My Hero, My Zim

The Dare chaired by Kumbirai Kangai and others, was about to give what was feared to be a catastrophic judgement against the duo when Kadzviti caused commotion which resulted in the trial turning into a non-event.

The disturbance spilled into the famous Nare Rebellion. This helped bring to an end the Dares which had reportedly claimed dozens of lives. Things being normal, Kadzviti deserved national hero status after the struggle for Zimbabwe since he was strategist who played a pivotal role towards the liberation of the country.

My second top hero is Richard Mashaba Hove. Hove is a non power hungry person despite opportunities availed him by the political system and civic organisations.

He was the first Zimrights chairperson to put the human rights organisation on good stead and make its existence felt.

Through his able chairpersonship, Hove helped government and various stakeholders respect issues to do with human rights.

During his stint at the Zimbabwe Election Support Network, he articulated issues to do with constitutionalism. – Edison Chihota

My hero is no one other than MDC-T President Morgan Tsvangirai.

Tsvangirai is my most respected hero because of his jealously guarded principals and bravery.

Since his days as secretary general at the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions, Tsvangirai has remained resilient in the struggle to improve the welfare of workers and the marginalised.

Tsvangirai is that rare breed of leaders who stick to their promises to the people. If Tsvangirai says he would not abandon the people before the struggle for true democracy is achieved, he means it. Remember he lost a wife in a tragic road accident, but this did not distract his attention from the unfinished national duty at hand.

He promised never to abandon the fight for democracy until Zimbabweans have reached the Promised Land. Despite several arbitrary arrests, torture and undue harassment at the hands of the Mugabe administration, Tsvangirai has stayed the course. – Jimmy Jaliff

Strive Masiyiwa of Econet is my top hero. Masiwa, challenged in the courts agents of doom who made spirited efforts towards denying him the operators’ licence required for one to do communications business in Zimbabwe. After winning the court case, he went one to change the face of digital communication and banking in Zimbabwe and around the continent. With Econet internet service, Zimbabwe has managed to enjoy benefits accruing from Information Technology developments along with other global nations. Masiyiwa was born in 1962 and is the founder and chairman of global telecommunications group, Econet Wireless. Econet Wireless is a diversified telecommunications group with operations and investments in Africa, Southern America, Europe, and the East Asia Pacific Rim. It offers products and services in mobile and fixed telephone services, internet and satellite. Masiyiwa is one of the founders of the global think tank, Carbon War Room. He serves on a number of international boards including the Rockefeller Foundation, the Advisory Board of the Counsel on Foreign Relations, the Africa Progress Panel, AGRA, the UN Secretary General’s Advisory Boards for Sustainable Energy, and for Education. My other top hero is Morgan Tsvangirai, president of MDC-T.

Tsvangirai is a selfless visionary who saved Zimbabweans from the jaws of dictatorship.

He braved Mugabe threats and went on to form the Movement for Democratic change, which has proved to be the only hope for sustainable social, economic and political activities for Zimbabwe.

Imagine what would have become of Zimbabwe if Tsvangirai had opted to join Zanu (PF). There would not be any Zimbabwe to talk about now. – Izeck Mubvumbi

My true hero is none other than Lernmore Jongwe. Despite his youthful age, Jongwe presented the Zanu (PF) administration with the most intelligent and brave challenge the Mugabe led party had ever met.

Jongwe told people that it would be difficult to remove Mugabe from power through the ballot. He said that the only way to deal with Zanu (PF) was confrontation.

True to Jongwe predictions, election after election went on to be rigged with Mugabe and Zanu (PF) ‘fraudulently’ clinging on to power.

If Jongwe was around, chances were that Zanu (PF) would have been history by now. – Tonderai Chitaguda

My only hero is Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai of MDC-T.

Despite the risks associated with challenging President Robert Mugabe on the political turf, Tsvangirai selflessly put his head on the political cutting block and pulled punches at the Zanu (PF) strong man.

Unarmed as he is, through democratic processes Tsvangirai managed to run-over Mugabe and his partisan security forces.

There could be other heroes elsewhere, but Tsvangirai would stand head and shoulders above them. Unlike leadership at other parties, Tsvangirai remains sensitive to the plight of the marginalised. His style of politics is people centred and cuts across tribes and races. – Tafireyi Anyway

My father, Morris Chingawu Mafunga is my hero. Despite working as a poorly paid restaurant worker, my father could make some cash servings every month for his 9 children’s school fees.

Out of the meagre earnings, he managed to send us to good schools such as mission boarding educational institutions.

In the interest of family, my father worked tirelessly at Bombay Dark Restaurant for decades to improve welfare of his children and members of the extended family.

Such a father and others who soldiered on in his situation are my real heroes. – Stephen Soroti

The late Joshua Nkomo and Josiah Tongogara are my true heroes. Nkomo and Tongogara spoke passionately from the bottom of their hearts about democracy and free and fair elections.

They had passion for people at heart and did not serve self interests. The two heroes did not at any one time discredit human rights and democracy.

True heroes are not selfish and would champion the cause for people across the political divide. They are race and tribe blind.

No politician of today, especially from Zanu (PF) speaks passionately about justice and democracy the way Nkomo did. Had the two late heroes been alive Zimbabwe would not been struggling in the political crisis we find ourselves in.

Their selfish struggle for peace and democracy was for the benefit of Zimbabwe as a nation.

Tongogara was born in 1938 and died in a car accident I Mozambique in 1979. He was a commander of the ZANLA forces and attended the Lancaster House Conference which paved way for Zim independence.

Tongogara was expected to be the first president of Zimbabwe, with Mugabe as prime minister. – Philip Pasirayi

My heroes are Beatrice Mtetwa (human rights lawyer) and Betty Makoni founder of the Girl Child Network. Mtetwa has remained resilient despite paying heavily for her role as defender of human rights. She continues to fight dictatorial practices which threaten the rule of law, as reflected by arbitrary arrests of democratic forces.

Her bravery as a human rights lawyer created her enemies within the regime’s partisan security sectors. Regardless, she consistently provides legal representation to people facing trumped up charges raised by counter democracy elements.

Mtetwa has been internationally recognised for her defence of journalists both local and internationally, and press freedom. She is rated as Zimbabwe’s top human rights lawyer. In 2005 she won the International Press Freedom Award, Ludovic-Trarielux International Human Rights Prize in 2009 among other recent awards.

Among some of her several achievements during her course of work, Mtetwa successfully challenged a section of Zimbabwe’s Private Voluntary Organisations Act which allowed a government minister the authority to dissolve or replace the board of Non-Governmental Organisations.

Makoni founded the Girl Child Network to protect interests of the girl child and vulnerable women. Her cause came handy during June 2008 electoral process when hundreds of children and women were raped by political rowdy elements. Girl Child remains the best model for girls’ empowerment globally.

Makoni won the CNN hero award and is a proud winner of more than 32 global awards.

She is the most awarded African woman in the world, who has been recognised with Global Nobel Prize winners like former South Africa president Nelson Mandela. – Beatrice Mangora

My hero is Morgan Tsvangirai. He has managed to bring change from the old systems. – Steven Chakawanda (21)

My hero is Sally Mugabe because she was a strong woman who despite her status as First Lady stood by her values as a African woman. Although she lived under difficult circumstances during the war of liberation she showed her bravery and was supportive of her husband. – Pamela Takawanda

I am inspired by Priscilla Misihairambwi-Mushonga.

I admire her political stance especially when it comes to fighting for women to be involved in decision making processes. She is one woman who has managed to stand up for justice and although she has gone

through a lot, she is still there fighting for justice. – Tracy Gatawa

My hero is Richard Ponde, a slain MDC-T activist.He died fighting for democracy and the liberation of the people from the jaws of Zanu (PF). Although he was victimised, he remained resilient in his fight for a democratic Zimbabwe. I would say he is a hero because he remained resilient in the face of arrests and

persecutions till the time of his death. – Paul Majarira

My hero is Sally Mugabe because she was a strong woman who despite her status as First Lady stood by her values as a African woman. Although she lived under difficult circumstances during

the war of liberation she showed her bravery and was supportive of her husband. – Pamela Takawanda

Mabvuku- My hero is Josiah Tongogara. He was a man of

justice and treated people equally. (Josiah Magama Tongogara, who died in December 1979, was the commander of the ZANLA guerilla army and is credited for his sterling contribution to the independence of Zimbabwe). – Lloyd Chifurira

My hero is TB Joshua .He has inspired me to be a strong christian through his miracles. – Simbarashe

My hero is Morgan Tsvangirai. He has managed to bring change from the old systems. – Steven Chakawanda

I consider Morgan Tsvangirai as my hero because he is fighting to ensure that people get out from poverty through employment. – Batanai Masunda

The late Josiah Tongogara is my hero. He sacrificed his life and fought for the country and he was a resilient someone. He was

very brave in his execution of duty. I would also compare the Prime Minister, Morgan Tsvangirai to Tongogara because he fought to an extent that his goal is almost complete. – Mr. Dhobha

My hero is the late Chindori Chininga. To me he was an exemplary leader as he did not discriminate along political lines. He was there for everyone regardless of political affiliation.

(Chindori Chininga was the Zanu (PF) Member of Parliament for Guruve South and a former Minister of Mines) – Maidei Moyounotsva

My hero is the late Solomon Mujuru. He is a hero in the sense that he always fought for the interests of the people. He carried on with that struggle even to the time of his death. – Precious Jeche

My heroine is Betty Makoni because she has fought hard for the right of young girls in this country – Annie Phiri