(TALKZIMBABWE) Teach the youth Zimbabwe's history

Teach the youth Zimbabwe's history
Nyasha Chidemo - Opinion
Mon, 08 Sep 2008 03:35:00 +0000

DEAR EDITOR – A political argument I had with some young Zimbabwean guys here in the Diaspora almost turned sour after I had narrated the contributions of some of our leaders in the Chimurenga wars that brought about our Independence on the 18th of April 1980.

One thing was very clear in the argument – our young people need to be educated about their history and what it took for Zimbabwe to have the sovereignty that it enjoys today. I think the history of Zimbabwe should be a key element in the curricula at primary and secondary levels.

As an educator myself, here in the United Kingdom, I lament the dearth of a well informed corps of young people who can become informal ambassadors of their country. It is really important to help these young Zimbabweans to build up their historical consciousness. And I think we should be quickly progressing towards that goal.

The sad fact is that many so-called historians in the Diaspora have turned political and are not in a position to teach our young people their true history and their role in a future Zimbabwe.

A debate seems to be under way on the relevance of the history of Zimbabwe and this is a good thing, but it should never be politicized. President Mugabe made a contribution, and so did many other heroes. These people should be given the honour and respect they deserve and be put in the right historical context.

As I travel through England I see many historical characters celebrated in historical monuments and in archives, regardless of how they were perceived in their day.

I think as Zimbabweans we have become too self-critical to a point where we forget our heritage and the relevance of our history in explaining our current problems.

There should be articles in the newspapers about Zimbabwe’s struggle. Historians should adopt positions. Seminars like the ones Mr Aeneas Chigwedere - our great historian - used to conduct in Zimbabwe should be encouraged to generate wide discussion. His seminars had an excellent reputation - bilingual, imaginative and tireless.

If this does not happen soon, we will end up with a whole generation that does not understand where it is coming from and hence will never know where it is going.

Nyasha Chidemo
Milton Keynes, UK