THE national hero status bestowed upon the late former Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet, Dr Charles Utete, as well as the recent achievements and awards given to Bindura University of Science Education Vice-Chancellor Professor Eddie Mwenje had me reflecting on the importance of a national vision.
These are two men who have served the Nation in different capacities quietly contributing to the development and betterment of the country.
The chief attribute and quality Dr Utete had, mentioned by all, was his ability to work with everyone and a clear national vision – the country came first before all else.
According to Professor Mwenje, his success comes from the ability to build teams and working as a unified force for the greater good of the Nation.
Clearly, these two characters have been driven by a national vision, a desire to serve the motherland.
The most important lesson taught us by these men is the importance of loyalty to one’s country.
Working tirelessly for the country without seeking personal glory was, and is, the hallmark of these men.
We won our independence because of a shared national vision.
During the liberation struggle, loyalty was important; loyalty to the aspirations and desires of the nation.
People shared one goal which was to liberate the Nation from the yoke of colonialism.
And this goal was pursued relentlessly, even ruthlessly, until independence was attained.
We have a vision as a Nation and it demands our loyalty.
Since the coming of imperialists who subjugated, stole from and exploited us, our forebears fought to regain what rightfully belonged to us.
We won our political independence and now we are fighting for liberation in other areas of our lives.
It is common knowledge that imperialists, having been beaten militarily and politically, are now fighting tooth and nail to control our economies.
And as a country, we have made significant strides in regaining control of our resources.
The careless, reckless and clueless among us question the wisdom of holding on to resources we cannot fully exploit?
They say we might as well let our former colonial masters utilise them.
They say a pittance from these finite resources is better than nothing at all.
This thinking and attitude is a betrayal of the vision that has driven this Nation since the days of Mbuya Nehanda.
The aggregate of values and norms that have driven and given this Nation an identity are steeped in us being masters and not servants in our country.
We cannot betray and discard a vision birthed by our ancestors and heroes who laid down their lives to regain what had been stolen.
It is time we rekindle the Zimbabwean spirit and restore confidence in ourselves.
We must be proud of being ourselves in the family of nations and not be swayed by forces driven by external influences that seek to once again exploit us.
It is the duty of the custodians of our national ethos, of every patriot, to guide our young who clearly need guidance, direction and support from the older generations.
We must explain our values and ideologies to them so that we nurture them into real patriots who believe in their own country
Our tradition, heritage and future as Zimbabweans should never be compromised or shaped by blowing winds.
Let us pride ourselves in being Zimbabwean, prioritising national ideals and not Western fads that have destroyed once thriving nations like Libya and Iraq, among many more.