ADDRESS
BY THE PRESIDENT AND FIRST SECRETARY OF
ZANU PF, HIS EXCELLENCY,
CDE. DR. E. D. MNANGAGWA
AT THE MUNHUMUTAPA DAY
COMMEMORATIONS
MASHONALAND CENTRAL PROVINCE
15 SEPTEMBER 2026
Pamberi neZANU PF.
Pamberi nekubatana.
Pamberi neGwara remusangano.
Phambili leZANU PF.
Phambili lokubambana.
Viva ZANU PF
Viva ZANU PF
Pasi nemhandu.
Director of Ceremonies;
First Lady, Amai A. Mnangagwa;
Vice President, Hon. Gen. (Rtd) Dr. C.G.D.N. Chiwenga;
Vice President, Hon. Col. (Rtd) Dr. K. C. D. Mohadi;
National Chairman of ZANU PF and Minister of
Defence, Hon. O. C. Z. Muchinguri-Kashiri;
Secretary General of ZANU PF and Speaker of
Parliament, Hon. Adv. J. F. N. Mudenda;
Members of the Politburo and Central Committee;
Secretary for Youth Affairs, Cde. T. Machakaire;
ZANU PF Mashonaland Central Province Chairman,
Cde. Kazembe Kazembe;
Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution,
Mashonaland Central Province, Hon. C. Magomo;
Senior Government Officials;
Ndinoremekedza Madzimambo edu ose aripano;
Members of the ZANU PF Youth League National
Executive;
Comrades and Friends.
Ndinokukwazisai mose.
Ndafara zvikuru kukuonai mose vechidiki nehuwandu hwenyu kubva kumaprovinces enyika yedu, kunyanya avo vabva kuno ku Mashonaland Central. Munodadisa, muri musvo weZANU PF. Ndinotenda zvakare nekunditambira kwamaita muzuva ranhasi.
It is my honour and privilege to address this gathering of the young people of our motherland, Zimbabwe, as we commemorate the Munhumutapa Day. The huge attendance and jubilant atmosphere I have witnessed, shows that you, the youth of our colossal revolutionary mass Party, ZANU PF, are united, patriotic and determined to build our beloved motherland, Zimbabwe, brick by brick and stone upon stone, towards Vision 2030.
Kusangana kwedu kwakakosha, semhuri imwe chete, takabatana, tichishanda nesimba kusimudzira matunhu ose, nehupfumi hweNyika yedu yeZimbabwe.
Nyika inovakwa, inotongwa, inonamatigwa nevene vayo/ Ilizwe lakhiwa, libuswe, likhu-le-ke-lwe ngabanikazi balo.
Comrades;
The celebrations are being held under the theme: ‘Honouring the past, empowering the present and securing Zimbabwe’s future”. This is a call to action and for the youth and indeed the entire nation, to preserve our rich liberation history and heritage. It demands that we also look into the future with confidence as we work harder to build a better quality of life for all, through production, productivity, innovation, focus and self-reliance.
To achieve our set goals and Vision 2030, the youth must be development oriented and disciplined as well as, patriotic and loyal to our motherland Zimbabwe.
I am pleased that the youth of our country, are making great strides, exhibiting courage and stamina, in all sectors. Well done.
It is humbling that the Youth League chose to commemorate the Munhumutapa Day, to coincide with my birthday anniversary. I sincerely thank you for organising this memorable event. Well-done.
I give honour and glory to Almighty God, for the precious gift of life, strength, wisdom, guidance and preservation. Allow me to thank my family for their support throughout my public service, at both the Party and Government level.
To the Party, ZANU PF, and you, our young people, as well as all fellow Zimbabweans, here in the country and those in the Diaspora; I thank you, for your good will and continued confidence in our shared national Vision to be a prosperous and empowered upper middle-income society. Let us remain united, as one people, drawing from our collective wisdom, skills and abilities, to build our motherland, Zimbabwe.
The Munhumutapa Empire remains a great symbol of a sophisticated pre-colonial people, with unmatched organisational systems, astute economic agility, architectural prowess and cultural depth. Its history highlights who we are as the descendants of Munhumutapa and amplifies the traits that run in our national character and DNA.
Further, it reminds us of the essential capacity we have as the indigenous southern African societies to govern ourselves. The Empire commanded far reaching commercial networks, long before the arrival of colonial rule and harnessed the rich natural deposits of gold and copper for viable trade. Hence, the quest for regional integration, intra-Africa trade, can today draw from that rich past.
The Munhumutapa Kingdom was also founded on courage, innovation, hard work and self-determination.
It stood as a monumental centre of trade, wealth and African statecraft. Culture and religion were critically important to the people of the this great country.
Similarly, many lessons must be learnt from the rise and challenges faced by the Empire, with regards, governance, international relations, economy and trade as well as spiritually. These should guide us in our present times.
It is, therefore, in honour of this background, and for the immortalisation of our rich history and cultural inheritance that my Government resolved to declare 15th September as Munhumutapa Day and a public holiday.
The responsibility of advancing this legacy now rests upon our shoulders. I, thus, challenge you, the youth of today, to always act in our national interest, defending the Party and our country. Rwendo rwedu rwunoda vakatsunga moyo, vanotevera Gwara remusangano uye vakazvipira.
So far, the youth which is the vanguard of our Party, has done extremely well by embracing our national vision and promoting unity and peace. Well-done.
I challenge, the young people to continue playing their part towards building a stronger, modernised, industrialised and prosperous society, that leaves no one and no place behind. The future belongs to those who are prepared to sacrifice and wholeheartedly serve our motherland, Zimbabwe.
Nyika inovakwa, inotongwa, inonamatigwa nevene vayo/ Ilizwe lakhiwa, libuswe, likhu-le-ke-lwe ngabanikazi balo. On its part, my Government will continue to create a conducive environment for youth participation in the governance and economy of our country.
With regards to agriculture, the Presidential Heifer Pass-on and Farm Mechanisation Schemes as well as the Youth Agriculture Plots Programme, have seen young people being productive participants in the agriculture transformation and national food security agenda.
I urge more of you to now participate in the agriculture value chains and agro-industries. You must fully utilise new and affordable technologies to make processed products from what is grown on the land.
Always remember that as the youth, excellence is a critical component of your DNA. The warrior spirit together with the industrious, innovative character trait that helped to build the Great Munhumutapa Empire runs within you. Never settle for average, neither be mere spectators in your own country. Work hard and make money. Itai mari.
Leverage emerging technologies, including Artificial Intelligence, and deploy your talents and skills towards nation building. You must be brave, adventurous and courageous enough to make mistakes and errors, in your journey to break new grounds.
The Munhumutapa Housing Scheme is opening opportunities for young people to own homes. I commend the local authorities who are availing land for these projects. Similarly, the Presidential Youth Empowerment Fund, is enabling youth to set up and grow their enterprises, fostering wealth creation and economic inclusion.
Youth are excelling in mining, manufacturing and tourism, among other sectors. Well done. I urge the leadership at both Party level, and within communities to work with unity to ensure that all development projects are a success. I want to assure you that the ZANU PF-led Government, will continue to expand empowerment programmes and opportunities for young people.
My wish is to see the broad empowerment and prosperity of our people so that we get to a point where the question is no longer, “why a person has money’; but why one has no money”. Ndinoshuvira kuti tisvike pachikamu chekuti mubvunzo hawusi wekuti “sei munhu anemari”, tisvike pakubvunza kuti “sei usina mari”. Itai mari.
Make clean money. Mukaita huori, majeri hanakuzara. Bopa yena! A prosperous life for all, is possible through hard honest work, discipline and focus. This is what you our young people must work towards.
The Munhumutapa Empire had a thriving import and export system, and a vibrant international relations architecture. Under the Second Republic “we are a friend to all and enemy to none”.
In October, Zimbabwe assumes the COMESA Chairmanship, while for the 2027/2028 period we take up a non-permanent seat at the UN Security Council.
New markets, investments, exchanges, innovative partnerships and entrepreneurship prospects presented by these platforms must be pursued for the benefit of our economy.
Under ZANU PF, the youth must always be ready, to consolidate solidarity with Youth Leagues of other liberation movements and progressive organisations throughout the world. These relations must advance trade, and exchanges that improve our communities and the nation as a whole. The spirit and values of
Pan Africanism, self-determination and solidarity should remain central in all our engagements with the outside world. Meanwhile, I challenge you the young people of our nation, to reject and shun corruption, tribalism, regionalism and other divisive tendencies.
Our forefathers, along with those that fought in the armed liberation struggle did not endure hardships and sacrifice life and limbs for you, today, to surrender your precious lives to drugs and substance abuse. No! Tinoti kwete! Hatidi vechidiki vanoparadzwa nezvinodhaka. Pasi nemaDrugs. Pasi nemutoriro. Pasi ne Guka.
We want all Zimbabweans, no matter where they are, to pursue lives with dignity, and purpose. Say no to drugs and substance abuse.
I urge you, the young people of Zimbabwe, to also reject crime and violence. Be respectful, exemplary and disciplined, always seek productive work, education and skills to develop yourselves as well as the communities you live. Volunteer and do community work, to make life better for others.
Kumatunhu kwamunogara, zivikanwa kuti uriwechidiki anehunhu, anoremekedza vakuru, anoshanda nesimba, uyezve, anoda Nyika yekwedu.
I also challenge the young people of Zimbabwe, to remain vigilant, safeguarding our hard-won Independence, sovereignty, freedom, democracy, unity and peace. Forward ever, backward never.
In concluding, I once again commend the ZANU PF Youth League, leadership of Mashonaland Central Province, all other Provinces together with other stakeholders for successfully organising this year’s Munhumutapa Day celebrations.
Kumhuri ye Mashonaland Central Province, ndinokutendayi nekuwuya, nekunditambira kwamaita. Imwi muri musvo weMusangano wedu we
ZANU PF. Tinovimba nemi. Kukapisa, kukatonhora munomira neMusangano, munoramba makabatana. Tinokutendai. I say thank you Mashonaland Central. Thank you for receiving and hosting us; thank you for always standing with our revolutionary Party, ZANU PF.
Your resilience, unwavering loyalty, patriotism and love for the Party and country was evident during the armed liberation struggle. Like other communities around the country, you suffered the brutality of the Smith regime, you were displaced, your people were brutally killed and buried in mass graves, among other atrocities. However, you never sold out the revolution Makaramba makatsunga. Tinokutendai. You are a source of inspiration.
To all the young people who are here, as you go back home to your districts and wards, please carry the message of unity, peace, hard work, production and productivity as well as development. Vechidiki veZimbabwe, shandayi nesimba makasununguka muNyika yedu yechipikirwa.
Work hard, in freedom; be bold, courageous, innovative and strive to be the best you can be, in our free and independent Zimbabwe, which was paid for by the precious blood of sons and daughters of the soil.
Our success, prosperity and a higher quality of life for all, is the best way we can honour those who have gone ahead of us. Be assured that under the Second Republic led-by our Party, ZANU PF, the young people will always have support and backing of my Administration.
With these remarks, I wish us all a happy and memorable Munhumutapa Day Celebrations. I wish you all journey mercies as you travel back to your respective provinces and districts.
Pamberi neZANU PF.
Pamberi nekubatana.
Pamberi neGwara remusangano.
Phambili leZANU PF.
Phambili lokubambana.
Pasi nemhandu.
God bless you all.
God bless Zimbabwe.
I thank you.