By Mafa Kwanisai Mafa – The Fidel Chair Zimbabwe Chapter

Today, we, the Fidel Chair Zimbabwe Chapter, join the chorus of progressive peoples across the world in solemnly and resolutely commemorating the ninth anniversary of the passing of Commander-in-Chief Fidel Castro Ruz, the eternal beacon of the Cuban Revolution.

It has been nine years since the physical presence of the Comandante en Jefe left us, yet his spirit, his ideas, his courage, and his towering legacy of resistance remain an inextinguishable flame that lights the path for all who strive for genuine independence, justice, and human dignity.

Fidel was not merely a head of state; he was a global revolutionary architect, a philosopher of liberation, and the embodiment of unwavering anti-imperialism. His life’s work stands as a colossal monument to the principle that a small, determined nation, united by conviction, can stand firm and not only survive but thrive in the face of the most powerful and sustained aggression.

The Beacon of Anti-Imperialism

For over half a century, Fidel Castro was the unyielding face of resistance against imperialist domination. His defiance of the colossal power of the North was a powerful, practical lesson to all developing nations: sovereignty is non-negotiable. The Cuban Revolution, forged in the Sierra Maestra mountains and culminating in the triumph of January 1959, was a watershed moment that permanently altered the geopolitical landscape.

It was a clear declaration that the era of simple servitude was over. Fidel taught us that true freedom is not granted; it is won through struggle, courage, and a profound commitment to the masses. His famous speech, where he declared the socialist character of the Revolution and stood firm against all threats, echoed across the globe, giving hope to the subjugated.

He fundamentally changed the psychology of the global south, proving that a different, more just world was possible. This lesson resonates deeply here in Zimbabwe, a nation that understands the high cost of anti-imperialist struggle and the continuous need to safeguard our hard-won economic and political independence. Fidel’s example fuels our national resolve.

 A True Internationalist: Solidarity Beyond Borders

Perhaps the most inspiring facet of Fidel’s legacy is his profound internationalism. For Fidel and the Cuban Revolution, solidarity was not an abstract political term; it was a concrete, sacrificial action. Cuba, despite its limited resources and the crippling US economic blockade, consistently sent its most precious resource, its people, to the four corners of the globe to assist liberation movements and provide humanitarian aid.

This selfless commitment manifested most powerfully on the African continent. Cuban forces played a pivotal and undeniable role in the Angolan Civil War, standing against the combined forces of apartheid South Africa and its allies. The Battle of Cuito Cuanavale is recognised as the turning point that irrevocably shifted the balance of power in Southern Africa. Even former South African President Nelson Mandela acknowledged this, stating, “Which people’s forces destroyed the myth of the invincibility of the white oppressor? It was the Cuban people.”

Cuba’s commitment directly accelerated the end of apartheid in South Africa and guaranteed the independence of Namibia. Furthermore, during our own liberation struggle in Zimbabwe (then Rhodesia), Fidel and Cuba provided crucial training, material support, and diplomatic backing to the Zimbabwean freedom fighters.

The revolutionary zeal and strategic thinking honed in Havana resonated deeply with our own Chimurenga spirit. Fidel’s policy was simple: Cuba does not export revolutions; it shares the fruits of its own revolution, doctors, teachers, and soldiers with those in need of assistance or defending their sovereignty.

He never sought profit or land; his only demand was justice and self-determination for the oppressed. This revolutionary generosity, epitomised by the deployment of over 300,000 Cuban troops and countless civilian specialists over the decades, represents the highest form of internationalist solidarity the modern world has ever seen.

Education and Healthcare: Revolution for the People

Fidel understood that the true measure of a revolution’s success is not found in military might or wealth accumulation, but in the well-being and upliftment of its poorest citizens. Under his leadership, Cuba transformed from a playground for the elite into a society that prioritised human development.

Within years of the Revolution, Fidel launched the Cuban Literacy Campaign, mobilising young volunteers to teach reading and writing in the remotest corners of the island. Cuba declared itself an Illiteracy-Free Territory in 1961, a feat unmatched by most nations in the global south, even those far richer. Despite the blockade, Cuba developed a universally accessible, free, and world-class healthcare system. Its achievements in infant mortality rates and life expectancy rival those of developed nations. Furthermore, the creation of the “White Coat Armies”, the international medical brigades, has seen Cuban doctors deployed to disaster zones and underserved communities globally, from the aftermath of the Haiti earthquake to the current fight against pandemics in Africa and Latin America. Fidel believed in the power of the mind and the sanctity of life. He proved that through correct political will and efficient organisation, poverty need not condemn a people to ignorance or preventable death. This is the socialist path to true human empowerment.

The Call to Today’s Generation: Never Bow Down

As we stand nine years after his passing, the world is facing new forms of imperialist pressure, economic exploitation, and neo-colonial manoeuvres. The struggle that Fidel dedicated his life to is far from over. The Commander’s life teaches us several enduring, critical lessons that are as relevant today in Harare, Havana, or Caracas as they were decades ago: First, Unity is Strength, because Imperialism seeks to divide the masses along ethnic, political, and economic lines.

Fidel showed that only a truly united front of workers, peasants, and intellectuals can resist external pressure and build a resilient nation. Second, Principle Over Pragmatism, because throughout the darkest days, when compromise seemed the easiest path, Fidel stood on principle. He refused to trade Cuban sovereignty for economic relief.

This unwavering commitment is the definition of revolutionary integrity. Third, the Priority of the People, because every policy decision in revolutionary Cuba, from land reform to economic planning, was ultimately directed at benefiting the majority of the poor and the working class. This is the litmus test for any genuinely progressive government.

Fidel Castro was a giant, an intellectual revolutionary whose ability to connect theory to practice was extraordinary. He taught generations never to bow before injustice, never to surrender the people’s gains, and always to think globally while acting locally.

Today, as millions across the globe echo the simple, heartfelt words, “Thank you, Commander!” we reaffirm our unwavering solidarity with the resilient Cuban people. They continue to uphold the dignity of the revolution despite ongoing, criminal economic sanctions designed to starve them into submission. We call on all progressive forces to demand the unconditional lifting of the unjust blockade and the return of the illegally occupied territory of Guantánamo Bay to the Cuban people.

The life of Fidel Castro Ruz is a legacy cast in bronze and fire. It is a commitment to a just, equitable, and sovereign future for all humanity.

We, the Fidel Chair Zimbabwe Chapter, recommit ourselves to the ideals for which Fidel lived and fought: Socialism, Internationalism, and Anti-Imperialist Resistance.

¡Hasta la victoria siempre!