THE site of our children across the country reciting the National Pledge on the first day of school was heartwarming.
A lot of noise, about the National Pledge, was made, some resistance was shown in some quarters, but it seems a majority of our children are reciting the all important pledge with gusto.
Our tradition and heritage as Zimbabweans must never be compromised.
We are delighted that we have remained firm and unshaken in our resolve to have our children recite the National Pledge in schools.
The National Pledge is no propaganda or a gimmick, but endeavours to see our children becoming proud Zimbabweans who prioritise national ideals and the need to fully serve their nation.
The pledge clearly spells out our values, national ethos and vision for the country.
It is important that as we continue to fight and work for our country, we constantly reflect and pride ourselves as a nation.
We should never, ever, apologise for telling the truth about what happened in this country before and after independence.
Our memories are our cultural capital; recalling and never forgetting our past and where we are going will keep us on the straight path.
Our past, pleasant and unpleasant, makes us who we are. It will be a crime to deprive our children of their past or erase it for any reason.
Reciting the National Pledge is part of the process of taking up our own discourse, shaping our national agenda and telling the rest of the world our own story.
It tells our children our history, cultural heritage and the limitless potential of our natural and human resources.
The pledge evokes the spirit that binds a nation together; it is the summation of values and norms that give our great nation an identity, a spiritual beacon that will guide us amidst the darkness.
The words of the pledge are no mere praise-singing, they are words that reflect exactly what we believe in and what we seek to achieve as a self-determining nation.
They summarise everything we stand for.
The pledge will help keep alive our fighting spirit and build our confidence as we face our detractors.
The West has exerted its influence even its will on us and our children have been the most affected and it is not their fault.
But we have to restore their bearings and sense of purpose as well as patriotism in our nation.
Patriotism cannot be left to chance it is a national trait that is cultivated by every nation.
In our history, our story, our forefathers and mothers, our languages, our proverbs, our customs lies our identity.
And this is the message that should be fully expounded and embraced by our children, the future leaders and protectors of the country.
Our children need guidance, direction and support from the older generations.
Through explaining our values and ideologies, we will nurture patriots who believe in their country.
The Rhodesians introduced the Boy Scout Movement as a measure to inculcate British values among youths.
And the movement still exists in the country, a movement whose cornerstone is ‘God save the Queen’ creating loyalty to the British Crown.
I shudder when I hear a person, a parent, who says it is not logical for their children to celebrate and cherish their country’s heritage, glory and achievements.
Let us not throw our national ideals out of the window because we are so delighted by Western cultures and norms.