They came in their thousands a sea of young faces waving party regalia, chanting and dancing under the African sun.
From the streets of high-density suburbs to the remote villages of Mashonaland East, Zimbabwe’s youth descended on Igava Training Centre on Saturday, filling the air with a patriotism that moved even the President.
For a moment, as Emmerson Mnangagwa stepped onto the podium to commemorate National Youth Day, the roars of “Pamberi ne ZANU-PF” drowned out the wind sweeping across the vast grounds.
These were the children of the liberation struggle, and the message to them was clear — the fight is not over; it has simply changed form.
In a speech that alternated between paternal encouragement and revolutionary fire, the President warned the young generation to remain vigilant against what he described as a new wave of colonial influence.
“The shameful agenda of saboteurs, sell-outs and counter-revolutionaries, who seek to advance a neo-imperial agenda for ‘a few pieces of silver and false fame’, will never succeed.”
“As a sovereign nation and independent people, we make no apologies for our sacred duty to continuously defend and advance our national interest,” said President Mnangagwa.
The President, who is also First Secretary of ZANU-PF, commended the youth for their massive turnout, seeing in their energy a reflection of the revolutionary spirit of the 1970s.
However, he warned them against becoming spectators in their own future.
“Through political education, mobilisation and visibility, continuously win more young people into Party structures. Resist the temptation of being visible only during such commemorations.”
Beyond politics, there was a raw, parental plea. As grandmothers in the crowd nodded in agreement, Mnangagwa addressed the creeping crisis of drug and substance abuse that has consumed too many young lives.
“Regai mutoriro, tumbwa, mbanje ne guka. Resist, reject drug and substance abuse,” he said emphatically, switching between Shona and English for impact.
“The future of Zimbabwe is in your hands.”
The event was not just about rhetoric. The President toured exhibitions showcasing youth innovations in agriculture, technology and the arts, praising graduates of the Youth Service Programme.
He acknowledged that while the vision of an empowered, upper-middle-income society by 2030 is ambitious, it is attainable if the youth remain disciplined and industrious.
“You are not merely spectators in our ongoing development journey; you are active participants, demonstrating remarkable leadership,” he said.
For 22-year-old Tariro Moyo, a vocational training graduate from Manicaland who travelled to attend, the President’s words were personal.
“He spoke to us like we are his own children. He reminded us that we own this country. That means something,” she said, clutching a small Zimbabwean flag.
As the sun dipped behind the training centre, the celebrations continued.
But the message lingered: the youth are the wall against which enemies of the state will break.
“Nyika inovakwa, inotongwa, inonamatigwa nevane vayo,” said President Mnangagwa.
The land is built, ruled and prayed for by its owners.
