ZANU PF activist and Zimbabwe Youth Action Platform (ZYAP) leader, Tonderai Shumba Chidawa has urged Zimbabweans to stop attributing the success of the 2017 military-assisted transition to a single individual, insisting it was a collective national effort involving multiple stakeholders. “The successes of Operation Restore Legacy were not the result of one individual’s actions but were achieved through the collective efforts of youth, war veterans, parliamentarians, senior security officers, business leaders, Cabinet ministers, and government officials,” he emphasized. Chidawa named several young activists — including Emmanuel Sandura, Taku Mazambani, Gabhu Togarepi, Blessed Mushando, and Justice Matsatsira — as unsung heroes who worked tirelessly despite being expelled from ZANU PF by former President Mugabe and the G40 faction.
He recounted how they faced persecution alongside the Mutsvangwa family, spending two years “fighting a political war that was unsafe” while advocating for change. Despite these hardships, Chidawa said they remained committed to national unity and faith in the leadership of President Emmerson Mnangagwa. During the tense period following Mnangagwa’s dismissal, Chidawa revealed that his group convened a press conference urging calm and assuring the nation that the current President would soon return to lead the country.
Chidawa also praised businessman Kuda Tagwirei, describing him as a silent but pivotal financial backer of Operation Restore Legacy. “Those involved know he was a key financier. Since 2017, he has remained humble, never claiming glory,” Chidawa noted.
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He criticized some current officials for “boasting about their contributions,” saying this distorts the true nature of the movement, which was built on teamwork and sacrifice rather than personal ambition. Chidawa acknowledged the role of women such as the late Nyenge Mahofa and the current Attorney General Virginia Mabhiza, alongside security officers including , Nhepera, Sanyatwe, and the Moyos for their courage and leadership during the transition. He further credited religious groups and opposition figures for helping ensure peace and stability, framing the period as one of national unity rather than political domination.
Chidawa appealed for Zimbabweans to celebrate the 2017 events as a shared national achievement, not an individual triumph. “Let us honour this legacy by recognising the contributions of all who played a role, rather than elevating one individual above the many who fought tirelessly for the future of our nation.”
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