The Sunday Mail
Peter Kwaira
The National Pledge, according to the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, was derived from Zimbabwe’s Constitution and the essence of that pledge is highlighted in the supreme law of the land.
However, there seems to be debate stemming from the content. From my own point of view, there is nothing wrong with the National Pledge because what it stands for is purely Zimbabwean and cuts across political or religious views.
If the content in the National Pledge was wrong for us as a country, it should have been rejected during the constitution-making process, because the National Pledge is derived from that same Constitution.
This also means that consultations on the National Pledge was done during the national constitution-making process and the curriculum review because it stems from recommendations of the Nziramasanga Commission.
Chapter 27 of the report by Dr Nziramasanga recommends educating citizens on history and culture especially at school levels, thus what Government is now doing is implementing from consultations done in previous years.
Many people are having a problem with the mentioning of the liberation struggle in the schools pledge, but they are forgetting that in the constitution making process they included an acknowledgement of the role of the liberation struggle.
But any sane person would question: which country in the world would forget its own history? Everyday our liberation heroes are dying, so are we saying they should go without inculcating values?
There are pledges, oaths or code of ethics in the army, the police, education sector and even in the medical profession not only in Zimbabwe, but world over.
Moreso, if one looks at the National Pledge, it promotes honesty and hard work. It begins by acknowledging the Almighty, that fact alone shows we are Christian nation.
The inclusion of our forefathers and mothers shows that we are multicultural, and ways of worshiping differ and we should respect that and cannot in way deny that it. Any country would want its youth to be protected and instil pride in them.
We should be proud of our history and we should not feel inferior about where we come from. The problem might come if children recite the National Pledge without knowing what it means. So what might be needed now is educating the nation, especially the children, what the national pledge means.
The Pledge must unite people and help children have a sense of belonging, it should not alienate them, but help them relate with other people well. The problem that the National Pledge faces is the same faced by the National Youth Service. These issues partly emanate from colonial mentality, ignorance and lack of identity.
We have people who feel inferior and apologise for being African; and all these issues lead to the rejection of issues such as the National Pledge. The debate surrounding this issue is very healthy, but we should debate with focus and let the best ideas take us forward. The truth of matter is that we cannot go back to consultations, neither can we stop the Pledge from being recited in schools.
What we should be talking of now is how to make sure the whole school’s curriculum review is a success.
At this moment I urge the nation to have positive debate and stop this culture of just rejecting things because they have an axe to grind with certain authorities.
Dr Peter Kwaira is a lecturer with the University of Zimbabwe’s Department of Technical Education
Constitution preamble
We the people of Zimbabwe,
United in our diversity by our common desire for freedom, justice and equality, and our heroic resistance to colonialism, racism and all forms of domination and oppression,
Exalting and extolling the brave men and women who sacrificed their lives during the Chimurenga/ Umvukela and national liberation struggles,
Honouring our forebears and compatriots who toiled for the progress of our country, Recognising the need to entrench democracy, good, transparent and accountable governance and the rule of law,
Reaffirming our commitment to upholding and defending fundamental human rights and freedoms,
Acknowledging the richness of our natural resources, Celebrating the vibrancy of our traditions and cultures,
Determined to overcome all challenges and obstacles that impede our progress,
Cherishing freedom, equality, peace, justice, tolerance, prosperity and patriotism in search of new frontiers under a common destiny,
Acknowledging the supremacy of Almighty God, in whose hands our future lies,
Resolve by the tenets of this Constitution to commit ourselves to build a united, just and prosperous nation, founded on values of transparency, equality, freedom, fairness, honesty and the dignity of hard work,
And, imploring the guidance and support of Almighty God, hereby make this hereby make this Constitution and commit ourselves to it as the fundamental law of our beloved land.
