Maravi

(TALKZIMBABWE) Who are we as a people?

Who are we as a people?
Nyarai Mutimukuru - Opinion
Mon, 12 Jan 2009 04:10:00 +0000

RECENTLY I've had the privilege of working with different people on the Cholera crisis in Zimbabwe. It got me to thinking -- Zimbabweans, are we obligated to work towards unity between the different people and parties, or should we just let everyone march to their own beat and wait to see how things turn out?

On a national level, we should encourages a sense of community and work for the betterment of our people and our country, regardless of political affiliation.

We should all use education to share what we know with others -- not in the sense of preaching of proselytization, but in the context of eliminating ignorance. Many learned Zimbabweans have no idea what to do or believe, and educating these people can help fight intolerance, polarization and bigotry.

Many of them simply do not understand the current problems bedevilling the country, blaming one person, entity or organisation. Many of them are educated, but have no clue about the problems in the country. They read very little and make hurried decisions and let emotionalism take over.

Activism is represented by one of the well known elements – Fire. If you truly believe in something, you'll be passionate about it, and you'll be willing to stand up for what you believe. But Fire if not checked will destroy everything. We should let our activism work for us, not against us.

We have become a bunch of people who have no common purpose, doctrine or dogma, other than the fact that we self-identify as Zimbabweans. We are failing to find unity amongst and for ourselves, because we are quick to blame rather than find solutions. We are quick to pinpoint rather than self-check.

So how do we find unity despite our differences? We should join together to raise awareness about who we are, as a nation, and what we aspire to. We can get involved in local events, and if our name happens to be accompanied by the phrase "concerned citizens" we can step up and be leaders when other people need us the most.

Ultimately, until we begin working together, respecting each other’s thinking without polarisation, to foster a sense of unity and patriotism and not let other people dictate our lives, we'll never begin to have any sense of community.

Nyarai Mutimukuru
Harare – Zimbabwe

posted by MrK @ 5:46 AM