Patriotism: Guiding principle of nationalism

gamut of Zimbabwe’s demographic structures; it must cut across the whole gamut of race and political divide. It is a guiding principle that must motivate every one to put Zimbabwe first before anything else.

Senator Obert Gutu (MDC-T) wrote a very interesting article on patriotism published in the Herald of 23 August, 2011. Most interestingly, this writer notes the positives with which his article describes “Patriotism.”
It is also heartening to note that The Herald gave the MDC-T provincial spokesperson space to air his views.
It is in light of the above that I wish to further put evidence to the debate. In the article the senator talked about Zimbabwe’s sharpest brains living in the Diaspora but Zimbabwe still has no concise and effective policies and programmers to develop its economy. As also a fiercely patriot Zimbabwean, I notice that the observations highlighted by Senator Gutu are caused by a number of factors.

First and foremost it was/is caused by the political polarity that exists in our country. Politicians from various political parties debate issues on political lines disregarding National Interests to the extend that, some politicians deliberately decide to side with our erstwhile colonisers in making sure that sanctions are imposed, to hurt everyone in Zimbabwe.
It is this culture of political polarity and allowing outside influence that makes some of our politicians negate National Interests and lie through the altar of their teeth for political expedience. The GPA, clearly states that parties to it, must call for the lifting of sanctions’ and stop rubbishing Zimbabwe on Studio 7.

But what do we see; an avalanche of hate and asymmetric disinformation by some politicians, doing rounds on both the private media and studio 7. The question to ask is: Are sanctions a demonstration of any patriotism in Zimbabwe?
Does political polarity denote patriotism? Is there anything patriotism about the continued existence of studio 7? Some politicians and civic organisation are calling for our diamonds to be termed bloody diamonds and is this a patriotic move or its premise on politics of regime change?

I liked the sumptuous mention, in the article, of our heroes by the Senator. These heroes, indeed, did not fight for a partisan agenda but for a national cause. The liberation struggle was fought with a full view of the ideological concept of indigenisation and black empowerment that our luminary and visionary heroes died for.
Sadly, we have in our midst, politicians, who think that the concept of indigenisation and black empowerment causes investor flight. Far from that and China is an example of where the concept was applied and is still producing wonderful economic results.

The Senator noted corruption as a cancerous disease that has seen the death of our economy. The nation needs to be sober and stop politicising corruption. This writer is seized with corrupt cases that have happened across the political divide. There is need for a national will to fight corruption in a vigorous manner. It is hoped that the newly appointed anti-corruption commission will have the energy, stamina and will power to fight corruption endemic in our midst.
The Senator asked a very pertinent question of national symbolism; I quote “why did we allow a situation where symbols of national pride such as Air Zimbabwe and ZUPCO virtually crumble before our own eyes?” Again I would say politicians were to blame as they interfered with corporate governance issues”.

These institutions have been run and are being run by Ministers from different political parties with different ideological concepts. We need to trade these differing ideological concepts and come up with one home grown concept; maybe a high breed that serves our national interests.
In the article, there was also mention of some Africa’s richest people that are Zimbabweans and names were given. It is my humble submission that Fanon espouses the need for a nation to liberate itself from colonial capital by creating its own bourgeoisie.
These bourgeoisie, however, should carry out their business in a transparent manner, unmotivated by corrupt tendencies. It is therefore important that the nation needs to create an environment that enables Zimbabweans to create wealth and employment for Zimbabweans.

The sad story that affected our local businessmen in the years 2006-8 where these businesspersons externalised money cannot be tolerated.
Our businessmen and women must be driven by honest, truthfulness, uprightness, forthrightness and remain unmotivated by the cancerous whims of corruption. Politicians too, must remain guided by our national interests and the need to create indigenous wealth and employment in order for our economy to grow and expand.

All Zimbabwean politicians and the public in general must be driven by a shared national vision. In my view the heroes we continue to give animated praises had a clear sense of belonging. They were all guided by unity, peace and development. Their vision was to liberate Zimbabwe and put laws that indigenise the economy and empower the black people.
Anything outside that, whether done by politicians or by ordinary people must be viewed as greed, corrupt, puppetry and advancing the hegemonic control of our economy by the Anglo-Saxons.

The President made it crystal clear during the burial of the luminary and visionary General Mujuru that let foreigners come as partners in our businesses and not as bosses. He also vehemently told those “high brains” not to just want to be chief executive officers but to become owners of businesses which also employees white people.
This writer notes with great pleasure, that most politicians, who sometimes had a tendency of boycotting national functions were there to witness the burial of the late General. Gen Mujuru was a shrewd strategist, a luminary and visionary leader and a great unifier. Indeed, his death made every Zimbabwean to respect the national shrine as they thronged the Heroes Acre in their thousands.

During the proceedings of the burial some thought of shaming others and indeed the President as a true patriot managed to cool the tempers regardless of their ingenuity.
This was a sign of patriotism; this was a tremendous recognition that it was a national event, which symbolises who Zimbabweans are. This writer hopes that the positive thinking of Senator Gutu will psyche every other politician to view patriotism as an act of national symbolism as enunciated by the President. We are a people with an identity, we are a people with a rich culture and we are a people with ethics, dignity and moral values.

Yes, Americans and British have nothing to do with the corruption that have become a hallmark of most of our public enterprise and parastatals. However, it must be mentioned that corruption also exists in the private sector and must also be nipped in the bud.
We need to deal with corruption in a holistic manner and not in a sectorial fashion. Corruption must be attacked head on whether it exists in private or in public institutions, in civic organisations or even in political parties.

It is, however, important to note that we need to be clear of our national interests as we fight the corruption. Let no political emotions sway some of our politicians to under-fund or to continuously play role in the mismanagement of our national institutions. The Board and Management of the parastatals must first be given resources with which to perform. Thus if they fail they deserve no mercy and have to go.

Lastly I would like to thank the Honourable Senator Gutu (MDC-T) for writing an incisive article that should create a lot of debate on patriotism as a principal of nationalism. Indeed, patriotism is not a preserve of any political party. It is an ism that must be practiced by every Zimbabwean without use of asymmetric language to mean otherwise.

Bravo to Senator Gutu, bravo to his positive thinking. Let us all, as a nation, move in the same direction on the same trajectory.
Every individual, public or private institution, political party, must embrace the principle of patriotism as espoused by our national heroes. Zimbabwe ndeyedu tose. Ngativei nenduramo!