Zimbabwe National Anthem

Blessed be the Land of Zimbabwe

Simudzai Mureza wedu WeZimbabwe

Written 1994

Adopted 1994

Lyrics Solomon Mutswairo

Music Fred Changundega

✝ God / Faith 🕊 Freedom 🤝 Unity 🚩 Flag 🔥 Revolution | Prayerful

Key Facts

1. The current anthem is Zimbabwe's second since independence in 1980: the first, 'Ishe Komborera Africa' (God Bless Africa), was a version of the hymn 'Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika' and was used until the present anthem was introduced in March 1994.
2. The anthem came out of two national competitions: a words competition in 1987 drew 1,685 entries and was won by Solomon Mutswairo's four-verse poem, which Parliament later condensed into three verses; about 300 entries were then submitted for the music, and Fred Changundega's won.
3. Changundega has said the melody came to him on a train to Bulawayo; the two finalist tunes were broadcast on national radio so the public could compare them before his was chosen.
4. The anthem is played to pupils at the start of each school day, and the national broadcasters play it every morning at 6:00.

Zimbabwe - Blessed be the Land of Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe National Anthem Lyrics

[Shona] Simudzai mureza wedu weZimbabwe Yakazvarwa nomoto wechimurenga; Neropa zhinji ramagamba Tiidzivirire kumhandu dzose; Ngaikomborerwe nyika yeZimbabwe. Tarisai Zimbabwe nyika yakashongedzwa Namakomo, nehova, zvinoyevedza Mvura ngainaye, minda ipe mbesa Vashandi vatuswe, ruzhinji rugutswe; Ngaikomborerwe nyika yeZimbabwe. Mwari ropafadzai nyika yeZimbabwe Nyika yamadzitateguru edu tose, Kubva Zambezi kusvika Limpopo, Navatungamiri vave nenduramo. Ngaikomborerwe nyika yeZimbabwe. [English] O lift high, high, our flag of Zimbabwe Born of the fire of the revolution And of the precious blood of our heroes. Let's defend it against all foes; Blessed be the land of Zimbabwe. Behold Zimbabwe so richly adorned With mountains and rivers, beautiful. Let rain abound and fields yield the seed May all be fed and workers rewarded. Blessed be the land of Zimbabwe. O God, bless the land of Zimbabwe, The land of our heritage, From the Zambezi to the Limpopo. May our leaders be just and exemplary, Blessed be the land of Zimbabwe. [Ndebele] Phakamisan' if'legi yethu yeZimbabwe Eyazalwa yimpi yenkululeko; Legaz' elinengi lamaqhawe ethu Silivikele ezithen' izonke; Kalibusiswe ilizwe leZimbabwe. Khangelan' iZimbabwe yon' ihlotshisiwe Ngezintaba lang' miful' ebukekayo, Izulu kaline, izilimo zande; Iz'sebenzi zenam', abantu basuthe; Kalibusiswe ilizwe leZimbabwe. Nkosi busis' ilizwe lethu leZimbabwe Ilizwe labokhokho bethu thina sonke; Kusuk' eZambezi kusiy' eLimpopo Abakhokheli babe lobuqotho; Kalibusiswe ilizwe leZimbabwe.

Translations are non-official and intended to convey meaning, not replace originals

Analysis

Editorial

Adopted in March 1994, replacing 'Ishe Komborera Africa', which had been used since Zimbabwe gained independence from Britain in 1980, after the struggle against white-minority rule. The lyrics were written by Solomon Mutswairo, one of Zimbabwe's foremost literary figures. The anthem exists in Shona, Ndebele and English, the country's three main languages. Its Shona words speak of the fire of 'Chimurenga', the name for the liberation wars against colonial rule.