were finding their way into society to cause division among the people of Zimbabwe.
"(They) are trying to divide our people to create a weak society, a state of weakness to impose neo-colonial rule in our country," he said.
Cde Mugabe said as long as he was still alive, he would not let the British or their Western allies colonise Zimbabwe again.
"As long as I am still on this earth, as long as I am still breathing, the country shall never be a colony again. Never shall this country be a British colony again," he said.
Cde Mugabe urged the children in the country to grow up knowing that the country has a history that led to the freedom enjoyed by all the people today.
"We want you to grow and develop in an environment of freedom (but) you should develop by knowing your history. Knowing your country's past would also help you knowing its future.
"You must also know the history of the struggle. Freedom did not come on a silver plate. Zimbabwe was once usurped by imperialists who seized it like robbers, but we got it back and we are proud to be Zimbabweans, not Rhodesians, Africans, not British.
"We have our own cultures. We can borrow from other cultures, but not British. We must remain black and be proud to be black and hence our children should inherit a culture of being proud to be African," he said.
President Mugabe said Zimbabwean children should learn to inherit and develop good characters from their elders.
"You should show friendship, love for the poor and work to unite the people. You should also inherit from those with the right knowledge, correct skills that will help you to be better people and get an education to grow in terms of conduct and character," he said.
President Mugabe said children should know that they do not have to start as leaders but should learn to follow others before they could become good leaders.
"We want to see good leaders who would inherit Zimbabwe and ensure fair distribution of the country's resources among the people. Good leaders must have good character, knowledge and good ideology.
"Move in circles of well-behaved people, respect your elders, your Government and be able to distinguish what is wrong or right so that you can also be distinguished from others.
"If you develop a bad character, you would be damned and you would also be damned as a person, but a good character cannot be developed in a day. It should be developed in your homes and schools," he said.
President Mugabe urged the children to shun bad company and develop good habits that can be built into a good character.
"You should develop a good habit, a good habit that would develop into a good character, a good character for a good destiny," he said.
The party is an annual event held a day before the country's independence celebrations and attended by children from the country's 10 provinces.
Traditional dancers, poets and local musical groups entertained the gathering.
The Minister of Education, Sports and Culture, Cde Aeneas Chigwedere, led a number of dignitaries who graced the occasion including Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Cde Obert Matshalaga, Information and Publicity Deputy Minister Cde Bright Matonga, Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet Dr Misheck Sibanda and many others.
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